Multi-camera shoot editing
 

I shot an event and we used 3 cameras, two FX-1s and one FX-7. The main audio feed was 2 wireless mics on a stage where the performers were, feeding into the FX-7...I don't want to use the audio from the FX-1s, more for getting different angles/b-roll.

My question is, will it be a nightmare to try to synch up footage to get the audio to match a sequence shot on one of the b-roll cameras? I've read how there is no timecode reading using FCE...but I'm not even sure if this is what that feature would address. I hope this makes sense.

The more times you stopped down the cameras the harder it will be to synch them up.

Since the FX7 has the good audio I'd lay that one down first and then try and find an obvious synch point (a camera flash, or a loud noise since the other cameras have sound too) to sych the other two cameras to. Once you have everything synch'd up you can delete the audio from the FX1's in the timeline.


-A

This may be obvious, but it's important enough to repeat.
Be sure you line everything up first, then start cutting. Lining it up for every shot is going to waste a lot of time.
It'll also be much harder to do this once you've started any cutting.

I find it easiest to line up by video for the general position. Find someone walking at a certain point, etc.
Then zoom in and turn on audio waveforms. Match as closely as possible. Then switch to another point in the video and check/repeat.

Sometimes it can be vague even if it seems like the action/sound is unique. Checking again will prove you have the right spot.

To check, you can leave both audio tracks on (and hopefully hear a very fast echo, with very little delay) and/or turn one layer down to 50% opacity. It will take a bit to render, but it's worth it. Comparing the motion is the only way to know if it really worked.