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Organize audio clips into tracks according to their type
Audio editing and mixing is a lot easier if you organize the audio clips in an edited
sequence into multiple tracks, based on their type. For example, it’s common to put all
sync-sound dialogue clips into one group of tracks (some editors put each actor’s dialogue
into a separate track), background ambience in another group of tracks, sound effects in
another group of tracks, and music in a different group of tracks. Useful track categories
include:
• Dialogue
• Voiceover
• Music
• Ambience
• Sound effects
Put a one-frame video flash and audio beep before the beginning and after the end
of your sequence
As an aid to checking and maintaining program sync, it’s helpful to use a one-frame 2-pop
(named after the sync beep that occurs at the number 2 of a countdown reel). The beeps
travel with the audio that you send to Soundtrack Pro (or a third-party digital audio
workstation, or DAW). When you bring your final mix back into Final Cut Pro, you can use
the first pop to line up the mixed audio with the flash frames in the sequence; the last
pop confirms whether or not your sync is good for the entire duration of the mix.
If necessary, divide your program into reels
It’s common, but not always necessary, to divide long-form programs into reels. For
example, if the program’s audio will be exported as Open Media Framework (OMF) files
for delivery to a mixing facility, and the program contains many high-resolution audio
clips, you might need to follow this strategy because OMF files have a 2 GB file size limit.
Dividing your program into reels can also serve an organizational purpose, because
program reels that are considered finished and locked can be moved down the
post-production pipeline to sound design and color correction, while others can continue
to be edited.
Audio Finishing Using Final Cut Pro
Final Cut Pro has many features that support high-quality audio editing and mixing,
including subframe keyframing and syncing, per-clip level and pan controls, automated
mixing using control surfaces, and audio filters for common tasks such as equalization
and compression. One advantage of finishing your audio inside Final Cut Pro is that you
don’t have to do a roundtrip between Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro. You can simply
continue working in the Timeline, and when you finish with the audio, you’re ready to
render and output your program.
92 Chapter 5 Finishing