Inside Final Cut Pro, there is no automatic method of exporting the audio portion of a Final Cut Pro sequence to a dedicated audio editing application. If you want to do basic audio editing in Final Cut Pro and then mix and sweeten it in a third party audio editing application, the method described in this article can be used.

To export one or more sequence audio tracks to an external audio editing application, follow these steps:

1. Once all editing in Final Cut Pro is complete, insert one frame sync beeps (also known as two-pops) at both the beginning and end of each track of audio in your sequence. These beeps will help us later on to line up the audio tracks. To create a sync beep:

a. In the Generator Popup of the Viewer window, select Bars and Tone

b. Press the "i" key to mark an in point, move forward one frame with the right arrow key, and press the "o" key to mark an out point. Drag and drop this into your timeline.

c. Option+click to select the video portion of the one frame clip you just edited in and press the delete key to isolate just the audio.

You may now cut and paste this one frame stereo beep where necessary. It is essential to make sure that beeps on every track line up exactly on the same frame.

Figure 1 The Bars and Tone Generator in the Viewer window

2. Export each track of audio in your sequence timeline separately as an AIFF file. If you're using six tracks of audio in your fifteen minute sequence, you'll be exporting six fifteen minute AIFF files. To insure that each track of audio will be exported alone, Option+click in the desired track's Track Enabled button, and all other tracks in that sequence will be disabled.

Figure 2 The Track Enabled button

To export an AIFF file, select QuickTime from the Export sub-menu under the File menu. It is important to remember to select AIFF in the Format popup menu, and to select the proper sample rate and bit depth using the Options button. Also, your exported AIFF file should be in Mono.

Figure 3 Exporting the Current Audio Track

Figure 4 Selecting AIFF Export

Figure 5 Sound Settings Selections

3. There is no automatic facility for including handles in this process. If you want extra audio before and after the in and out points of each audio clip, you will have to break up and arrange the audio clips amongst the tracks such that they do not overlap, allowing you to edit in more audio where needed. One useful tip is to break up audio tracks by type. For example, putting character A on track one, character B on track two, room tone and ambiances on tracks three and four, sound effects on tracks five and six, and two pairs of stereo music tracks to mix between on tracks seven through ten. this will make it easier to include the desired handles, and to keep everything organized from one application to the next.

4. In your audio editing application, import all of the AIFF files you exported from Final Cut Pro, syncing them together and verifying this sync by lining up the sync beeps and listening to them. If the sync beeps at both the beginning and the end all line up and sound like one beep, you should be ready to begin mixing.

This method is best used when there are limited tracks to be exported from Final Cut Pro, (for example, dialog and room tone only) and the rest of the audio sweetening will be recreated and finished in Protools. Users will have to cut apart their imported tracks to do further editing, as each of the imported AIFF tracks will consist of one long clip of audio.

Note: This article provides information about non-Apple products. Apple Computer, Inc. is not responsible for its content and mention of this product should not be interpreted as a recommendation by Apple. Please contact the vendors for additional information.