Working out Production kinks before new project starts - Audio dropouts during playback

[Jon Coyopa]

In the last year I've completed a series and a feature editing in an Adobe Production with three other editors.  For the most part, this has been a really great way to work and collaborate with the other editors.  We're starting a new project in a few weeks and I want to work out some kinks before we start.

Our biggest problem is with audio dropping out during playback.  I've read just about everything there is on this (clearing cache, converting mp3s to wavs, etc...) but those things all seem to be bandaids and not fixes.  

Most of our footage is shot with a Sony FX9 and an FS7 and a Canon C300 are used as bcams, all in 4K.  All of the production audio is 24bit WAVs.  Any archival footage or temp music or anything we didn't shoot is converted to an appropriate format (ProRes LT, WAV, etc...).  Aside from levels and dissolves, very little effects work is done to the audio.  We even convert stills to ProRes LT quicktimes as temp until we can do the After Effects work.  

We're all working from a QNAP TVS-h1688X NAS which is running version 4.5.2012.  There's an update that I will most likley install unless I hear otherwise.

All of the computers are running Premiere 23.3 but it looks like there have been some audio fixes in some of the updates so I will most likely update that unless I hear otherwise.

All render files go to the NAS but all .cfa and .pek files go to the computers internal drive.  I was instructed to do this by the person that installed the NAS.

Our computers - all running macOS Ventura 13.3.1:

Mac Pro 2019 x2

3.5 GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W

AMD Radeon Pro 580X 8 GB

32GB 2666 MHz DDR4

iMac Pro 2017

3.2 GHz 8-Core Intel Xeon W

Radeon Pro Vega 56 8GB

32 GB 2666 MHz DDR4

Mac Mini 2020

Apple M1

Memory 16 GB

I'm just trying to be prepared and have plan for any issues that may arrise.  Any insight is greatly appreciated.  

Thanks,

-Jon

[R Neil Haugen]

Calling on @Kevin-Monahan , @Bruce Bullis , and @Warren Heaton  here ... 

[Warren Heaton]

@Jon Coyopa   @R Neil Haugen 

Converting MP3 to WAV or AIF isn't a bandaid.  It's a best practice.

Sure, drop source in the Timeline and see what happens, but if working on a tight deadline I would stick to best practices to minimize issues.

Audio drop outs can also be a sign that the storage media is dropping just below the sustained data transfer rate required to play source footage.

I also like to stay one full version back when broadcast deadlines are involved.  So, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Media Encoder 22.6.4 for post production with 23.6 installed to keep tabs on the new features (which are very impressive these last few releases).

[Todd_Reeder]

Hi Jon,

What audio is dropping out?  from what source? or is it from everything?  Does the audio drop out in the same area all the time? or does it seem random?  When the audio drops out, are the audio meters bouncing or are they blank?  do you have a transmit device attached, like a BMD or AJA box that displays your picture and audio on a different source?

[Jon Coyopa]

It seems random.  You can be watching your cut and the dialog will drop out.  Or the music.  Or both.  If you stop and start playback, the audio comes back until it drops out again.  Very little camera audio is used so it would usually be the WAVs from the sound recorder or music WAVs that are dropping.  It can be a week of flawless playback and then 2 days of editing agony.  The M1 Mac Mini suffers from this the least.

One of the Mac Pros had a Blackmagic card installed, which is no longer in there, but that's the only extra hardware that we've used on any of these machines.