I want to translate a video but I am not able to translate audio track at one go. Nevertheless the next time I need to start exactly there where I finished translation the last time, so that listeners did not hear any difference (no gap) in translation.
What is the best solutions or any trick how to achieve it?
(I use Movie Edit Pro Premium program)
Thank you.
Hi. I am a little surprised by this question as you seem to have been doing this for quite a while.
These are my personal suggestions.
Personally I would not use MEP for this but a dedicated audio editing package. There are plenty of good free Digital Audio Workstations such as Audacity that could do this. In the long run I just think it would be quicker.
First just play the video using Film and TV and record the audio output into the DAW using the Stereo Mix input from your computers sound card / chip.
Then on a separate track using your mic input record your translation. That work flow has several advantages. You can start and stop the recording at any point of the video and save and come back at any time to carry on.
It is easier in an audio editor to move sound around and edit together as well as have more control over the audio sampling rates tp avoid clipping.
When finished you can export the resulting file on its own (Solo the track for export) as a wav file and then import that into your video project . If needed it can then be cut up if not completely in sync. I also find the volume levelling, limiters and sound shaping tools on average better than in video editors.
Some programs also have auto loop, punch in punch out recording in loop mode so you can go over mistakes and then choose the best take to keep. Any file recorded can be listened to by the program and the peaks brought up to the same levels between takes after if you wish. (That can also be done in MEP)
I have never tried to do what you are trying to do in MEP but it looks like it would be more hassle, possibly having to use the range markers to find your start and stop points with no easy way to save a good take over a bad one or choose a given take after without having to go through the whole process again for a given recorded section.
Ray.
Hi,
Nevertheless the next time I need to start exactly there where I finished translation the last time,
You don't. You edit the result, that is all.
Mute all other audio - no distractions. Put the playback marker at the end of the last recording, make sure the track is selected (the header is blue/cyan) and that you have no range set, start recording. When you've done a few sentences (that's about all I can do without making a mistake - and I have written text), stop and either accept, delete or redo. Edit - trim the head (beginning) and tail and move the recorded object to where you need it. Repeat.
If you don't know how to trim clips and move clips, that is basic editing and I suggest that you watch my tutorial on Basic Editing part 2.
There is, of course, a lot more - recording settings, monitoring during recording, file management of your recordings, volume adjustments, compression, EQ, noise reduction, etc., but you just asked for editing.
John CB
Hi Ray,
First just play the video using Film and TV and record the audio output into the DAW using the Stereo Mix input from your computers sound card / chip
You can't be serious. Why not just export the audio from MEP or do a mixdown as I show in my tutorial on the subject? All recording into a DAW is going to do is create an audio file, mostly likely a wave file. Or why not just import the video file into the DAW? In any event, the OP would have to go back to the video editor, import the completed audio file, and then export. Just do it all in MEP.
The OP wants to make a second audio track in a different language so will need to see the video and audio waveform as references. That is all easily done in MEP. What the OP seems to be missing is the knowledge as to how to edit, and probably the knowledge as to how to clean and master audio.
I record the audio for my tutorials in VPX/MEP/MS in short chunks and then edit them, first to fit. I remove unwanted pauses, usually trim both ends, adjust the volume curve where I put too much emphasis on certain words or syllables (compression alone is not enough), volume levelling, and much more. For my latest tutorials, I exported the audio to Magix Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab 4 and used the iZotope RX10 Repair Assistant which analyzes the audio and suggests cleaning parameters, including noise cleaning and deverb. It seems to work very well. Unfortunately, it's VST3 only so I can't use it with VPX/MS, otherwise I would.
I have also done, and still have many to do, multi-language videos, with English on one track, French on another. I use the visual references of the first language to line up the second language. Often, I have to adjust the cadence and the number of words so that the phrases line up. I go back and listen to the first language, mute, record, edit, repeat.
John CB
Hi John.
You can't be serious.
Why not?
You don't need a visual to edit an audio track although most audio editing packages also allow you to import a video file with its soundtrack if need be, but that function is not in all free audio editing packages. I find the loop drop in / out functions allow along with either 'keep last pass' or Keep all' selections useful if I stumble on a word pronunciation and can save time. That is an option not offered in MEP that I personally find useful. Audio in a DAW scrolls much better and is easier to listen to at high speed to find sections more quickly in my opinion. You have more audio quality save options than the MEP offerings.
It is not the only way of working and I would not reject another persons workflow choice out of hand. You are completely entitled to put you own case for using MEP forward and pleased you find it adequate for your needs.
Ray.
Hi Ray,
The OP is recording new material, Voice Over, not dropping loops in. The OP has to record the translation to match the other language and also have it work with the video. The translation has to match the action. A French version usually requires more words than English, so the timing has to be carefully done. It cannot be done in a vaccuum.
I find the loop drop in / out functions allow along with either 'keep last pass' or Keep all' selections useful if I stumble on a word pronunciation and can save time.
Recording in MEP/VPX/MS, when you press stop, you are given the option to delete, accept or Retry take. The latter will start recording from the original recording of the playback marker. I use the Retry a lot.
This is VO done in chunks, each of which has to line up with the other language. It cannot be all recorded in one take. No take manager is required as one is not going to record several versions and then take the best parts of each.
John CB
Hi John.
I understand all of the above. It was my bread and butter for several years working with professional voice over artists. Then it was analogue gear with programmable tape machines and automated mixing desks but the tech has moved on.
The looping is done to replace a small section that didn't work or needs further work. It simply automates your accept or retry more efficiently as layers or replacement takes that can be selected to replace or added to the problem area. Hands free as it were.
However you seem to have picked up on one small point to my main points of the advantages of using a dedicated audio editing program. The looping feature if a given program has it, is just a bonus that I personally find more convenient and saves time.
I am just offering an alternative John. Nothing more.
Ray.
Thank you ALL for replies.
So, I tried to edit audio track externally, with Music Editor 3.
But how can I make all changes, I made in the Music Edit 3 , are also made in the audio track in Movie Edit Pro?
Hi,
When you exit ME3, it will ask if you want to save. Do so. ME3 will close and you'll be back in MEP. The audio file will have changed to the revised version.
I suggest that you test this to make sure yourself. Do a test project. Get some audio that you won't mind messing up, like a copy, add it to the timeline then edit it in ME3. To test, I usually just add a lot of reverb, exit and listen on the timeline. The edited audio should now have the reverb.
John CB
Thank you for you reply.
But must I refresh (somehow)Video project after saving and exiting ME3 so that I can see the changes?
And one more question: when I edit audio what is the best way to stop audio EXACTLY in a place where I want to?