How do I trim audio and video simultaneously so they stay sync'ed?

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Level 1

10 points

How do I trim audio and video simultaneously so they stay sync'ed?

Hi, all...

I want to trim the beginning of a video clip and its separate audio clip simultaneously.

I used 3 claps to synchronize a separately recorded audio track with the video. I added the audio track and displayed the audio waveforms from both the video itself and the separate track, and then I dragged the separate track until the 3 peaks (claps) aligned in both. These are shown as the first 3 peaks in the image below. Now the tracks are sync'ed.

But now I want to trim those claps from the beginning of both the audio and video clips at the same time. Ideally I could select both the audio and video tracks and trim both in one operation, which would eliminate the beginning but keep them sync'ed.

How do I accomplish this?

Thanks

Steve

iMovie '11, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Jan 30, 2012 12:48 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

AppleMan1958

Level 7

27,492 points

Jan 30, 2012 3:20 PM in response to sfogel2

This is not a feature of iMovie. It is easily done in Final Cut Pro X.

You can simulate this function in iMovie with a workaround.

First line up the ausio with the video track. Do this in a new project where this is the only clip. Then export the clip in a high quality codec. I recommend SHARE/EXPORT USING QUICKTIME/ using Apple Intermediate Codec.

You will now have a .mov file in Apple Intermediate Codec. Import this clip back into the iMovie Event using FILE/IMPORT/MOVIE. You can now edit it as one piece.

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Answer 2

bobinma

Level 1

8 points

Jan 30, 2012 2:11 PM in response to sfogel2

I have the same question. I found I had to trim them separately (highlighting/deleting a few seconds of the lower half of the green audio and then the same amount of video above. At the 1/2 second range of clip viewing, it was close enough to still appear sync'd. But a one-step process would be easier and safer.

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