MultiCam Audio levels different inside MC vs. on Timeline.

Problem: Audio levels inside a MultiCam are different once you're 'outside' a multicam, working in the Project timeline. In this instance tonight, I now seem to have gained +6dB difference between inside and out. I've experienced this for many FCPX versions, on multiple machines running FCPX.

I'm triple checking all my audio filters, but I just can't account for this audio difference.

Anyone else noticed this?

I usually put a limiter on the audio inside the MC. (For my current project, I've added a limiter, and EQd the Audio to my liking.

Two screenshots attached - notice the Meters.
1) Inside MultiCam, with EQ and Limiter panels opened.
2) In main timeline, with clip from that multi, EQ open but not touched. Volume at 0. But now its clipping hard.

Am I missing something?

Yep, I have noticed the same thing, can't see why?

Ian S

Try to set the pan on the multiclip to stereo L-R. From my findings FCPX is utilizing M6 on the "masterbuss". Please correct me here anyone if I'm wrong regarding the pan law for FCPX.

Playing around with your suggestion, rrongman, and it doesn't seem to be improving or changing anything. Thanks for extra insight tho!

Are you monitoring only one clip's audio at a time in the angle editor?

Correct, there's only the one track enabled and monitored.

If you're only monitoring one audio channel in both the angle editor and the timeline, with no channel configuration changes, then that's odd.

If you're monitoring more than on channel in the timeline, or reconfiguring a single mono channel to dual mono channels, or a stereo channel, then you're seeing the additive effect of audio. Two channels individually at, let's say -3db, when played together increase the overall gain.

Also, inside the angle editor, you are working with that one clip, in an isolated fashion. Once you drop that Multicam clip into a Timeline, you are working with the Multicam container, not the individual clip, and levels can increase, decrease, etc. This is why I don't do audio work like this inside the angle editor, I do it in the Timeline, where the final mix/mastering should take place to the Multicam container as a whole.

But, according to your screen shots, that is odd. Than again, FCPX's audio needs serious work, always has needed it. Fill out the feedback form.

Yes my first thought was there was another channel adding in. But nope. And this has happened on a lot of projects before. Yep, I filled out the feedback forum (pointed the Devs to this Forum post too, in case anyone else had more info.) Thanks BenB.

Hello,

I just wanted to say I am having a similar issue since updating to version 10.2

However, my audio levels inside the multicam are higher than on the timeline. I am only finding this with audio-only angles. I too have checked that I'm not making some silly mistake, but everything is in order and I've had this trouble on my last two projects, both with an audio-only angle.

These are hour long multicams and I much prefer to do all the main work on the audio within the multicam and then just use the timeline for ducking/switching between tracks. Feels neater.

Fingers crossed for a solution soon

I'm on 10.2 and working on a multicam with 12 angles right now and there is no difference between the angle editor and the storyline.

Julian wrote: I'm on 10.2 and working on a multicam with 12 angles right now and there is no difference between the angle editor and the storyline.

Julian, do you have any audio-only angles? This happens only with my synced WAV audio from a Zoom Recorder. The Camera audio doesn't appear to change.

Yeah, I have an angle that is just an audio track from the recording session of the song used in the performance.

I just came back here to point out that if you have a cross dissolve at the in and out point of a clip and you drag them so that they are touching, the audio then has a peaking issue, but I think this is a different bug altogether.

Yeah, I've noticed too that multicam audio is a little buggy since the last update. I'm working on a multicam clip with 6 channels of audio. I turn off the unused and conflicting channels (mic'd up individuals not in the same room as the camera), but they are still "on" when I play back the clip in the multicam timeline. Annoying.

I have this same problem! So annoying! It is so much more efficient to add audio effects and adjustments inside the Multicam and this latest version totally breaks the functionality. Is there anyone that isn't having this problem? I can't believe this is broken now. Its such a big part of my workflow! I hope they fix it in the next version.

You can't add effects and make adjustments in the timeline? This works for me, and doesn't sound like what others are describing.

Hi Tom,

I meant to say "inside the Multicam" instead inside the timeline.

Rob

You should be able to apply effects and adjust levels inside the angle editor. What exactly isn't working? What are you doing and what happens when you do it?

Yeah, I seem to be having this issue today, too. First multicam project since updating to 10.2x and after setting audio track levels, eq, and limiter and going into the timeline it appears to be partially or wholly ignoring what I did inside the angle editor (using Treble Boost and tweaking it from there might be fully working, but my limiter I applied is definitely NOT).

Audio effects applied in the angle editor don't work the same as video effects. The audio effect is applied in the project on a cut by cut basis and the controls are based on the content of the cut clip, which makes the effect vary, sometimes considerably from shot to shot.

Just a note to say FCPX MCs still behave weirdly with audio levels: Working on a multicam with 4 angles and 2 audio channels, Inside the Multicam I'll EQ and Apply a Limiter to 1 channel, so the audio peaks at 0 dB. When I go up to the Timeline, the edited clips will peak at -6 dB even after making sure that only 1 audio channel is enabled, and not set to dual-mono or something like that.

Sometimes the created MultiCams have no dB change, sometimes there's +6 dB, sometimes there -6 dBs. Can't find rhyme or reason.