Audio out of Sync - Final Cut Pro to Soundtrack and back

Question

Level 1

8 points

Audio out of Sync - Final Cut Pro to Soundtrack and back

I have edited some talking head interviews in FCP 7.0.3

When I "Send to Soundtrack Pro Multitrack Project" and then send back to Final Cut (by exporting an AIFF)
The audio is 9 frames shorter than the original audio. (The video is 06:29:12 long)

I have checked, and double, triple checked, and all audio is 48.0 KHz

Both timelines are Non-Drop Frame.

I have also tried the following when importing the XML back in to FCP

1. Leave Sequence Settings at "auto" with "Override with settings from XML" selected
2. Change Sequence Settings to "Apple ProRes 422 1920x1080 24fps" with "Override with settings from XML" de-selected.

I have looked and looked through forums and haven't found any real solutions, please help

Final Cut Pro 7, Mac OS X (10.6.8), 2.66 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 8GB

Posted on Oct 25, 2011 7:46 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 25, 2011 8:02 AM in response to maxx71

So is the project the correct length in soundtrackpro? Can you just export the finished audio from soundtrack pro and use that?

are all your audio clips aiffs?

Is your sequence setting in fcp 24P? If so, this is not 24fps. It's 23.98 (or there abouts).

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Answer 2

maxx71 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 25, 2011 9:13 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

Michael,

Thank you for your quick response.

The project is 06:29:12 in FCP.
When I send it to Soundtrack it's 06:29:12 (same)

When I export an AIFF from Soundtrack, and bring that AIFF into FCP… it is 06:29:03 (different)

If I open that same AIFF in After Effects, it's 06:29:12 (same)

All clips are AIFFs except for the audio brought in linked to video (Apple Pro Res 422 48kHz 24fps)

Everything is at 24fps,
although I created a sequence in FCP at 23.98 and got the same results.

In the end - I brought the AIFF in from soundtrack and simply changed it's speed to match the video.
It's not an elegant solution, but it seemed to work. I wish I just knew what the issue was/is.

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Answer 3

Oct 26, 2011 8:24 AM in response to maxx71

so how did you get material as prores 24fps? Are you sure it's not 24p? a mismatch someplace could be the cause of the problem.

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Answer 4

maxx71 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 27, 2011 6:18 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

I converted the source files using MPEG Streamclip 1.9.2 (http://www.squared5.com/)
Attached is an example of the settings as seen from MPEG, Final Cut Pro and After Effects

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Answer 5

Oct 27, 2011 7:16 AM in response to maxx71

Where are your source files from? If they're 24p, you should not set the frame rate in mpeg streamclip to 24 fps, but to 23.98 fps.

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Answer 6

maxx71 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 27, 2011 7:58 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

The source files were screen captures of Skype interviews given to me by my producer.

They were not captured via camera. The result was that a lot of the recordings had different

frame, data, and audio rates. This is why I converted everything, so that it would all be

exactly the same.

Are you saying that this issue is a result of all clips being 24fps and not 23.98fps? If they've

all been converted to be the same audio and frame rate, it shouldn't matter, should it?

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Answer 7

Oct 27, 2011 8:06 AM in response to maxx71

if they've all been converted properly, yes it shouldn't matter. But there's a lot of room for operator error (this is the voice of experience speaking). Were there any audio only files used? If so, you need to make sure that your easy setup is for the correct frame rate. Apparently, fcp can have a problem with imported audio files if the easy setup frame rate does not match your sequence frame rate. Don't ask me why. I haven't seen it, but it has been reported here several times.

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Answer 8

maxx71 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 27, 2011 8:26 AM in response to Michael Grenadier

Apparently, fcp can have a problem with imported audio files if the easy setup frame rate does not match your sequence frame rate.

I've seen this reported as well.

I actually created a new project, set up the "Easy Set Up" to match and ran into the same problem.

Initially the Music Tracks I used were a different audio rate (44.1 vs 48) but I converted those as well.

I'll have to chalk this up to user error, but I've truly been over this project with a fine-tooth comb so many times.

In general, it doesn't seem like there should be so much issue going from Final Cut to Soundtrack and back.

When I get some down time, I'm going to completely recreate this project from

scratch and see what happens.

Thank you so much for your time Michael.

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Answer 9

mrrisk

Level 1

0 points

Nov 22, 2013 9:19 PM in response to maxx71

I had this same problem with a video that uses a variety of sources and formats, an actor's promo reel. despite the fact that all audio sources were 100% without a doubt converted to 48/16, prior to entering FCP 7.03, when I sent it to soundtrack and back to FCP, it was shorter and thus out of sync.

Its a pain but the only thing that completely solved the problem is I open each individual video file in a music program like Logic Pro. only the audio appears. then I export the region as an AIF and import it into FCP. I then sync the logic file with original video audio. then I mute the original, leaving only the imported Logic file and send to soundtrack, now when it comes back everything is in time. and the same length.

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