I got this from Digital Production Buzz Newsletter from December 27, 2006. I looked everywhere for this tip on-line and I couldn’t find a link to it. I think it is exclusive to their Newsletter. If you want more tips they do have a wealth of tips for every pro app in the FCP Suite. It cost for $14.95, but well worth it. They also have a great podcast that talks about Final Cut Pro and other apps in the suite. Pretty much anything to do with production. Take a listen to it.
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The basic process for exporting 5.1 surround is to export a six channel audio file by setting six as the number of outputs for the Sequence and assigning the tracks accordingly.
To export multiple tracks for surround sound into one QuickTime movie, or as separate AIFF files, start by setting the number of outputs for the Sequence. This can be done as a preset in the User Preferences dialog’s Audio Outputs tab. Set the default number of outputs for new Sequences here also.
- For existing Sequences, open the Sequence Settings and select the Audio Outputs tab.
- Select the number of tracks to export in the Outputs pop-up menu.
- For 5.1 that would be six tracks to export.
- Set all channels to dual mono with no down-mix (unless you don’t have a six channel output connected and need to monitor in stereo).
Back in the sequence timeline:
- Control+click (Right+click) on each audio track in the area between the track number and the lock icon.
- You should see a pop-up menu including an Audio Output option.
- Use this to assign the track to one of the 6 audio outputs you just enabled.
Assignment can also be done in the Audio Mixer window.
To export to one QuickTime movie (with vision)
- From the File menu choose the Export submenu and select QuickTime.
- The Exported movie will have six audio tracks included, plus a single video track if video was selected for export.
- Click Save to export.
To Export to Individual AIFF files
- From the File menu choose the Export submenu and select Audio to AIFF(s).
- Select Channel Grouped in the pop-up menu (the default).
- Click Save to export.
- The Audio tracks will be exported to six individual AIFF files numbered 1-6 after the base name entered for export (by default the Sequence name).
Before exporting it’s useful to create a folder for the exported files to keep them tidy and organized in a group.
Once your tracks are assigned, use Export -> Audio to AIFF(s)… to export to individual AIFFs for each channel. In the output dialog, be sure and select Channel Grouped for config., and adjust sample rate and bit depth to the setting appropriate for your source.
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9 responses so far ↓
1 Philip Hodgetts // Feb 22, 2007 at 7:32 pm
I think you have the two images reversed (which may mean they were reversed in my original article).
FWIW, since the article isn’t readily available, and you credited appropriately, I have no problem with the repost.
Philip
2 Andy Coon // Feb 22, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Thanks Philip for commenting and I’m glad you gave me the go ahead. You guys do some really good work. This is one of the best tips I’ve received in years. I work with many bands and never knew how to export in 5.1. Now I do thanks.
I don’t know why I had those in reverse, the email was right I am overworked my friend.
You guys should be using the newsletter as blog posts, that would be huge.
3 Audi // Jul 16, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Hi Andy,
what version of FCP are you relating this to? I have tried it with FCP 4 and it did not work exporting it (it exports as stereo, and plays as stereo not the 5.1 surrounds sound i wanted) any tips?
cheers!
Audi
4 Andy Coon // Jul 16, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Audi,
I believe this was for FCP 5.1.4. I’ve never tried this method yet. I got it from the boys at Digital Production Buzz.
5 Audi // Jul 17, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Hi Andy, many thanx indeed! If you have any other diy surround sound tips let us know. Thanx again
6 stanya // Sep 16, 2009 at 1:56 pm
thanks for this info. problem: after i set the audio outputs to 6 channels in the sequence settings, i get a warning message that says the current audio device does not support this. but i have my surround sound receiver connected via my headphone output. am i missing something? thank you!
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8 Sami // Mar 11, 2010 at 2:49 pm
Hi there. great post, very useful. Thanks.
I’ve got a further question though.
It’s not clear to me how the 6 audio outputs from my FCP sequence correspond to the 6 surround sound channels. Does it matter which 5.1 track goes to which FCP output?
I already have separate aiff files for L-Left, C-Center, R-Right, LS-Left, Surround, RS-Right Surround & LFE-Low freq effects – so which one should be output to which channel?
Can anyone help to clarify?
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