FCPX XML to Logic Pro X problems

Im trying to export an xml from fcpx to logic x so that i can export an omf file from there.

I have been editing multicam clips, with sound effects and music files also.
On the multicam clips, I am only using external mic but it's synced up with the clip.
When I open it in logic, only the music, and not the audio from the mic will appear.

So I'm thinking its something wrong with the way I am exporting it from FCP.
I have been trying to export audio only, but the other options haven't been working for me so far either.

Any suggestion on how to make this work?

I detached the audio, so now it just looks like an audio track in FCP, but it still doesn't show up in Logic. I can't understand why.

hi

From your post it's hard to understand, but I'll give it a try.
Do you export xml from fcpx or you share the project?
You have to export xml and not share if thats the case.

in fcpx go to File/Export XML --save the file anywhere you want.

in Logic X open new project then go
File/Import/Final Cut Pro XML

By the way, you mention you want to create OMF in Logic X.
You can't. Logic X doesn't support OMF. It support AAF which most of the programs can open.

Hi, Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I exported an xml like you said, and imported it in LPX like you said as well.
One of them ended up with more sound files, but they were not places where they should be when I imported it in LPX, they all started at the beginning of the timeline, which made it impossible for me.
But for the most part, every other time, I have only gotten the sound effects and music. I don't even think I did anything different, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

I was told it could export OMF, in that cause I guess I have been misinformed? well I am trying to get a hold of the sound guy so I can figure out if I can send an AAF, but in that case, I hopefully will figure this out!

I can't understand why, maybe it has something to do with the multi cam clips?

It is correct that Logic Pro X cannot export OMF, I was mistaken about this. I thought LPX handled OMF, as Logic Pro 9 does handle OMF quite well. But for an unknown reason OMF has been dropped in Logic Pro X.

So to answer your questions:

1. Yes, as said before, ask your audio guy if you can send an AAF. Any serious DAW can import AAF, so I don't know why he would not be able to handle this.

2. Although FCPXML seems to work quite well for sending FCPX audio to LPX there definitely is a limitation when you work with multicam projects. It seems FCPXML does not translate any audio that is part of a multicam clip. As I have been testing FCPX to LPX workflows in the past few days I have found a workaround for this.

Here you see a small test project with a multicam clip (video clips edited over a music track), a regular video clip "Voice" of which I use the video as an insert over the multicam video and the audio as a voice track under the multicam music, and some random audio FX clips:



When I export an XML from FCPX and open the XML in LPX (R-click the XML and chose "Open with Logic") the Voice track transfers correctly, same as the audio FX clips. But none of the multicam music shows up in LPX:



Detaching the audio from the multicam clip in FCPX would solve this problem, but that cannot be done. Neither can you "flatten" a multicam clip in FCPX like you can in FCP. You have to find another way of getting the audio out of the multiclip and onto the Timeline in FCPX so FCPXML can recognize it. Here's how:

First open the multiclip in the Angle Editor and copy the audio angles inside the Angle Editor. In this case there is only one music track in the multiclip, called "Always":



Then back in the Project Timeline paste the copied multiclip audio under the multiclip.



Now when you export an XML and you open it in LPX all the Project audio is correctly transferred and placed on the LPC timeline:



From here you can export an AAF for your sound guy.

If you want to check if the audio tracks in LPX are in synch with the FCPX video, or if you want to add the video to the AAF for your audio guy, you can export a Master File (Video only or video with audio) from FCPX. For the easiest workflow select "Publish to Media Browser" in the Export window, so you will easily find the exported video in LPX:



When the export is finished just launch LPX and go to the LPX Media Browser



Drag the file anywhere onto the project and your video will be placed exactly at the start of your project timeline. Then you can play video and audio together



I am sorry I have misinformed you about OMF export in LPX, I'm just trying to get around this new app myself. To me not having OMF is not a big deal as we always use AAF for going to ProTools.

- Ronny

Thanks a lot for this Ronny. I will have a look into this, sounds like that would work though, so thanks for explaining it so well.

I still havn't heard back from the sound guy, but it sounds like it's rather difficult to make an omf file from FCPX, so I hope it will be no big deal that it is an AAF file.

It should not be a problem. OMF and AAF are basically the same, except AAF is newer and it retains more information such as volume automation and track names. Most applications for audio and video support AAF.

Oh yes, one more thing about the multicam XML issue:

Of course if your multicam has chopped up audio from different angles, copying the audio from the Angle Editor will be of little use unlesss your audio engineer wants to cut the whole multicam audio again. In this case you can flatten the multicam clip (i.e. export the multicam clip to a QT movie) from inside the FCPX Timeline and import it back. Then replace the original multicam clip with the flattened one before exporting the XML. This of course makes you lose any handles on the audio.

We can only hope that FCXML gets improved drastically as soon as possible.

- Ronny

sound good and you tip did work very well. I notice that in LPX that the sound has no in and out fadings even though I made them in final cut, is this the same with the old omf file that you can export from final cut 7? I am just curious to know whether the file I send will be different from what he has gotten from the previous editor, I a not sure if I should do that in LPX before I send it off.

That's another limitation of the current FCPXML import feature in LPX. Although audio fades (as well as multicam audio) do get exported from FCPX via FCPXML, Logic pro X currently does not recognize these. So if you have made manual fades in FCPX you will either have to leave it to your audio guy to do them again in his DAW (audio people prefer doing or re-doing everything themselves anyway), or you can add the fades yourself in LPX and they will be included in the AAF.

To add manual fades in LPX just double-click any audio clip to open it in the track editor and use the fade tool (which is selected by default in the editor) to drag the fade handles at the start and end of your clip. Using the same tool you also can adjust the curves of your fades.



But as I said: audio engineers prefer receiving their audio untouched by "video people" and do all their audio magic themselves. So you might just send the AAF from LPX as it is and leave the rest to the engineer.

- Ronny

From what I've heard xtopro audio convert works much better at converting audio from FCPX to Logic x than the FCPXML route. But... xtopro audio convert makes an AAF anyway... so why bother with logic x if your audio engineer is using pro tools.

I have suggested X2pro in another thread: www.fcp.co/forum/4-final-cut-pro-x-fcpx/...3-exporting-omf-file

But the OP prefers a solution that doesn't cost him extra money and he has Logic Pro X, that's why we are discussing this particular workflow now.

- Ronny

how strange, it sounds like alven was going to buy xtopro audio convert on that thread you mentioned.

Yes, I changed my mind because I thought an omf file would be the best thing, as I didn't hear from the sound guy. I did download x2pro now though and it works a lot better.

one more concern I have. When I open the AAF in Logic Pro X I have to locate where the files are saved. So I only send the AAF file to the sound guy, will he be able to open it at all without having all the media?

If you have created the AAF with embedded (not referenced) media you won't have to send anything else, as long as his DAW can open AAF files with embedded audio.

- Ronny

Thanks. I had to import the file in Logic Pro X and then export an AAF from there in order to be able to open in up in LPX without linking it to the files. Maybe that's one of the disadvantages of having the LE version of x2pro

It's so crazy.. I still have this problem, and I worked it out the first time, but now I have the problems of the sounds not being there (without linking them up) after I export the file.

And I keep getting an error message, that Logic Pro X shuts down unexpectedly when I try to import an X2ProLe AAF into Logic. I don't know why this is. Does anyone have any suggestions so I can successfully send an AAF file that is not broken?

If you want to create OMFs so you can go into Protools, the workaround that worked for me is:

Creating AAFs of each element of the sound track. To do this:

Duplicate your project (don't have to duplicate the events). Each duplicated project will represent one aspect of the sound. EG, music track 1; music track 2; fx track 1; dialogue track 1 etc etc.
Delete all but one element of the sound (eg delete all dialogue, fx etc, leave, say, the music track)
Create handles on each piece of sound (however long your mixer wants, usually 5 or 10 secs).
Once you've made the handles for one sound element, make sure they don't overlap with another sound element. If they do, you'll have to duplicate and make another project.
Then export as AAF and lable it.
Leave the image there - it will ensure your tracks start at 00.00.00
You'll need to do this with each element of sound.
Export as Audio Only and choose AAF.
It's a bugger but it works. Took me a couple of hours for a four minute video with complex sound.

Hope that helps all those burnt by FCPX as I was. Must move to Adobe Premier Pro.

Jane

Jane, simply use X2Pro.

Doesn't work according to those who've been using is - or at least really hit and miss. Not to mention the $$