How do I synchronize multiple *sequential* clips using audio waveforms in Premiere Pro CC?

[InterMurph]

I recorded a concert at my kids' school.  I ended up with:

• Video in six separate clips (video+audio) from my Canon 5D Mark III camera
• A single audio clip from my Zoom H4n recorder

The 5D Mark III can only record clips of up to 4GB in size, and clips 30 minutes in length.  The clips broken up by the 4GB size limit are adjacent to each other, but the clips broken up by the 30-minute limit have a stop-pause-restart gap of a few second.

On past such projects, I have used PluralEyes 3.0 to synchronize the clips.  But PluralEyes converts each stereo audio track into dual mono tracks, which I don't like.

I just happened upon this video:  http://tv.adobe.com/watch/learn-premiere-pro-cc/merge-clips-automatically-using-audio-waveforms/?t=0  It shows how to synchronize a single video+audio clip with another audio clip.  It also shows how to synchromize multiple concurrent video+audio clips with another audio clip, for multi-camera editing.  But it doesn't show how to synchronize multiple sequential video+audio clips, as I got from my Canon 5D Mark III.

It seems that every time I select multiple video clips, the Synchronize item in the pop-up menu is disabled.  When I select only the first video clip and the full-duration audio clip, I can synchronize them with audio waveforms.  But then when I try to select the second video clip and the full-duration audio clip and synchronize them, it breaks the sync of the first video cilp

Can Premiere Pro CC synchronize multiple sequential video clips using the audio waveform method?

I am running Premiere Pro CC version 7.2.1 (4).

Thanks.

[excited_Genie16B8]

You can't do this automatically in PP.  You'll have to sync manually.

[InterMurph]

That's very disappointing.  It means I will have to continue to use PluralEyes for such projects, and that means I will continue to suffer from that product's insistence on splitting stereo tracks in to dual mono tracks.

Thanks.

[excited_Genie16B8]

Correct.

Of course, using a camera that works properly is generally not a bad idea.

[InterMurph]

Your first post has been marked as "helpful".

This last post has been marked as "not helpful."

I can't find the "unnecessarily snide and snarky" button.

Thanks.

[excited_Genie16B8]

Yeah, it's probably a good thing these forums don't have that button.

Seriously, though, there are only three acceptable reasons why a video camera should ever stop recording.

1. The camera operator stopped it.

2. It ran out of media.

3. It ran out of power.

Any camera that stops recording for any other reason is not functioning properly and is less than ideal for use as a video camera.  You kind of created this problem yourself by using a camera not well suited to the job.  I was only suggesting that instead of 'solving' the problem, it's not a bad idea to just stop creating it in the first place.

[InterMurph]

The camera's limitations are not germane to the discussion.  The same thing happens with a RED or an Arri when the operator hits the start/stop button a few times.

Premiere Pro CC can't handle this yet, and I sincerely hope "yet" is the operative word. 

[dsfsdsdfsdffdsf]

Not quite sure why you're drawing a line in the sand here, Jim? Plenty of us use DSLR's in a professional context and the fact that they're limited to recording chunks for tax or heat considerations doesn't make them any less suitable for video applications. They make excellent 2nd unit or B-interview cameras and offer exceptional picture quality and low light performance (at, say, a concert for example) for the money. Better than our FS700, which will record until the batteries or cards are depleted. Point is lots of cameras record in chunks for lots of reasons both user and hardware-driven. Camera discipline comes to mind. I personally button on and off during interviews whilst letting a Zoom crash on the whole setup, putting me in the same camp as the OP. While the Audio Sync feature is a wonderful time saver some of the time, it would be splendid if Adobe could acknowledge the industry benefit of a multiple clip sync feature and add it to a future release. Like a lot of things in Premiere (which I really enjoy working with for the record) the audio sync is a great feature implemented in a not quite complete fashion. https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

[Chris_UK]

I also, for various reasons, end up with a continuous audio file of an event, and several sequential video clips that I would like to sync to that one audio clip. It would be nice if I could at least sync the video clips one at a time, and have them move on the timeline while the audio stays in place, but the audio clip always seems to move, which throws any previous syncs out.

My workaround is to place everything on the timeline, roughly where it should go, sync the first video clip with the audio, then split the audio track just before the start of the second video clip, then I can sync those together, then select that second video clip (along with the now synced audio) and move them back to the split point and join the through edit.

[apel1]

thanks Chris - that idea has just answered my workaround question! 

[shooternz]

I would have done pretty much as Chris UK suggested ... but I would have tried the PPRO Synchronise function as well.

Its not really a "workaround".  Its common practice for editors to manually synch rushes to a master audio clip...and you only had six video clips in this instance.

[mickeyp81]

I'm an editing newbie but this was the very first task I needed to do, i.e. align multiple video clips with a single audio track. My setup is similar. I'm shooting with a Canon 70D, which breaks up video into 4gb clips, which are continuous and easy to align end to end. But the 70D like the 5D only shoots for 30 minutes continuously, so a second or two is lost hitting record again. My external audio was recorded continuously with a camera mounted Tascam (like a zoom) with a line in to the camera. So, in theory, the audio should be the same on the external audio and the audio associated with the video clips, which probably helps the software identify the identical wave forms.

I found that I could roughly align the video clips based on the audio wave forms and then "synchronize" the audio as shown in the video (Merge clips automatically using audio waveforms | Adobe Premiere Pro CC tutorials). I found that this aligned the audio perfectly but separated the video from its associated audio track. But it's easy to select the video and snap it back into alignment with its audio. While it would be nice to have everything merge automatically, using synchronize sequentially did not take much time.

Hope that all makes sense.

[InterMurph]

I have upgraded to PluralEyes 3.5, and it no longer separates each stereo track into dual mono tracks.  It works perfectly, so I'm sticking with it.

[mickeyp81]

Hey thanks. PluralEyes looks like it solves another problem of mine which is that I have accidentally recorded some of my external audio at 44.1 kHz rather than 48 kHz and there seems to be drift.

PluralEyes 3.5 QuickStart Guide on Vimeo

[davbi-GeHN0q]

I'm new to video, so my workarounds will probably look inelegant compared to more seasoned editors.

Recently, I've had to synchronise footage from 2 cameras with external audio, which included gaps from one camera (or even gaps in audio but not footage). Since I had to sync the footage using the "create a multicamera source sequence" function, I attempted to include the correct audio file in the process. Miraculously, it works - luckily, the sound quality between the videos and the separate tracks was enough for me to easily identify which file was used (I was lucky, as I don't know how to control this yet).

So my suggestion for this would be to create a multi camera source (up to 4 footage clips, from what I can tell)using your separate audio and then set the cameras to switch at the right frame. It's a bit clumsy, but will hopefully make things easier.

[Pat Finnegan]

Thought I'd add one of my own workarounds and also give an update related to a new feature in CC 2015.

First, my problem was not exactly the same, but similar. I often shoot multicam with three Canon camcorders (G30 - G30 - S20) and one Canon DSLR (70D). The camcorders output MP4 (MTS) in an AVCHD file structure. If the file structure is not altered, PP treats clip 00000.MTS as a concatenation of all the clips in the session. So clicking on the 00000.MTS file for each camera and then creating a multicam source sequence will sync via audio just fine, as long as there's good reference audio on all cameras. The problem is that the 70D creates individual MOV's without the AVCHD concatenation advantages.

(Question for Adobe: Why do you call it "Create Multicam Source SEQUENCE when what it really creates is a multicam CLIP that you then have to make a new sequence out of? Inquiring minds want to know)

My workaround is to select all the MOVs in proper chronological sequence and create a new regular sequence from those clips. I then render (export) the sequence as a single concatenated clip at the original bitrate. I then bring this concatenated clip back into PP and use the process above to sync all the clips via audio.

Another option is to simply sync on in/out or markers based on a manual process using visual and auditory cues. (You ARE using a clapboard right? No? Neither am I half the time!) Manual syncing may seem like a pain, but it's a great skill to learn. If you do multicam often, invest some time in learning this technique. Set your cameras to free run timecode, even if it's only time of day timecode. Even if the cameras aren't synced together, if you use a clapper or some other audio/visual cue (hand clap, two boards, hit the gaffer's hardhat with a hammer, etc.) you can manually sync once at the start of editing the rough cut and stay synced all the way through, mostly, even if the cameras start and stop recording.

Finally, PPCC 2015 has a new feature that can help if you use timecode. If the timecode is properly jammed, you can add a camera name in the "Camera Label" metadata field. Sync by timecode and PPCC will treat multiple clips from one camera (with the same camera label) as sequential clips, similar to the way PluralEyes 3.5 does it.This is a leap into the pro realm though since timecode is not usually available in consumer or prosumer cameras. Keeping timecode perfectly synced (jamming) isn't for the faint of heart either!

Oh, and by the way. DSLRs today produce video quality equal to or better than comparably priced prosumer camcorders, mostly due to great glass and large sensors. For the detractors above I would suggest doing some research in this area. I say this not to defend our view, but as a "DSLR video evangelist." Borrow or rent a Canon 5D Mark III, 7D or 70D with STM glass, a Sony A6000 or A7 or a Panasonic GH4 and have some fun shooting still and video with the same device. You might just catch the DSLR bug even with the 30 minute recording limitations. Personally, I rarely record single clips longer than 30 minutes opting instead to shoot for the edit with good coverage. If I do need longer clips, I use my G30, S20 or BMPC, or I'll use an AtomOS recorder on the HDMI port. 

Hope this helps!

[JOHN MONDO]

InterMurph wrote:

It seems that every time I select multiple video clips, the Synchronize item in the pop-up menu is disabled.  When I select only the first video clip and the full-duration audio clip, I can synchronize them with audio waveforms.  But then when I try to select the second video clip and the full-duration audio clip and synchronize them, it breaks the sync of the first video cilp

Hasn't been my experience. Here was my workflow for a similar project.

Take all the sequential clips and lay them up in a timeline. Create separate timelines for each time you broke record (otherwise it will sync to one part and not the other - logically).

Now put your source audio clip and source timelines in a single bin for ease of processing. Highlight everything in the bin, right click and choose create multicamera sequence. Choose the correct audio channel to sync on your particular clips and then choose create sequence (choosing audio as an option to sync is also necessary). This worked for me with video clips only so I don't know if it is the audio clip that is creating the problem. I'm sure you could cheat and turn your audio clip into a video clip if so - maybe just add it to a timeline with black and use that as a source. For some obscure reason this does NOT work with subclips - only with original source media.

BTW - many professional cameras split clips into separate files and Premiere doesn't recombine all of them on import - only some formats. The 30 minute limit is a different matter. I hate cameras that do that but hey - you use what you have.

[staffane84724493]

You can do this in the timeline (not by merging clips in the project window).

See this video:

My Favorite New Feature: Multi-Clip Sync in Premiere Pro CC | ANDREW TRICE

The steps I use are:

1. Put the master audio (from your Zoom) on Audio track 1.

2. Drop all the videoclips right after each other on the timeline. NOTE: One new videolayer for each clip. So first clip on V1, second on V2 etc. Don't care about sync here, just drop them anywhere.

3. Select all clips, right-click and choose "Synchronize". Choose Audio 1 as base for sync.

4. All clips will now be synced. You can clean up the timeline by moving all the clips down to V1 for example before editing, if you want.

Hope this helps!