Replacing Audio in a finished Edit

So, a problem we run into a lot is having to send off bad audio for cleaning. But of course, our directors often want to proceed with the edit while the audio is away. The idea being that once the audio comes back cleaned, I can simply re-link the media to the cleaned audio track.

This was a simpler procedure in FCP 7, as far as I can tell. There seems to be limited ability to re-link media in FCP X, and so I'm looking to see if anyone else does anything like this regularly and has refined the process.

Thanks!

You can open the bad audio in the timeline and then replace edit the new one when it comes back. You would have to do this to all the audio so if you have more than one file, it'll be a pain in the neck.

Here's the process:
1. Import the clean audio into FCPX.
2. In the Event Browser, right click on the "bad" audio clip, then select 'Open in Timeline'.
3. Once in the timeline, be sure the playhead is in the beginning.
4. Go back to Event Browser and locate the "clean" audio, select it, then press 'D' to Overwrite (Replace Edit) the "bad" audio in the timeline. The clean audio should now be in the timeline. This should update all the audio clips that was used in the main timeline referencing the clean audio.

*Keep in mind that the "clean" audio length must be the same as the "bad" audio length for it to work because the referenced clips in the main timeline will update and you don't want them to be off.

I don't know your exact audio workflow so you'll need to explain further. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Interesting. I guess I was thinking about simply replacing the original audio files that are referenced with the new clean audio, and make sure the names are the same. Would this work?

I am aware that they would need to be the same exact length for this to work, however it is done. Were this FCP 7 I would simply select the bad audio in the bin, then right-click and select "relink media", and point to the cleaned audio. I'm not really sure why it can't be this simple!

FCPX is a database driven and it is no longer just about file names but more about metadata - it truly affects everything. Even the number of audio channels in the metadata affects relinking...I came across this not long ago and was pulling my hair out trying to figure a workaround.

The reason I say it must be the same exact length because you can simply Overwrite any clip from another clip and also accidentally misplace the playhead and throw everything off - I've done it by mistake. So if you do this process, watch for that. Just a heads up.


You can try your method but it will not work - I've tried it. This is my workaround that works for me - it might not work for you.

Thanks for the help! I will use your method. Hopefully a more robust "relink media" function will eventually evolve.