FCP to STP MultiTrack Mix: Need HELP
by SammyClam
on
Jun 7, 2006 at 10:10:01 pm
Hi,
I've searched the posts without luck and am fairly new to STP. I've succesfully sent 14 tracks of FCP audio to STP for mixing. Though the manual suggests "multiple rountrips between STP and FCP", I'm lost with how to do this. If I Export Mix, I'm asked to give the file a name and it subsquently saves as a single stereo AIFF file. Sure, I can import this into FCP and replace my 14 tracks with the stereo mix, but how then can I make adjustments? Obviously, I'm doing something wrong.
Second question, if the compressor effect is checked, does it automatically export with the mix? Or must I apply or bounce it somehow, and if so, how - since the flatten option is greyed out.
Re: FCP to STP MultiTrack Mix: Need HELP by Sjon Ueckert on Jun 8, 2006 at 5:50:44 am
Okay, let me answer your second question first. When you "bounce" a sound file out of some program like Logic Pro, you are, in effect, making a full mix with effects on the files you are exporting. In STP you don't "bounce." When you save (it is recommended that the save is "non-destructive"), you are in effect saving out an effects package that will be applied to the original sound every time it is played in FCP. If you open the original sound file (or video file with a sound track) you will hear the audio as it was captured on your computer from tape - unchanged. So the answer is " no you don't apply bounce, all effects are exported with the mix and will appear in FCP."
NOTE: I presume you are talking about Effects>Dynamic>Compressor and not Export with Compressor. The latter is for compressing the files and has nothing to do with adding effects or filters.
Now the first problem. I just exported 20 tracks of audio (Send to STMP) and they opened up as 20 tracks in STP. I'm not sure what is meant by multiple roundtrips, but I just highlighted all 20 tracks and used the Send to... command. Works fine. The roundtrip balked once or twice (but worked fine on a second attempt). track clip spacing was maintained. If you have Stereo Linked files, they will export as a single Stereo track to STP. If you want to maintain the original track separation, unlink the stereo files.
I sent all 20 tracks with one roundtrip. I can then export selected tracks if I want to maintain the separation of tracks (this will require 20 exports (20 tracks in - 20 tracks out)), or you can export the stereo mix.
Re: FCP to STP MultiTrack Mix: Need HELP by SammyClam on Jun 9, 2006 at 5:42:31 pm
Thanks Sjon for confirming that the audio compression effect is automatically sent with the export. As for the second part of your response, I'm still lost. If I Export Mix, my 14 tracks are exported as a single stereo AIFF file which I can then import into FCP and replace the previous 14 tracks with. No problem. If I then want to make changes without changing the duration of the original sent file (in otherwise, treating the sent mix as if it is 'locked'), then I can simply return to my mix in STP, make my changes, save with the same file name and FCP will automatically update the changes. No problem. If I export each audio track from STP individually, it appears I must also treat them as locked, import them as single files and replace in FCP. Again, no problem.
BUT... the STP user manual gives me the impression that I can somehow export or send the finished STP mix, import into FCP, keep editing if need be (with individual clips), and make roundtrips between FCP and STP as the project is tweaked. Have I made the wrong assumption? Because after I've imported and replaced the tracks, when I then try to send back to STP, it will only open a new Multitrack Project displaying each track as a single long audio file. Which leads me to think the above scenario is the way to do it and that the STP Multitrack mixing is for 'LOCKED' PROJECTS ONLY.
Hope all this makes sense. Thanks for your help,
SC
P.S. I'm not interested in the 'open in editor' feature or using STP for individual audio clip cleaning. Only for the final mix.
Re: FCP to STP MultiTrack Mix: Need HELP by Sjon Ueckert on Jun 9, 2006 at 7:15:46 pm
I am not sure what you mean by "locked" but it sounds like you mean stereo pair linked files. You can see two little triangles (facing to matching triangles in the opposing stereo track), if the file is a linked stereo pair. These can be unlinked and then act as two mono files (with pans set respectively). But as to what you are trying to accomplish, I still don't "get it." If you unlink the files and highlight both and "Send to.." you will get multiple tracks in STP.
Re: FCP to STP MultiTrack Mix: Need HELP by SammyClam on Jun 9, 2006 at 9:55:51 pm
I'm not referring to locked tracks or stereo pairs, but to a locked edit -- meaning done, finito, no more changes, send to the audio post house. Also, I have no trouble sending and mixing multiple tracks in STP. All I'm wondering is how to do multiple roundtrips between STP and FCP with the individual clips preserved as they are (save for mixing effects, etc.) - not amalgamated into one stereo file.
The STP user manual, pg 258, point 3 says, "When you want to work on the project in STP again, control-click the clip of the exported mix, then choose Open in Editor from the shortcut menu. A dialog appears asking if you want to open the audio file or the original project. Click Open Project."
When I control-click on the STP exported clip that I've layed down in FCP (the 2 channel, amalgamated, mixed stereo AIFF file replacing my previous 14 tracks), I can choose to open in editor (which is set to STP) -- but I do not get a dialog box allowing me to Open Project. Am I supposed to name my exported STP file a certain way? Or what am I doing wrong???
Re: FCP to STP MultiTrack Mix: Need HELP by John Steventon on Jun 27, 2006 at 9:18:17 am
I think I'm in the same situation as you here... and would also like some advice.
The client wants a dubbed offline version - so I'll go into STP and dub it.
Then they'll come back with changes.
If I export an AIFF from STP, and use that for the offline review, when they come back with changes, I'll have to re-dub the entire project again, as the STP project I originally worked on won't refer to the final edit.
Is that kinda similar?
If so, how do I do this?
John.
John
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