Hack 54. Export Your Audio for Mixing

Using an application designed specifically for audio, such as Pro Tools, can make a tremendous difference in how your audio sounds. But first, you need to get your audio to your mixing system.

Video-editing applications have come a long way in their audio-editing abilities. But at the end of the day, they are focused on video editing and fall short of the capabilities you need to make you audio really sound great. For this reason, applications such as Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net; free, open source), Adobe's Audition (http://www.adobe.com; $299), Apple's Logic (http://www.apple.com; $299 Express, $699 Pro), and DigiDesign's Pro Tools (http://www.digidesign.com; $495 $2,895) exist and excel.

So, you want to mix your audio to make it sound better. How do you go from your editing system to your mixing system? It's easy.

5.5.1. Finding Out What You Need

You will need to find out which audio formats your audio application supports, in addition to finding out which audio formats your video-editing application can export. Each audio system has different capabilities, but they all serve the same purpose: to work with audio. Because of this, you can rely on the fact that they'll be able to import and export standard audio formats, in addition to whatever proprietary formats they use.

These are some of the standard formats every audio system should support:

• Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

• Audio (AU)

• Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)

• Waveform Audio (WAV)

If you are editing using Final Cut Pro or Avid Xpress, and plan on mixing using Pro Tools, you might be able to use the Open Media Framework OMF) format to exchange your audio. Be aware that not all Pro Tools systems will be able to translate an OMF and that the process can be trying.

After you determine which format you can both import into your audio application and export from your video-editing application, you are on your way to audio bliss.

5.5.2. Preparing to Mix

Before you actually export your audio, you should create a short (preferably one frame long) audible cue at the beginning of your video. This cue is referred to as a two pop, and usually includes a video cue, as well. For safety, you should also add a cue to the end of your video. By adding the audible cues at the beginning and end of your video, you will be able to realign them when you import the audio back into your system and know with confidence that your audio is in sync with your video.

Also try to make the process of mixing your audio as easy as possible. One step you can take is to make sure your audio is cleanly separated [Hack #2], so that it is easy to discern which track of audio contains which type of audio. For example, if you need to replace a piece of music, you will know it's not on your dialogue tracks, because your dialogue and music are on separate tracks. If you edited your project without taking this into concern, it will prove extremely worthwhile to spend the extra time and move your tracks as necessary before proceeding.

5.5.3. Exporting Your Audio

After preparing your audio for mix, it's time to send it off. Here's how to export your audio:

Avid

File Export select setting

Final Cut

File Export Audio to AIFF(s)… (or Audio to OMF…)

Premiere

File Export Audio

After the export, you should have at least one audio file for every two audio tracks. For example, if you have four tracks of audio in your timeline, you should have at least two audio files (the first would comprise tracks one and two, and the second would comprise tracks three and four). These audio files will then be imported into your audio mixing application.

5.5.4. Importing Your Audio After Mixing

After your audio has been mixed, you will have one or more audio files, depending on how it has been exported from the audio-mixing application. If there is only one file, it is a complete, mixed version of your audio. If there is more than one file, you most likely have mixed audio, in the same configuration as you exported. Either way, you need to import the files into your video editing system:

Avid

File Import

Final Cut

File Import Files…

Premiere

File Import

You are creating a new version of your video (the mixed version), so you should create a duplicate timeline and label it accordingly. Then, place your mixed audio onto your duplicate timeline and realign your two-pop markers. If everything has been done correctly, your audio and video will be in sync. Once your mixed audio has been placed, you can safely remove your old, unmixed audio.