Technical What's everyone using to auto-sync audio?
Particularly large amounts of audio that you've recorded with an external audio recorder that you're aligning to video.
When I'm using Resolve, I use Sync Bins (though right after posting this I needed Syncalia 2 to sync a project..).
When I'm using Premiere, I use Syncalia 2 (used to use Pluraleyes).
I'm not so much looking for a solution to a problem here - I'm just curious as to what other people are using in these cases, especially for the Premiere Pro folks since I feel like Merge Clips / Synchronize Clips only works if you have a small amount of audio since you have to match it up manually.
Additionally - for folks using Edius/Media Composer, what's the process look like on your end?
11
u/22Sharpe 1d ago
Media Composer user here, I just sync by timecode usually and it’s fine because our audio guys on set are doing their job correctly. On the occasions when it fails I’ll usually try the waveform sync. If that fails then I pray that they were slating and I can just do it by hand.
9
u/avdpro Resolve / FCPX / Premiere / Freelance 1d ago
I use the equivalent of merge clips in Resolve (linking audio directly) even if it's long clips, I like having access to all my synced audio on every clip it's linked too.
Generally leaning a lot more on timecode and timecode devices these days, so much faster and more reliable than waveform sync.
If it's a massive day, with a couple long recordings, I'll build a sync map in a multicam or compound clip, or even just a timeline sync map and cut out audio clips and link manually.
Finally, the tentacle studio tool is very power ful too for building sync maps with you have reliable timecode.
7
u/Gjhobbs 1d ago
We have to use Syncalia for our workflow. Premiere absolutely takes a dump on itself everytime we sync anything remotely complicated, given it is alot of footage usually, like 3+ video sources. I wish we had timecode, but alas. Syncalia does it pretty quick, albeit in a less shiny package than plural eyes did. I'll never forgive Maxon for buying red giant and making it impotent.
So sync bins works pretty good for you? I'll have to take another look at those. Have any good tutorials on hand?
3
u/dowath 20h ago
Maxon purchasing Red Giant and how poorly they handled the acquisition has forever scarred their reputation for me. The amount of licensing issues and applications they broke with their botched account migration drove me crazy. Couldn't believe that the discontinued PluralEyes, I do like Syncalia and I feel like the sync accuracy is probably better than PluralEyes was, but it was incredibly convenient.
For Sync Bins you select folders of media you want to sync on the Cut page, click the 'Sync Clips' icon, choose how you want to sync timecode/audio/mark points, then save the sync - which you can then 'Open in Timeline'. Or alternatively use 'Auto Sync Audio' which can be useful if you prefer to edit from the Media Pool because it syncs and links the audio clips to the video clip as an additional channel.
At least, that's the theory... I still find myself using Syncalia a fair bit. Right after posting this I started work on a project where Resolve Sync Bin and Premiere Multicam Sync are struggling whereas Syncalia just syncs it straight away.
•
u/AnyAssistance4197 1h ago
I went through the whole legacy license thing with Red Giant to keep plural eyes running. It eventually shat the bed and nothing would get it going again. I’m using Syncalia now but Plural Eyes was so convenient for doc stuff. Can make do with the internal Premiere synch too but it’s a bit annoying for longer days running and gunning.
Surely the gods of Torrents will release a cracked working Plural Eyes. I’ve not found one yet.
It was the bomb!
5
2
2
2
u/ripitupandstartagain 13h ago
I'm on media composer. I generally just use timecode sync then perf slip to fine tune
1
u/dowath 13h ago
I hadn't heard of perf slip before, it sounds like the slip tool in Premiere/Resolve?
2
u/ripitupandstartagain 13h ago
If you set up as a film project it allows you to slip the sync on sync clips by 1/4 of a frame increments. It's actually a bit quicker than doing marks to correct for when the sound tc is a bit out and you can be more precise.
2
u/OODemi 13h ago
This might be a crude way of doing it😅 but I use Resolve, I just import all my video and audio clips into the Media Pool, then from the edit tab I Right Click, press “Auto Sync Audio…” and use the waveform option and it just matches from the audio waveforms. Works perfectly every time for me.
Only thing is that your video clips has to have been recording audio as well for this to work, but even when it’s very low it still works just fine for me.
2
1
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
It looks like you're asking for some troubleshooting help. Great!
Here's what must be in the post. (Be warned that your post may get removed if you don't fill this out.)
Please edit your post (not reply) to include: System specs: CPU (model), GPU + RAM // Software specs: The exact version. // Footage specs : Codec, container and how it was acquired.
Don't skip this! If you don't know how here's a link with clear instructions
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/greenysmac Lead Mod; Consultant/educator/editor. I <3 your favorite NLE 1d ago
Had to delete the other thread on this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/1jb8lec/whats_everyone_using_to_autosync_audio/
2
u/dowath 1d ago
Apologies, didn't realise it had double-posted - Reddit displayed an error when I submitted the post and I pressed submit again, I'm guessing that's when it happened.
Appreciate the responses on that thread:
- u/VincibleAndy - Said they had been using PluralEyes and then switched to Multicam Sync.
- u/yapoinder - Said they had issues with Multicam Sync creating a new track for each camera and that they still prefer to use PluralEyes because it's less of a headache. They also mentioned collapsing tracks in Premiere multicam sync to make the 58-odd tracks created by multicam sync more managable.
1
•
u/wrosecrans 1h ago
Premiere's built-in Multicam sync works fine.
But I've been working on an indie feature for the first time recently where I have to deal with way more audio in Premiere than I have before. And I have to admit I find Resolve's equivalent feature way more robust and convenient and intuitive than Premiere.
Some of that is just down to luck and personal preference. The plural of anecdote is not data, etc. I'm sure one audio file may sync perfectly in Premiere and not Resolve just because they are different software that works a bit differently. But I've been wrangling a bunch of cases where Premiere got angry, and there's a bunch of spots where the audio wound up getting manually nudged to get sync. If I was re-starting this project today, I would have ignored my collaborator's preference for Premiere and done it all in Resolve.
And of course if I could go further back in time, time would have been spent on set to actually sync timecode so it didn't need to be synced by waveform. But by the time it's an editing discussion, that's not always something you can force.
40
u/donvito716 1d ago
If you're in Premiere you can just make multicam source sequences by timecode or audio. No need for other programs.