How to split audio tracks [Full Mix on Ch. 1 and Nat Sound/Soundbites on Ch. 2] in Final Cut Pro. 1-Confusing Audio Terminology. Channel 1 and Channel 2 refer to the distinct audio OUTPUTS that are recorded to videotape. For our purposes, think of these as stereo speakers. Channel 1 is Left and Channel 2 is Right. Audio tracks refer to SOURCE AUDIO in Final Cut Projects. There can be multiple audio tracks [Narration Track, Nat Sound Track, Translator Track, etc.]. These tracks are usually preset to output to both Right [Ch.2] and Left [Ch.1] speakers. So Audio Track 1 does NOT necessarily correspond to Channel 1 and so on To split audio, we will have to Pan Audio Tracks to conform to the VOA Television Broadcast Standard. 2-VOA Television Broadcast Standard. All VOA television studios and broadcast operations are wired to air Channel 1 audio only. Channel 2 is used by other Services to reconstruct the stories in a different language. To accommodate these requirements and maintain consistency throughout the organization, the standard configuration is as follows: Channel 1 Full mix of Narration, Nat. Sound, Sound bites, and Translations Channel 2 Nat Sound and Sound bites in original Language only [No Narration or Translations] 3- Mixing and Splitting Audio on FCP Audio Mix. During the initial editing stage, you may have included clips with stereo audio [panned right or left] or mono audio, [outputs to both channels]. To do a good audio mix, first convert all tracks to mono audio so that you hear all track in both headphones. So let s first make sure pan all pan all audio tracks CENTER to hear everything, Select the double forward arrow icon [all tracks forward] in the toolbox.
Highlight all audio tracks. Pan track center by clicking Modify/Audio/Center. ***SHORTCUT: When finished highlighting, return to the generic selector tool by hitting the A key on keyboard.
To use the audio mixer tool to adjust levels click Window/Arrange/Audio Mixing This window configuration will allow you to adjust level as you listen. Some mixing tips: Audio levels should peak at 12db [Peaking at 0db will result in a distorted track.] Be careful to match the Sound bite level to the Narrator track. Trust your ear. Often I have to raise the Sound bite tracks to a higher audio level to match the Narrator track. Nat Sound should be heard under the Narrator track but should not be too loud as to compete or override the Narrator track. Finding that sweet spot is especially difficult wearing headphones but can be done.
Also use the Pen tool to bring up nat sound pops then fade sound under. Click in red audio level line to make a pen mark. Make two pen marks back to back where you want to fade under an audio track. ***To make the red audio level lines appear on the timeline, click on the Toggle Clip Overlays tool which looks like two pen marks on a crooked line located at the bottom left corner of the timeline.*** Splitting Audio If you ve followed the procedure for mixing audio, all your audio tracks are currently CENTERED which means the output to both Ch. 1 Left and Ch 2 Right are identical. To comply with the VOA Television Broadcast Standard you must now split the audio tracks accordingly: Select Track Forward Tool icon in the toolbox.
Highlight only the Narrator/ Translator track or tracks de[i also lock the tracks I do NOT want to highlight just to be sure.] Pan this Track LEFT - Click Modify/Audio/Pan Left ***Panning the Narrator/Translator track also boosts the level about 3db. So one last adjustment must be made to lower the highlighted Narrator/Translator track to the proper mix level. Lower track level by clicking Modify/Audio/Gain 3db Check again your levels by listening only to the Left headphone. The Right headphone should play only the Nat Sound and Sound bites.
Simple???