Sound Mixing in FCP X

OK, so a big selling point of FCP X is the enhanced audio editing and mixing built in without having to go out to an external editor. This is great news for me as I often have projects with very tight deadlines where I would love to output to OMF and mix in Pro Tools but can't because of the extra time involved.

The Promise of FCPX is to increase the speed and flexibility of polishing a sound mix. I'm not expecting Pro Tools style super power and functionality but some of the essentials that help you do a better job or do it in less time.

So,

- Easily handling multiple audio formats - fantastic!
- Sample accurate editing - great!
- Real time effects ie. EQ and Compression - hurrah!
- Precise parameter automation - phew!
- Easy way of fading in / out - yup!

But then you quickly start to hit the limits. And while all the above are really useful and markedly better than other video editors (although Avid does do real time fx), it still needs to be improved.

Firstly, music. If I'm assembling a bed for my short film I don't want the music magnetically hanging on to a video clip it just happens to be below. I want the music separate. You can do that through creating a Storyline just for music, but it's clunky and counter to the notion of 'trackless' editing.

Secondly, real time effects. If I've got 3 interview soundbytes all with internal edits that could easily be 10-15 separate clips that I have to drop EQ and Compression onto. Yes, I can create a preset but I still have to select that preset 15 times for each effect. Or I can copy and paste the effects, but that also copies the visual effects - uh oh!

And then what happens when I want to tweak the EQ of a contributor to add say a bit more top end? In an an audio NLE like Pro Tools or Soundtrack Pro it's 20 seconds work to open a single track plug-in, tweak and close. In FCP-X this is a logistical nightmare. There are workarounds, like using Storylines and grouping clips together. But this effectively puts you in a position of needing picture lock, largely offsetting the flexibility of having improved audio editing within FCPX.

If I have to go with a position of picture lock I might as well not bother. It would be better to go out to Pro Tools or similar.

SOLUTION

What I think FCPX needs to sort this issue is a system of 'auxhilaries' or 'sends' which enable you to send clips to a mix buss or similar. You could then apply real time effects to a group of clips (ie. a voice over track) with just a single set of plug-in parameters. If you need to change the paramenters, all the clips would be changed at the same time. You could even apply this principle to visual effects so for example all clips of Jon Smith are processed with the same universal single grade, which if updated would be applied to all clips routed to it.

It doesn't need to look complicated. It doesn't need virtual mix faders or anything like that. It doesn't even need to be particularly visible for those who would find it too complicated. But something that makes up for the lack of track based global effects that are so necessary for fast audio processing should definitely be looked into.

Does this make sense? I'm going to do a screenflow explaining when I get round to it....

Tel

You said that very well. I completely agree. However, this has been the same issue with Final Cut since v1. It's allows you to apply effects and levels to clips, rather than tracks. Which is just crazy if you think about a typical audio mixing workflow. The faders in previous FCP versions were pretty much useless because of it.

I am actually used to the workflow of setting basic levels when editing and then after the picture is locked adding EQ, Compression, Limit, etc. So the currently workaround of making "tracks" with compound clips is a somewhat effective workaround.

I would send Apple FCP feedback (and hopefully others will do the same). I think Apple has realized this issue and will be addressing it soon as they have said that they will be adding OMF export by allowing audio clips to be grouped or tagged.

- T.

One other option to modify effects on a group of clips is to use the timeline index, switch to audio clips and then select the audio clips and apply/edit effects.

Tried this already but doesn't work. Even with multiple items selected (and showing in the info bar) only one clip gets affected if you change fx settings. Unless I'm missing something?

Terry

Humm... It is working on my end. Try this, select a number of clips in the timeline and then in the inspector change the level and you should see all the waveforms update. If not something is wrong.

Also, to add an effect to multiple audio clips select them all first, then double click on the audio effect to add it to all the clips (dragging doesn't seem to work).

You can also select multiple audio clips via the timeline index, but after you select them you'll need to change the "focus" on the timeline (Command 2) in order to modify them in the inspector.

Let me know if this doesn't work for you and I'll post a quick screencast.

- T.

You're right, works with volume. But still doesn't seem to work with any real time inserted effects.

Ahh, I see the bug. If you adjust a parameter in the GUI of the audio effect it seems to effect a random clip. However, if you adjust a parameter in the FCP X inspector, then it effects all clips.

I sent a bug report to Apple.

- T.

i tried this the other day
try duplicating project
then break apart all audio
even out levels across similar audio
then create compound clips for similar audio
then apply audio filters to these compound clips and for final mix

its really a bit destructive way to work and like you said bussing is the real way to achieve this, hope apple listens

Here's a workaround: Although you can select multiple clips and add audio effects, FCPX evidently won't let you EDIT those effects all at once (only applies your change to one instance of the effect).

But since it DOES honor changes made to multiple clips in the INSPECTOR PANE, you can make a preset in one instance of an effect and then apply that preset to all clips in a selection at one time.