Audio Import and Export
Acquiring the audio from a DV tape could not be easier in Radius
EditDV. However, there are many cases where the audio does not come
from a DV source tape. It may be a file on a disk drive, or it may not be
digitized at all. Fortunately, there are many ways to use this source
material in your EditDV project.
Occasionally, audio in your project requires processing (“sweetening”)
functions that are not available in EditDV. You will need to export that
audio clip, and process it in another application.
EditDV 1.5 includes BIAS Peak LE, which is useful for recording audio
from analog sources for import into EditDV, and for processing audio
from EditDV projects.
Importing and Exporting Audio Files From Disk
Radius EditDV is designed to work with audio from many sources, not
just from DV tapes and devices. It directly supports files such as AIFF
files generated by many popular audio editing programs.
Importing Audio Clips from Disk
Audio clips in these formats are imported in the same manner as other
clips, although there is typically an intermediate step required to convert
the file to a QuickTime movie. These intermediate files, called “proxy
files,” that are created seldom contain any actual audio media, but are
simply QuickTime “wrappers” that refer to audio in your original clip.
EditDV 1.5 or later can display the audio waveforms for imported clips
in the Sound Monitor, and in the Sequencer, in exactly the same way
that it displays waveforms of any other DV clip.
Exporting Audio Clips
The Save Program Movie feature allows you to export just the audio
from a selected portion of the edited Program’s AP track. This will be in
the form of a QuickTime movie, which can be imported into any
program that supports QuickTime audio files for import (including Peak
LE).
1. If you are exporting the audio from all tracks of audio in your
program together, update or overwrite the AP track.
2. Set the Program’s In and Out points to select just the portion of
the program aduio that you wish to export. If you wish to export
the whole project’s audio, clear the In and Out points using the
“[“ key.
3. Hold down Option and click the Ear icon next to the audio track
that you wish to export. This will “solo” the track so that it is the
only track that is exported.
4. Select Save Program Movie from the File menu.
5. Click the Save Audio Only checkbox.
6. Set the file name and select the folder where you want the audio
clip.
7. Click Save.
8. Save your EditDV project. Quit the application, unless you have
a lot of RAM memory.
The exported file may not be cross-platform; that is, it may not open
correctly on a Windows system. To make the file cross-platform:
1. Open it in MoviePlayer Pro 3.0.
2. Select Save As from the File menu.
3. Set the popup to “Sound to AIFF”.
4. Click Save.
This file will be about the same size as the exported file, and will be
usable on any platform.
Multi-Track Import and Export
Radius EditDV cannot currently import or export multitrack audio files
such as those used by digidesign Pro Tools, or MacroMedia Deck II. To
use these products, you must import and export stereo audio files in
AIFF or QuickTime Sound format.
Audio Capture/Recording Equipment
Occasionally, you may have an audio source that is not already in a file
on a hard disk. In this case, it must be captured, or digitized.
Audio From Music CD’s
When your source audio is coming from an audio CD, there is no need
to connect audio equipment to the system to capture the media. You
can convert the digital audio data on the disk directly to a Macintosh
file, making a perfect copy. This is described in the EditDV 1.0 User’s
Guide on page ?????. Be sure to capture at 44.1kHz, 16-bit stereo.
Macintosh Built-In Audio
Any Macintosh includes built-in digitizing capabilities, and includes an
adapter cable for connecting the most common types of audio sources.
Consult the documentation that came with your Macintosh to learn
how to connect your audio source.
Add-On Audio Cards
Specialized audio cards can be added to your system with capabilites
beyond those found in the Macintosh built-in audio input. For
example, an audio card with S/PDIF input and output can make a
perfect copy of a digital audio source equipped with S/PDIF
connections.
Some audio cards can digitize audio at audio sample rates matching that
of your EditDV project, which can improve quality and audio render
performance. Finally, most audio cards include higher-quality
components for improved audio capture and playback quality.
Radius’s previous flagship digital video products, VideoVision PCI and
VideoVision ML, can record at 32kHz and 48kHz at high quality, and
VideoVision SP can record from all kinds of professional audio
equipment at professional quality.
For maximum compatibility, look for audio cards with Macintosh
Sound Manager-compatible drivers, and set the card to be used for all
audio input and output according that the card’s documentation.
Digitizing Audio To Disk
Once your audio source is connected, you can use the recording
application that was included with your audio card, or you can use BIAS
Peak LE or any other Sound Manager-compatible recording application
to record your audio source.
Be sure to capture at 44.1kHz, 16-bit stereo if you are using built-in
audio input. If you are using an audio card capable of recording at
32kHz or 48kHz, choose the sample rate that matches the Audio Rate of
your EditDV project.
After digitizing the audio source, save it as an AIFF or a QuickTime
Sound movie that can be imported into your Radius EditDV project as
described above.
If the sample rate of the captured audio does not match that of your
EditDV project, you should resample it. (See Application Note EditDV
Application Note #5, "More Audio Surgery", for further details.)
Replacing Unprocessed Project Audio
After you have processed the audio clip to your liking, you must import
it back into EditDV as a separate clip and replaced the unprocessed
version.
1. Open your EditDV project.
2. Import the processed audio clip.
Note: It is wise to import it into a bin separate from your DV clips
so that if you detach media, your processed clip is not deleted
accidentally. If you wish for the clip to appear in a bin with your
other DV material, you can make a Secondary of the clip and place
the Secondary into the DV clip bin.
3. If the processed audio originated from the AP track or is the
length of the entire program, the easiest way to import it is to
add or insert a new audio track and drag the clip into that track,
and then render-disable all of the other audio tracks. Do not
drag it into the AP track; it could get overwritten.
4. Select the portion of the program you exported.
If you saved your project after exporting (as described in Step 8
above), the program selection will be where it was, and the ear icon
will be on the track you exported.
5. Bring the processed audio into the Source Monitor.
6. Select the track you exported in the Patch Matrix, in the Monitor
Window.
7. Press the w key to set Overwrite mode.
8. Click the Edit button, or press \ or the Enter key.
The processed audio should exactly replace the exported clip. If the
length of the audio clip changed during processing, you will need to set
up a three-point edit.
Author: Mike Jennings
Applies to Version(s): 1.5
Last Updated: 11/21/98
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