importing audio from xh-a1 into final cut at DVinfo.net

Jeff Moore · April 28th, 2008, 01:25 AM

hey guys,
i'm working on a short and i am wondering if i have been recording mono on audio on my camera. i'm sure this is not the case as i see both channels working on the lcd screen but when i import into final cut and drag it to the timeline it says it's mono. when i hear it on the headphones i here sound out of both earphones. am i going crazy? this is of course some reason to concern as i am thinking that i either did something to the settings on final cut or i broke the camera. any help would be awesome. thanks.

Don Palomaki · April 28th, 2008, 07:32 AM

It is possible to record mono sound (i.e., same audio on both channels so both channel meters will move in step) with the XH-A1. How did you have it configured when you did the recording? How does it sound when you play it in the camcorder listening with earphones?

If that is OK, then you likely have an issue with your capture/editing software

Jeff Moore · April 28th, 2008, 08:32 AM

Hi Don,
I am hearing audio out of both speakers on the headphones when i am using the camera. i am also using the internal mic and have all the settings on normal and/or automatic. you know what? there was one setting in the audio set up menu where the "audio M" option was "normal" or "line out" and it was set to "line out". could that be it? are there any setting on the camera that will inadvertently record in mono that i am not aware of? thanks answering

Don Palomaki · April 29th, 2008, 05:45 AM

Try listening with headphones while playing back in the camcorder to see if it recorded stereo sound. You should be able to hear a stereo effect if the sound source has sufficient spatial diversity in it.

I believe that the built-in mic only records stereo. However, you can set the XLR input to record the mic connected to CH1 to both CH1 and CH2 (mono).

You can also set the audio output (analog audio output) to mono (one recorded channel only) using the menu - see page 100 in the manual.

I cannot speak to Final Cut.

Jo Potts · April 29th, 2008, 11:22 AM

Not sure if this is your issue, but the default import when using log & capture is to take a dual mono for the audio, you have to chain them together to get the joint stereo track.

See this image:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1748/dualmonort2.jpg

Jeff Moore · April 29th, 2008, 12:21 PM

Hi Jo,
thanks for the input. i actually tried that and imported some footage and chained the two circles as directed. when i tried to take the clip and put it in the timeline there was an error saying that this is not a movie... i'll try again later today.

Jeff Moore · April 29th, 2008, 12:22 PM

Hi Jo,
thanks for the input. i actually tried that and imported some footage and chained the two circles as directed. when i tried to take the clip and put it in the timeline there was an error saying that this is not a movie... i'll try again later today. also since there is a way to record mono on the camera what is the correct setting for the in camera mic to record in stereo in case i set something up accidently. thanks.

April 28th, 2008, 01:25 AM	#1
Jeff Moore New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Berkeley, Ca United States Posts: 8	importing audio from xh-a1 into final cut hey guys, i'm working on a short and i am wondering if i have been recording mono on audio on my camera. i'm sure this is not the case as i see both channels working on the lcd screen but when i import into final cut and drag it to the timeline it says it's mono. when i hear it on the headphones i here sound out of both earphones. am i going crazy? this is of course some reason to concern as i am thinking that i either did something to the settings on final cut or i broke the camera. any help would be awesome. thanks.

April 28th, 2008, 07:32 AM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	It is possible to record mono sound (i.e., same audio on both channels so both channel meters will move in step) with the XH-A1. How did you have it configured when you did the recording? How does it sound when you play it in the camcorder listening with earphones? If that is OK, then you likely have an issue with your capture/editing software __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 29th, 2008, 05:45 AM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Try listening with headphones while playing back in the camcorder to see if it recorded stereo sound. You should be able to hear a stereo effect if the sound source has sufficient spatial diversity in it. I believe that the built-in mic only records stereo. However, you can set the XLR input to record the mic connected to CH1 to both CH1 and CH2 (mono). You can also set the audio output (analog audio output) to mono (one recorded channel only) using the menu - see page 100 in the manual. I cannot speak to Final Cut. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 29th, 2008, 11:22 AM	#5
Jo Potts Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 40	Not sure if this is your issue, but the default import when using log & capture is to take a dual mono for the audio, you have to chain them together to get the joint stereo track. See this image: http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1748/dualmonort2.jpg __________________ MBP 15" 2.6Ghz, 4GB RAM. 2TB storage. FCS2. Canon XH-A1. www.jpcreativemedia.com vimeo.com/user449069

April 28th, 2008, 08:32 AM	#3
Jeff Moore New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Berkeley, Ca United States Posts: 8	Hi Don, I am hearing audio out of both speakers on the headphones when i am using the camera. i am also using the internal mic and have all the settings on normal and/or automatic. you know what? there was one setting in the audio set up menu where the "audio M" option was "normal" or "line out" and it was set to "line out". could that be it? are there any setting on the camera that will inadvertently record in mono that i am not aware of? thanks answering

April 29th, 2008, 12:21 PM	#6
Jeff Moore New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Berkeley, Ca United States Posts: 8	Hi Jo, thanks for the input. i actually tried that and imported some footage and chained the two circles as directed. when i tried to take the clip and put it in the timeline there was an error saying that this is not a movie... i'll try again later today.

April 29th, 2008, 12:22 PM	#7
Jeff Moore New Boot Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Berkeley, Ca United States Posts: 8	Hi Jo, thanks for the input. i actually tried that and imported some footage and chained the two circles as directed. when i tried to take the clip and put it in the timeline there was an error saying that this is not a movie... i'll try again later today. also since there is a way to record mono on the camera what is the correct setting for the in camera mic to record in stereo in case i set something up accidently. thanks.