Compressor Hates Audio? at DVinfo.net

Chris Marty · February 6th, 2006, 10:43 PM

Just spent an hour or so combing the forums and I didn't find anyone else who seems to be having this problem. Let me know if you've seen (heard) it, and if you've got a solution.

I'm exporting my audio to an .aif directly from FCP 4.5 (not from a reference movie, I only use that for video) using Compressor.

Every export contains areas of complete silence that do not exist in FCP and that never fall in the same place. It's maddening, to say the least.

Any ideas? I'm at my wits end.

Thanks in advance,

Chris.

Nate Ford · February 8th, 2006, 11:59 AM

i haven't had anything like that happen.

however, i can tell you that unless you're doing something very unusual, there's no point in using compressor to make an aif. just choose file -> export with quicktime conversion, switch the format popup to aiff, and use the options button to choose your sample rate and stuff. (you'll want to leave "format" set to "linear pcm.")

Chris Marty · February 8th, 2006, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the tip.

It's funny how you can learn an overwhelming amount about something and overlook the obvious in the process.

I'll give it a shot on the next disc and see how it plays out.

If anyone else has experienced similar problems with Compressor, I'd still love to hear about it.

Thanks again.

Barry Werger · February 8th, 2006, 06:36 PM

A while back I had problems not with Compressor, but with FCP. Specifically, it did strange things with audio in nested sequences. What sounded fine IN the nested sequence timeline lost tracks and audio clips when played from the main sequence. I don't remember what version this was... but haven't nested audio with more than 2 tracks since then....

It's possible something similar is happening with you?

Zach Mull · February 16th, 2006, 12:41 PM

That audio gap error is notorious in FCP4. Most of the time I can fix it by rendering my audio in the sequence that contains the nested sequences before I write my final output file. Occasionally I've had to mix down the audio from the nested sequences and reimport them as stereo AIFFs. It's almost certainly FCP and not Compressor causing this. Compressor doesn't do anything but convert complete files. It can turn your content into crap if you're not careful, but it doesn't cut out pieces of said content.

Chris Marty · February 16th, 2006, 01:01 PM

Zach--Thanks for the reply.

When you say 'render my audio,' are you simply referring to a timeline render? Everything I've got, nested or otherwise, is rendered on the timeline prior to Compressor conversion to stereo .aif.

Also, any idea as to whether or not this is solved in FCP5?

Thanks again.

Zach Mull · February 16th, 2006, 01:12 PM

I am referring to a timeline render. When I've had this problem, the pieces of audio that drop out always correspond to the audio that requires a render to play back in the timeline. If that didn't work for you then you might have to mix down the audio from each nested sequence and sync that in the timeline (it's not as bad as it sounds).

I have no idea whether it's fixed in FCP5. Sadly I am way behind on the upgrade, and when I've used 5 it's been on unreliable machines so I don't want to judge.

Peter Wiley · February 16th, 2006, 01:28 PM

I have had the audio problem discussed with FCP 4.5.

So far I have not had any such problems with 5.0. Gotta say that the new Soundtrack Pro is the Bee's Knees.

Jason Varner · February 22nd, 2006, 11:26 PM

Make sure all tracks A and V are selected before nesting and you shouldn't have any problems.

February 6th, 2006, 10:43 PM	#1
Chris Marty Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 28	Compressor Hates Audio? Just spent an hour or so combing the forums and I didn't find anyone else who seems to be having this problem. Let me know if you've seen (heard) it, and if you've got a solution. I'm exporting my audio to an .aif directly from FCP 4.5 (not from a reference movie, I only use that for video) using Compressor. Every export contains areas of complete silence that do not exist in FCP and that never fall in the same place. It's maddening, to say the least. Any ideas? I'm at my wits end. Thanks in advance, Chris.

February 8th, 2006, 11:59 AM	#2
Nate Ford Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: new york, ny Posts: 121	i haven't had anything like that happen. however, i can tell you that unless you're doing something very unusual, there's no point in using compressor to make an aif. just choose file -> export with quicktime conversion, switch the format popup to aiff, and use the options button to choose your sample rate and stuff. (you'll want to leave "format" set to "linear pcm.")

February 8th, 2006, 12:12 PM	#3
Chris Marty Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 28	Thanks for the tip. It's funny how you can learn an overwhelming amount about something and overlook the obvious in the process. I'll give it a shot on the next disc and see how it plays out. If anyone else has experienced similar problems with Compressor, I'd still love to hear about it. Thanks again.

February 8th, 2006, 06:36 PM	#4
Barry Werger Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 104	A while back I had problems not with Compressor, but with FCP. Specifically, it did strange things with audio in nested sequences. What sounded fine IN the nested sequence timeline lost tracks and audio clips when played from the main sequence. I don't remember what version this was... but haven't nested audio with more than 2 tracks since then.... It's possible something similar is happening with you?

February 16th, 2006, 12:41 PM	#5
Zach Mull Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 273	That audio gap error is notorious in FCP4. Most of the time I can fix it by rendering my audio in the sequence that contains the nested sequences before I write my final output file. Occasionally I've had to mix down the audio from the nested sequences and reimport them as stereo AIFFs. It's almost certainly FCP and not Compressor causing this. Compressor doesn't do anything but convert complete files. It can turn your content into crap if you're not careful, but it doesn't cut out pieces of said content.

February 16th, 2006, 01:01 PM	#6
Chris Marty Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois Posts: 28	Zach--Thanks for the reply. When you say 'render my audio,' are you simply referring to a timeline render? Everything I've got, nested or otherwise, is rendered on the timeline prior to Compressor conversion to stereo .aif. Also, any idea as to whether or not this is solved in FCP5? Thanks again.

February 16th, 2006, 01:12 PM	#7
Zach Mull Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 273	I am referring to a timeline render. When I've had this problem, the pieces of audio that drop out always correspond to the audio that requires a render to play back in the timeline. If that didn't work for you then you might have to mix down the audio from each nested sequence and sync that in the timeline (it's not as bad as it sounds). I have no idea whether it's fixed in FCP5. Sadly I am way behind on the upgrade, and when I've used 5 it's been on unreliable machines so I don't want to judge.

February 16th, 2006, 01:28 PM	#8
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	I have had the audio problem discussed with FCP 4.5. So far I have not had any such problems with 5.0. Gotta say that the new Soundtrack Pro is the Bee's Knees.

February 22nd, 2006, 11:26 PM	#9
Jason Varner Major Player Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 119	Make sure all tracks A and V are selected before nesting and you shouldn't have any problems.