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Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:08 am
by Stephen R Jones
I have a Wedding project in Resolve 16 running on Mac Catalina, which currently has a timeline with a video track and an image (title) track and an empty track. I have a large audio file (WAV format) which I want to add, but cannot. The clip attributes say that it has 2 mono tracks - it was recorded by the church. I removed one of the audio tracks in the clip attributes pop-up but that makes no difference.

It is some time since I have use Resolve but I preferred it to FCP. However, this issue is a show-stopper...

I had forgotten, also, that there is no online help :-(

I also have some lapel microphone recordings I have to add later - wil I have the same issue with them?

What is the issue here? How can I add my wedding service audio?

I have no problems playing the audio files in garageband...

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 4:18 am
by Stephen R Jones
... I do have the same issue with the lapel microphone recordings. I try to add them to a track - all is Green so I expect it to add, but it does not...

Should I upgrade to v17? I looked for, but could not find, a list of issues fixed in the 17 release... I am not sure I want to risk finding that this issue remains and new ones have been added :-(

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 5:12 am
by Leslie Wand
what wave format?

what lapel format?

https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/ ... c_List.pdf

i'm on windows and have no problem dropping audio only tracks in wav and mp3 onto timeline?

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 1:58 pm
by oilar123
Just try the free Audacity to convert the sound file to a format DR can read. Have worked for me whenever an audio format has been incompatible with DR.

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 8:46 pm
by Stephen R Jones
Hi

Thanks for the suggestion. I am one step in front of you here...

Unfortunately Audacity does not run on Mac Catalina. There is a possible workaround perhaps...

I don't know why a WAV file is so difficult - I have had no issues with these files in any other editor.

The manual says Wav files ARE supported...

There is another issue with Resolve v16 to do with adding video or audio tracks - the workarounds, however, do not help...

That's not my only issue with audio - for some reason I cannot add an audio track to a timeline - if I right click I get the option to add a video track, not no audio option.

Also, why so many timelines? I only have a single thread so I only need one timeline, a couple of video tracks and a few audio tracks. I am creating a new project from scratch this morning and will check the manual for adding tracks and also audio and audio formats.

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 9:47 pm
by Jim Simon
Have you gone through any of the training manuals, Stephen? I found them very helpful, well worth the time.

https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/produc ... e/training

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 10:34 pm
by Charles Bennett
Stephen, to add an audio track to the Timeline, right click on the header of an audio track that is already present. Right clicking on a video track header will only give you the option to add a video track.
Create Audio Track.jpg


You might find it easier to add audio tracks in the Fairlight page. As to WAv and MP3 files, you should have no problem importing them to the Timeline unless they are of a not compatible format.
What do you mean by "why so many timelines?"

In this pic there is only one Timeline but with Titles track, Adjustment Clip, Edited video, and four audio tracks. The Master Mix and Music Guides are 24bit 48k WAV files dropped into the Timeline.
This is a simplified view on a single screen for illustration purposes as I normally work on dual screens.
Single Timeline with Multiple Tracks.jpg

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Fri Jan 29, 2021 11:47 pm
by Stephen R Jones
I now have a brand new project. I am still unable to add an audio track. The main files are WAV format.

I have 3 Audio tracks. If I drag and drop an audio file to any of these tracks, it just bounces out - I don't get an error message of any kind.

I thought Microsoft had the worst UI possible... But I would say this is the worst in all my 40 years of working in IT/Film. I wouldn't live long enough to read and digest the 3000+ pages in the manual!

I would love to show you an image but I have no idea how to add an image that does not refer to a directory on my hard drive - which won't be much use...

If my video clip has audio I can add it without an issue - but I have other audio to add - in both WAV and mp4a format and I can't!

I am not sure at all that this version even works properly on a Mac. If you enter full screen you can't revert unless you quit the application. I have never seen an Apple app that had this issue...


I think I will have to abandon Resolve - I have spent nearly 2 days trying to add audio to this project - which is ridiculous. Back to FCP :-( At least it works!

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:39 am
by Leslie Wand
a. try renaming your mp4a to mp3

b. try converting your non-playing audio files to 24 bit 48 kHz .wav - they always work.

no one is forcing you to use resolve. it's a different beast to nearly every other nle i've ever used (and that's most of them). but if you persevere you'll find it really is worth the effort - otherwise, go back to what you know...

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:42 am
by Mike Warren
Stephen R Jones wrote:I think I will have to abandon Resolve - I have spent nearly 2 days trying to add audio to this project - which is ridiculous. Back to FCP :-( At least it works!


I don't have any problems doing what it appears you are trying to do, and others who have posted here can do it too, so there must be something different about your situation. We just have to work out what that is.

I doubt you are doing this, but I'll ask anyway; you are actually dragging the audio file onto an audio track, right? If you try to put it in a video track or blank space nothing will happen.

So, other than that, perhaps you have an incompatible file format. Can you supply a short sample clip so others can check if it imports for them? It doesn't need to have any actual audio and only needs to be a second or so long. Upload it to a file sharing site and post the link here. If the forum won't allow to to post the link, leave off the http:// and www parts of the link.

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:43 am
by Leslie Wand
Mike Warren wrote: Upload it to a file sharing site and post the link here. If the forum won't allow to to post the link, leave off the http:// and www parts of the link.


you can also use this method for posting screenshots

Re: Adding audio files to a project

PostPosted: Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:09 am
by Stephen R Jones
Thanks for all the advice. I switched back to FCP and I won't be using Resolve again. There are some you tube videos about the issue of being unable to add clips to the timeline in v16. One guy has some workarounds but they didn't work for me.

And, oh, yes I was trying to drag and drop to an audio track. It says audio in big letters!

Thanks again and goodbye

/s