Apple Final Cut Pro X 10.1.2 User Guide

							 Chapter 8    Edit audio 171
 •Mute a component’s audio by disabling all or a portion of the component. This is the fastest 
way to remove unwanted sounds from a component. See Solo, disable, and enable clips
 on 
page 11 5.
 •Use fade handles to fade audio in at the beginning or out at the end of an audio 
component. See Fade audio in or out
 on page 17 6 .
 •Pan the sound for individual components. See Pan audio on page 17 9.
 •Assign a role such as Dialogue, Music, or Effects to a component in the Info inspector (or by 
using the Modify menu when the clip that contains the audio component is in the Timeline). 
See Use roles to organize clips and export audio files
 on page 18 9 .
 •Add or adjust audio effects for individual components. See Add audio effects on page 19 0  or 
Adjust audio effects
 on page 19 2 .
 •Adjust audio effects for individual components using keyframes. See Adjust audio effects 
using keyframes
 on page 19 5.
For examples of multichannel audio editing workflows, see Multichannel audio editing 
examples
 on page 18 3 .
Configure audio channels
Final Cut Pro assigns a default channel configuration for audio clips when they are imported 
or added to a project. You can change the channel configuration if, for example, you want to 
convert a stereo dialogue clip to two mono channels.
Final Cut Pro automatically groups channels into audio components according to how the 
channels are configured for the clip. For more information, see About audio channels and audio 
components
 on page 15 8 .
In addition to changing the channel configuration, you can view and listen to audio components, 
add or remove audio components from a clip, and rename audio components.
Change the channel configuration
The number of channel options you can configure depends upon how many channels are in 
your source clip or compound clip. You can configure channels in several formats, including:
 •Mono: Single channel. In a surround sound setup, you can assign a mono channel to any 
surround channel.
 •Stereo: Left and right channels.
 •5.1 surround: Left, center, right, left surround, right surround, and low-frequency effects 
(subwoofer bass) channels.
 •7.1 surround: Left, center, right, left surround, right surround, left back, right back, and low-
frequency effects (subwoofer bass) channels.
If you configure more than six surround channels, Final Cut Pro automatically adjusts the channel 
mix down to 5.1 surround during playback.
Important:  Changing the channel configuration resets all adjustments and edits made to audio 
components (including applied effects, disabled ranges, keyframe adjustments, and custom 
names).
 1 Select the clip in the Timeline.
 2 In the Channel Configuration section of the Audio inspector, choose an option from the 
Channels pop-up menu.
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The channels appear in the Audio inspector as separate audio components, each with its 
own waveform.
If you have a clip with surround channels and want to assign a mono channel to a specific 
surround channel, select the mono channel waveform and choose a surround channel from the 
Channels pop-up menu.
Note:  To change the channel configuration of a compound clip, first deselect Use Event Clip 
Layout from the Channels pop-up menu, and then choose another configuration.
To reset a configuration, click the Reset button 
.
View and listen to an audio component
 1 Select the clip in the Timeline.
 2 In the Channel Configuration section of the Audio inspector, click the disclosure triangle next to 
the clip name to reveal its audio components, and then skim over a component or play it back 
using the Space bar or the J, K, and L keys. 
Skim to preview.
Add or remove an audio component
You can add or remove audio components in a clip. For example, you may want to remove 
unused components from a clip, or add components from inactive angles to the active angle in a 
multicam clip.
By default, all active audio components in a clip appear as selected in the Audio inspector and 
are arranged in the same order when the clip is expanded to show audio components in the 
Timeline. To learn more about viewing audio components, see  Ways to view audio clips
 on 
page 15 8.
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When you remove an audio component, it appears dimmed in the Audio inspector but is 
removed from the clip’s component arrangement in the Timeline.
 1 Select the clip in the Timeline.
 2 In the Channel Configuration section of the Audio inspector, click the disclosure triangle next to 
the clip name to reveal the clip’s audio components.
 3 Do one of the following:
 •To remove a component: Deselect the checkbox next to a component waveform.
 •To add a component: Select the checkbox next to a component waveform.
Select to add or remove 
an audio component.
Rename a component
Do one of the following:
 mIn the Channel Configuration section of the Audio inspector: Click the disclosure triangle next to the 
clip name to reveal the clip’s audio components, and then double-click a component’s name and 
type a new name.
Type a new audio 
component name 
in the field.
 mIn a clip in the Timeline with expanded audio components shown: Control-click the audio 
component, choose Rename Component from the shortcut menu, and type a new name.
To learn more about viewing audio components, see  Ways to view audio clips
 on page 15 8.
Important:  If you subsequently change the channel configuration, all custom audio component 
names are reset to the original name.
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You can also choose a channel configuration when exporting roles as audio stems for mixing or 
post-production. For more information, see Use roles to organize clips and export audio files
 on 
page 18 9. If you choose an export file channel configuration that is different from that of your 
source files, the channels are exported in the following ways:
 •Stereo source exported as surround: The left and right channels are exported to the left and 
right channels of the surround file.
 •Surround source exported as stereo: The surround source is exported as a stereo (left and right 
channel) mix.
 •Stereo or surround source exported as mono: The stereo or surround source is exported as a 
mono (one channel) mix.
Adjust volume
You can adjust the volume levels of audio clips from the Browser, the Timeline, the Audio 
inspector, or the Modify menu. Volume adjustments you make in the Audio inspector or from 
the Modify menu are applied to the entire selection. To make more precise adjustments, you 
can create keyframes in the clip, and then make adjustments to points between keyframes. See 
Adjust audio effects using keyframes
 on page 19 5 .
You can make sure the volume doesn’t exceed peak levels, which may result in audible distortion, 
by using the Audio meters.
Adjust volume in the Timeline
 m Drag the volume control (the horizontal line across the audio waveform) up or down.
As you drag, the level reading in dB appears, and the waveform changes shape to reflect 
your adjustments.
Volume control
If you adjust the volume between two keyframes, the volume line slopes to show the change in 
volume between the keyframes.
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Adjust volume from the Modify menu or the keyboard
 1 Select one or more audio clips or video clips with audio in the Timeline.
 2 Do one of the following:
 •To adjust the volume in +1 or –1 dB increments: Choose Modify > Adjust Volume, and choose Up 
or Down, or press Control–Equal Sign (=) or Control-Hyphen (-).
 •To adjust the volume using an absolute dB value: Choose Modify > Adjust Volume > Absolute (or 
press Control-Option-L).
The Dashboard display changes to show Absolute dB.
To change the volume, type a positive or negative dB value.
Click to change to 
Relative volume.
Type a positive or negative value to change the absolute volume. The volume across the entire 
selection is set to one dB level, and any keyframe adjustments are deleted. 
 •To adjust the volume using a relative dB value: Choose Modify > Adjust Volume > Relative (or 
press Control-L).
The Dashboard display changes to show Relative dB.
To change the volume, type a positive or negative dB value.
Click to change to Absolute volume.
Type a positive or negative value to change the relative volume. The volume is adjusted by the 
same amount throughout the selection, preserving any fades or other keyframe adjustments.
If multiple clips are selected, the volume is adjusted for all clips.
Adjust volume in the Audio inspector
 1 Select one or more audio clips or video clips with audio in the Browser or the Timeline.
 2 In the Audio inspector, do one of the following:
 •Enter a value in the Volume field.
If multiple clips are selected, the volume for all clips is set to the value you entered.
 •Drag the Volume slider right to increase the volume, or left to decrease it.
If multiple clips are selected, the volume for all clips is adjusted relative to each clip’s 
original volume.
Volume slider
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Adjust volume automatically across a selected area
For volume adjustments of a clip in the Timeline, you can use the Range Selection tool to add 
keyframes automatically across a selected range.
 1 Select the clip in the Timeline.
 2 Choose Range Selection from the Tools pop-up menu in the toolbar (or press R).
The pointer changes to the Range Selection tool icon . 
 3 Drag across the area where you want to adjust the volume.
 4 Adjust the volume within the range by dragging the horizontal control up or down.
Keyframes are automatically created along the adjustment points within the range.
Reset all volume adjustments
 1 Select an audio clip or video clip with audio in the Browser or the Timeline.
 2 Click the Reset button  in the Volume and Pan section of the Audio inspector.
Fade audio in or out
There are several ways to create fade-ins or fade-outs on the audio portion of a clip or an audio 
component in Final Cut Pro:
 •Automatic crossfades during transitions: When you add a transition to a video clip with attached 
audio, Final Cut Pro automatically applies a crossfade transition to the audio. If the audio is 
detached or expanded from the video, the audio is not affected by the video transition. See 
Add transitions to your project
 on page 214.
 •Crossfades: When trimming the audio waveform in clips, you can apply a crossfade to the edit 
point. See  Trimming overview
 on page 12 2.
 •Fade handles: You can quickly create fade-ins and fade-outs on the audio portion of a clip or an 
audio component in the Timeline by using fade handles, which appear in the top-left or top-
right corner of the audio waveform when you place the pointer over the clip.
Fade handleFade handle
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You can also change the fade’s shape by choosing one of several predefined options. 
Changing the fade shape changes the sound of the fade.
Note:  Fades created using fade handles override crossfades created by a transition.
Create a fade using fade handles
 m Drag the fade handle to the point in the clip where you want the fade to begin or end.
Fade handles from the beginning of a clip create a fade-in, while fade handles at the end of a clip 
create a fade-out.
Fade-inFade-out
Fades complement any volume adjustments you’ve already made to a clip. For example, if you 
previously adjusted the volume lower at the beginning of a clip, the fade-in increases the volume 
from silence (–∞ dB) to the level you’ve already specified.
Create a crossfade manually using fade handles
 1 Select two adjacent clips in the Timeline, and choose Clip > Expand A udio/Video (or press Control-S).
The clips appear expanded.
 2 Drag the end point of the first clip to the right and the start point of the second clip to the left 
so that the audio portions of the clips overlap.
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Note:  Make sure to adjust the audio overlap to the length you want.
 3 Drag the fade handles of each clip to the points where you want the fade to begin and end.
CrossfadeFade handle
To change the fade shape for each clip, follow the instructions immediately below.
Change the fade shape when using fade handles
 mControl-click a fade handle, and choose a fade option from the shortcut menu:
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 •Linear: Maintains a constant rate of change over the length of the fade.
 •S-curve: Eases in and out of the fade with the midpoint at 0 dB.
 •+3dB: Starts quickly and then slowly tapers off toward the end. This is the most useful setting 
for quick fades.
 •–3dB: Starts slowly and then moves quickly toward the end. This is the default setting and is 
best for maintaining a natural volume when crossfading between two adjacent clips.
Change the fade shape of a transition crossfade
 1 Select a transition in the Timeline, and do one of the following:
 •Choose Window > Show Inspector (or press Command-4).
 •Click the Inspector button in the toolbar.
 2 In the Audio Crossfade section of the Transition inspector, choose a fade option from the Fade In 
Type and Fade Out Type pop-up menus:
 •Linear: Maintains a constant rate of change over the length of the fade.
 •S-curve: Eases in and out of the fade with the midpoint at 0 dB.
 •+3dB: Starts quickly and then slowly tapers off toward the end. This is the most useful setting 
for quick fades.
 •–3dB: Starts slowly and then moves quickly toward the end. This is the default setting and is 
best for maintaining a natural volume when crossfading between two adjacent clips.
Pan audio
Panning audio lets you distribute sound across the stereo or surround spectrum to create 
balance or a special effect. For example, you can place more sound in the right channel of a 
stereo clip or less sound in the center channel of a surround clip.
Final Cut Pro includes a built-in surround sound decoder that lets you choose among several 
stereo and surround preset pan modes that you can apply to clips from the Audio inspector. 
Using the pan mode presets, you can dynamically re-create surround sound fields from stereo 
source content.
Note:  To display surround channels in the Audio meters, make sure you set your project’s audio 
and render properties to surround before you decode stereo content to surround channels. For 
more information, see Modify a project’s settings
 on page 89 .
When you change the pan mode in the Audio inspector, the setting is applied to the entire 
selection. To make more precise adjustments, you can add keyframes using the Audio Animation 
Editor or the Audio inspector, and then make adjustments to them in the Audio inspector.
Pan audio for stereo
 1 Select the audio clip.
 2 In the Audio inspector, choose Stereo Left/Right from the Pan Mode pop-up menu.
 3 Move the sound left or right by doing one of the following:
 •Type a value in the Pan Amount field.
 •Drag the Pan Amount slider left or right.
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Pan audio for surround sound
 1 Select the audio clip.
 2 In the Audio inspector, choose one of the following options from the Pan Mode pop-up menu:
 •Basic Surround: Positions the signal in its default channels, with a stereo signal in the right 
and left channels, and a mono signal in the center channel. The Pan Amount slider setting 
distributes portions of the signal to other channels and can be adjusted from –100 (left 
channels) to 100 (right channels).
 •Create Space: Distributes the signal across the surround spectrum, with more signal to the 
center and front left and right channels. This setting is useful for making a general-purpose 
surround mix from any stereo source. The Pan Amount slider setting can be adjusted from 0 
(no effect) to 100 (total surround field).
 •Dialogue: Pans more signal to the center channel of the surround spectrum so that the direct 
sound is in the center, while ambient sound is distributed to the other channels. This setting is 
best used for voiceover or other dialogue clips. The Pan Amount slider setting can be adjusted 
from 0 (no effect) to 100 (all sound to the center channel).
 •Music: Distributes a stereo mix signal evenly across the surround spectrum. This setting is best 
used for converting stereo music to a surround mix. The Pan Amount slider setting can be 
adjusted from 0 (no effect) to 100 (total surround field).
 •Ambience: Pans across the surround spectrum with more signal toward the surround channels 
and less signal to the front and center channels. This setting is useful for effects such as crowd 
noise or other outdoor environments. The Pan Amount slider setting can be adjusted from 0 
(no effect) to 100 (total surround field).
 •Circle: Pans the sound in a circle around the surround spectrum like a bee buzzing around the 
listener’s head. The Pan Amount slider adjusts the direction to the listener in degrees (–180 to 180).
 •Rotate: Pans around the surround spectrum as if the listener is turning in a circle. The Pan 
Amount slider adjusts the listener rotation in degrees (–180 to 180).
 •Back to Front: Pans from back to front across the surround spectrum. The Pan Amount slider 
setting can be adjusted from –100 (back) to 100 (front).
 •Left Surround to Right Front: Pans from left surround to right front across the surround 
spectrum. The Pan Amount slider setting can be adjusted from –100 (left surround) to 100 
(right front).
 •Right Surround to Left Front: Pans from right surround to left front across the surround 
spectrum. The Pan Amount slider setting can be adjusted from –100 (right surround) to 100 
(left front).
 3 If you want to adjust the pan amount, do one of the following:
 •Type a value in the Pan Amount field.
 •Drag the Pan Amount slider left or right.
The Pan Amount settings vary according to the pan mode you choose.
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