Source audio problem editing footage from Pana GH6

Zkuggi wrote on 10/3/2024, 4:12 PM

Hi all.

I am having problem with the audio on the footage that I shot with my Panasonic GH6. I was unaware that the camera saved 4 different audio channels. I use Rode mic and it seems to be recorded to channel 3. Native mic records to channel 4 but channel 1 and 2 contain no audio at all.

Browsing this forum I can see that if I add the file to the track it gets added with the default channel 1 and no audio or waveform at all.

I can right click the track and change the audiosource to "track3" and then I hear the audio and the waveform shows.(Same with track4). So it can play the audio. It is not the matter of not understanding the container or codec.

But that kind of breaks my workflow. I always place the source video into the trim window, place my in and out points, before I drag it down to the actual video track.

Does anyone know if I can make the Trim window pick audiotrack "track3" as its default. Is there some global setting that I can tell VPX to have track3 as the default source?

Comments

CubeAce wrote on 10/3/2024, 4:42 PM

@Zkuggi

Hi.

You could just get VPX to split the audio into 4 mono tracks and delete the ones you don't need. Pan remaining tracks left and right as required.

Ray.

Zkuggi wrote on 10/3/2024, 6:03 PM

Thanks @CubeAce.

That works well on the timeline.

But do you know how I can make the source trim window separate the tracks and use one instead of other?

CubeAce wrote on 10/3/2024, 7:29 PM

@Zkuggi

Hi.

Unfortunately as far as I'm aware, all audio editing and selection and manipulation of audio or video objects beyond selecting start and end points to transfer onto the timeline can only be done once the selected section of the clips are transferred onto the timeline. I'm not even sure what can be heard when a multichannel audio file is played back in the source monitor as I have no such files to test.

I had to think about your terminology for the monitor as I refer to the second monitor screen as the preview monitor.

Its officially referred to in the pdf manual as the source monitor but I think a lot of us not prone to reading manuals assign our own terminology onto objects to describe them. 😂👍

Ray.

Bol wrote on 10/5/2024, 5:53 AM

@Zkuggi

Hello,

I have read your topic. Maybe my answer can help you further?

Your film fragments have four different audio channels. I have films with three audio channels and can extract them with Extract Audio Tracks.

See image and video. Please note! You have to be patient during the extraction.

Good luck,
Rob

CubeAce wrote on 10/5/2024, 10:57 AM

@Bol

Hi Rob.

I think @Zkuggi would like to be able to listen only to track three in the source monitor before putting the selected area using the [ ] brackets onto the timeline. I don't think that is possible.

Ray.

Bol wrote on 10/5/2024, 11:22 AM

@Zkuggi, @CubeAce

Hello,

.....But that kind of breaks my workflow. I always place the source video into the trim window, place my in and out points, before I drag it down to the actual video track......

I read your topic again calmly and read that you have no audio in the source window.

Do the following:

Drag the film fragment onto the timeline
Set the audio track to e.g. 3
Remove the film fragment from the timeline
Drag the film fragment to the source window
You should have sound
Trim the film fragment and drag it to the timeline
You should have the correct sound again

I would like to hear from you if this is the solution for you.

Best wishes,

Rob

johnebaker wrote on 10/5/2024, 2:49 PM

@Zkuggi

. . . . Native mic . . . . how I can make the source trim window separate the tracks and use one instead of other . . . .

Which mic input are you calling 'Native', the XLR input or the 3.5mm mic input?

I believe the Panasonic XLR Adapter is assigned to channels 1 and 2, channels 3 and 4 being assigned to an external mic. Testing with a GH6 video clip the preview will only use channel 1.

The only 'solution' to this, is in camera, ie to use the the mic input assigned to channels 1 and 2 .

John EB
Forum Moderator

Bol wrote on 10/5/2024, 4:50 PM

@Zkuggi, @johnebaker

Hello,

First of all, I must admit that my knowledge of the recording tracks is not sufficient to go into this very deeply. I looked for a workaround and probably found it.

I have looked around in the manual of Panasonic DC-GH6 and found this.

See: Panasonic | DC-GH6 | Operating Instructions | XLR Microphone Adaptor (Optional)

Maybe this will put you on the right track.

Good luck,
Rob

johnebaker wrote on 10/6/2024, 2:52 AM

@Bol

Hi Rob

Thanks for the information, that fills in the information I had, ie that there is an internal microphone in the GH6.

Presumably when 4 ch Mic input is set to off, the internal or external mic inputs are recorded in Ch1 and 2.

John EB

Bol wrote on 10/6/2024, 4:48 AM

@johnebaker

Hi John,

I can't tell you but I have a hunch. @Zkuggi could try this himself, but as far as I can tell he wants to continue working with an external microphone. If so, the sound is recorded on channel 3 or 4.

But I'm very curious if my workaround works for him.

Best wishes,
Rob

johnebaker wrote on 10/6/2024, 10:05 AM

@Bol

Hi Rob

I think from what @Zkuggi commented, 'Rode mic and it seems to be recorded to channel 3' the Rode is plugged directly into the mic socket on the camera and not through a Panasonic XLR adapter, and the internal mic is on channel 4.

If 4 channel recording is turned off then they should, in theory, revert to channels 1 and 2.

John EB

Zkuggi wrote on 10/6/2024, 1:58 PM

Thank you all for your input and follow up on this.

I've been traveling and unable to follow this topic for few days.

@CubeAce has it right. I want to place the files in source monitor and trim them there with in- and out points before I add them to the timeline. It seems like the source monitor only plays the audio from Channel 1.

@Bol ... I tried the method you proposed. Put the file on the timeline. Split the audio into the 4 different channels. Deleted the empty channels (that was no problem) but the program did not allow me to drag the file from the timeline to the source window. It shows the forbidden symbol. It would have been different workflow but still interesting to know if it works or not.

@johnebaker This is all correct. I do not have XLR adapter. Just a Rode mic that plugs into the 3.5mm jack. That audio seems to record to channel 3. What I called "native" mic is better named the GH6 internal mic. It looks like that one records to channel 4 when the 4 channel recording option is activated in the camera.

You're right. The solution to this problem lies in the camera config. I've fixed it for future recordings. Will just finish this old project by editing straight on the timeline :)

Bol wrote on 10/6/2024, 2:17 PM

@Zkuggi,

Hello

Have you also tried my second reply I wrote on 05.10.2024 at 18:22? Because this one is different from my first reply.

Regards,

Rob