Hi,
I want to record good sound for my videos, so I plan to buy a harddiskrecorder with external microphones. I will also record the concert with my camera, which makes mp4 files. The question is: Can I import a wav.file into a project, and combine it with an mp4 file containing both sound and video by using the multi-cam function, which aligns the timeline by analyzing the soundtracks? I am using Movie Studio 2023 Suite. Thanks in advance
Hi Peter and welcome to the user to user forums.
That is not really the function of multi-cam mixing. It is better to have a camera capable of syncing to an external recorder so the time stamps match that then can be aligned within a video editor. It is what they are for.
Having said that, as long as the camera and microphones are within a couple of feet of each other there is no reason they can't be aligned and as long as you are not recording to a variable frame rate video file there should be little to no drift once aligned. You could lock the sound track to the video so when you cut one you cut the other at the same place. Personally I use external mics with my camera but even the internal ones are reasonable capable.
Ray.
You can indeed import WAV for this purpose. You will have no trouble lining up your external WAV with your video- audio track just by visual alignment. You'll need to zoom in fairly close to get the match to be frame-accurate but it is easy to do.
As far as the timeline display goes, I suggest you use separate tracks and half-wave height for the audio. File>Settings>Program>Video/Audio tab. Tick "half waveform", untick "video-audio on same track".
Edit: Just realised (I've never used it before) there is the "Align other audio objects with this track" feature:
It appears to work well.
For further info, search the PDF manual for "align". The online Help is not much help.
Hi CubeAce and AAProds, thanks a lot for you comments and answers, I will find a way to do it. I wouldn't invest in a recorder, if it did not work.
Hi Al.
The align to other audio objects works better with music with a strong regular beat and can be problematic with musical composition that does not have a strong base line beat. Also depending on the audio and video recorders the files can end up being different time lengths due to file sizes which can, if the device uses FAT 32 be different for the video and separate audio recorder as an audio track can last longer than an equivalent video track. That in turn means you could be dealing with more than one file both starting and stopping and different places during the performance of a classical concert movement.
I prefer as you first suggested, to align by hand and sight.
Hi Peter.
Not all digital audio recorders are equal and not all cameras have an output that can sync frames to an audio recorder. Hence my comment for the reasons stated above which can make things a lot simpler or harder. Also the quality of the microphones in use can make more of a difference than the device recording the audio. VPX in this instance is slightly better in use than MMS 2023 as the sound can be more accurately aligned in VPX 14 than MMS 2023 in my experience. It depends on how experienced you are in matching the waveform to the visual movement and getting used to the amount of zoom needed to make that comfortable and easier to perform.
Ray.
Hi,
Both VPX and MMS2023 Platinum Suite have the capability to simultaneously align audio and video clips using the right-click "Align other audio objects with this track" feature as mentioned by @AAProds. It is not necessary to be in multicam mode to do this. In fact, if you use only one camera, you will not use multicam mode.
The difference between VPX and MMS for adjusting audio is that in MMS you can only move the audio clip in 1 frame increments, whereas with VPX you can move if freely.
To see how aligning works, make a few video recordings with your camera and one or more cell phones (presumably you have access to at least one) at the same time. Separate the cameras somewhat to simulate where the cameras/audio recorder would be in relation to each other, and start recording. No need to start each simultaneously. Make some noise - talking, singing, playing and instrument. Put the recordings on the timeline, one below the other. Leave some space at the beginning. Apply the "Align other audio objects with this track" feature to see if they all line up.
For another test, just record audio with a cell phone and do the same as above.
Can you get them to line up properly?
Why a harddiskrecorder and not something like a Tascam DR-40X or Zoom H4N Pro? These have built-in mics and 2 XLR sockets, so you have a multi-use product. If your mic needs phantom power, make sure that the audio recorder can supply it.
When you get the audio recorder, do multiple tests. You do not want to be testing for the first time at the concert.
What can go wrong?
1. You mention only one camera. Use at least 2. Use one fixed and the other roving. Or both fixed but at different locations/zoom factors so that you can switch from one to the other. If possible, use a third camera/cell phone for roving to get B-roll shots - audience reaction.
2. Will the camera run continuously for the duration of the event? My GoPro does even though it creates a file every 15 minutes or so, my old video camera did, but my DSLR cameras do not. They will stop after about 20-30 minutes and save the file but not restart or continue, so I have to do it manually. Many cell phones will not run continuously and will stop recording or get overheated. So, I ended up with a bunch of discontinuous files, but at least one camera was rolling.
3. Will the camera(s) have enough battery power to last the duration of the event? I plugged in my GoPro to an external battery pack and thus had no problem. However, I had to change the battery in my DSLR. I now have two DSLR cameras and neither can be plugged in and run continuously. The battery has to be changed. For one of my DSLR's there is a plugin that replaces the battery with a transformer and that is a solution so long as power is available. Make sure to have backup batteries, fully-charged.
4. Make sure that the cameras have enough storage capacity.
5. Make sure that the camera focus is manual or if not, does not go hunting once in a while. My DSLR's often do this when a subject moves a bit, so they go in and out of focus.
6. Use a tripod except for a roving camera.
7. Use a higher resolution than the project so that you can zoom in within the video editor without losing resolution.
8. Consider the location of the camera vs the audio recorder. Sound travels at 1100 feet/second, so if you are recording at 25fps and the distance between the camera and the audio recorder is 44 ft, then the camera audio will be out of sync by 1 frame.
9. Watch out for unwanted objects in video.
I masked out the wall controller:
I cropped out (zoomed in) to remove the person filming with a cell phone (portrait mode, of course!)
10. Audio sync issues - the audio from the audio recorder and the camera(s) may be difficult to sync if the sound is somewhat different due to the location of each. One may pick up extraneous sound that the other does not, making it difficult for the program to align the two. If possible, test this beforehand.
11. Audio issues - test the setup on location. Make sure that the mic is not picking up unwanted noise, movements, tapping, hissing, etc. If outdoors, check for wind, use a dead cat on the mic. If possible, record ambient sound with both recorder and camera(s) on location. These can be used to create noise prints to reduce background and mic noise/hiss/hum.
12. If possible, use a shotgun mic or good external mic on the camera. This is your backup audio.
There are undoubtedly more potential issues.
John CB