Why did my audio sync up better in iMovie than FCP?

Question

JohnDoe2009 Author

Level 1

0 points

Why did my audio sync up better in iMovie than FCP?

Hi,

I started on a project in iMovie HD, then realized that FCP is probably the better way to go (ability to crop clips and maintain corresponding audio).

But in FCP, the audio is out of sync, and I can get it only to within 1 frame, while in iMovie everything synced up fine. Same aiff file.

So... is there a way in iMovie HD to crop a clip with audio that is already locked to the playhead, and have the audio crop along with the video, or do I have to manually crop the audio and re-sync it with the video? Eventually on the dvd, I want to have short (3-5 minute) samples of the clips play first, then the full versions of the clips, and I don't want to spend hours re-syncing the audio with the short clips.

Thanks!

Posted on Mar 24, 2011 12:58 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 24, 2011 11:40 PM in response to JohnDoe2009

Hi

But in FCP, the audio is out of sync, and I can get it only to within 1 frame, while in iMovie everything synced up fine. Same aiff file.

This I can have a suggestion about.

FinalCut - When You start a new project You set the properties for it.
And here You select frame rate (PAL = 25 and NTSC = 29.97 (30))
AND Audio - as 32kHz or 44.1kHz or 48kHz

See in what quality Your Camera is recording - Should be 16-bit 48kHz but most often
set from factory to 12-bit 32kHz.

So you need to match project setting to what material You are using - else out of sync. drift.

Yours Bengt W

Reply

Answer 2

JohnDoe2009 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2011 8:36 AM in response to Bengt Wärleby

All setting match: DV NTSC 29.97 (30) and 48kHz.

Things are not drifting, it's that I couldn't adjust things on a smaller fraction than 1 frame in FCP.

But NOW, I just found out that it is possible to adjust audio in FCP by subframe increments, so I'll attempt that and report back.

Reply

Answer 3

JohnDoe2009 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 25, 2011 1:41 PM in response to JohnDoe2009

FYI-The audio subframe feature in FCP worked for my needs.

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 25, 2011 11:09 PM in response to JohnDoe2009

Hi

Me interested - How did You do the sub-frame adjustment (IN FCP). Never figured this out.

Yours Bengt W

Reply

Answer 5

JohnDoe2009 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 27, 2011 4:51 PM in response to Bengt Wärleby

1. Click on your audio so it shows in the viewer.
2. Zoom in all the way until the the black bar representing 1 frame is as wide as possible.
3. Hold shift and move the cursor, which will re-align the audio within the frame.

For more details, search the FCP online manual for audio subframes.

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 27, 2011 10:44 PM in response to JohnDoe2009

Great - Thank You !

Reply