Import all audio as Mono Tracks

Hi

Like many, I have video cameras (in fact all my cameras) with 2 mono audio channels that I always use as 2 mono tracks. Any stereo is imported as a stereo music file separate to any video.

What would help a LOT is for Resolve to default to setting audio to mono tracks by default when importing video clips.

At the moment when I import a bunch of clips I have to batch change the audio on ALL of them from 1 stereo pair to 1 mono tracks EVERY TIME This is time-consuming and annoying.

What would help a LOT is for Resolve to default to setting audio to mono tracks by default when importing video clips.

Hard NO on that for me.

What would help a LOT is for Resolve to default to setting audio to mono tracks by default when importing video clips.

Hard NO on that for me.

Why?
Do you always import stereo tracks with all your video clips?
I don't know anyone who does.

At the very least, it should be an option to do import as mono tracks. Other NLE's can do this.

+1... I'd welcome an ability to define for myself how I wanted Resolve to automatically interpret source audio channels.

I don't see a problem of having an Import Dual Mono choice in the User Preferences.

As to "Do you always import stereo tracks with your video clips?
I don't know anyone who does."

Well I do as all my audio is recorded in M/S stereo, and the decoder plugins require a stereo signal.

Do you always import stereo tracks with all your video clips?

Yes. That's the norm.

By which I mean pretty much all cameras record stereo.

To be fair Jim, in my corner of the industry (broadcast tv documentaries) camera ops usually record multiple mono channels from separately mic'd sources. Yes, the camera are recording dual (or more channels) but very rarely 'stereo'. That's just my experience though, albeit over decades.

Jim, the norm for what? Avid, as I recall, imports dual mono tracks by default. And the use of in-camera stereo suggests event and vlog work. One would hope that's not the deciding factor.

Most audio editors (and picture editors, for that matter) will want the import option.

Whenever I receive camera files, the audio is always mono in Clip Attributes.

Do you always import stereo tracks with all your video clips?

Yes. That's the norm.

By which I mean pretty much all cameras record stereo.

Not at all. Mine has two XLR inputs. Most do that. It is not stereo.

I suppose if you have a consumer camera with two built in mics then it might do stereo. However, most of us are using multiple mono mics. I can't ever remember anyone recording stereo into a camera, other than two feeds (left and right) off a mixing desk at a theatre of music event.

Jim, the norm for what? Avid, as I recall, imports dual mono tracks by default.

As does Final Cut Pro X (actually it gives an option which is all I am asking for)

+25 editors here.

Not just broadcast cameras, but professional broadcast hardware like Rohde and Schwarz Venice saves audio in Dual Mono.

Adobe Premiere recognizes Dual Mono audio as Stereo, on the TV I work on we are migrating to Davinci and this extra process with audio is frustrating employers.

Edit:
Sorry my intention is just the opposite.
Having the option into Davinci to merge Dual-Mono audio into Stereo automatically.

+25 editors here.

Not just broadcast cameras, but professional broadcast hardware like Rohde and Schwarz Venice saves audio in Dual Mono.

Adobe Premiere recognizes Dual Mono audio as Stereo, on the TV I work on we are migrating to Davinci and this extra process with audio is frustrating employers.

Are you saying camera audio is always imported as stereo for you? Like I said before this never happens with me. Maybe a windows bug somehow?

I believe it's hardcoded dependent on the number of channels, Tom, not a Mac/Windows thing ... 2 channel sources are automatically interpreted in Clip Attributes as being Stereo, but 4 / 6/ 8 channel sources etc are interpreted as multiple mono.

I believe it's hardcoded dependent on the number of channels, Tom, not a Mac/Windows thing ... 2 channel sources are automatically interpreted in Clip Attributes as being Stereo, but 4 / 6/ 8 channel sources etc are interpreted as multiple mono.

It's interesting that it does it with 4 or more channels. So it should be easy to add the option to resolve for 2 audio channels. In fact I would suggest it should be the default. All my cameras have two XLR inputs (ie 2 mono inputs). Usually external, camera mounted, shotgun and an external radio mic. Which is standard practice from what I see in journalism and documentary work. I don't have more channels on the video clip in the camera(s). If I add other audio channels, they will be separate audio packages. Usually mono. Only Music tracks come in a stereo.

Can we just always have way more options than necessary, never less ? Thx.

+1 for this as well, would be a nice quality of life change not having to split them all the time.

+1 for this.

MXF files from cameras recording multiple audio tracks such as Sony FX6 are seen as mono tracks.
But MP4 files from Sony FX3, A7s and a6600 family are seen as stereo tracks by default.
And the fact that we can't change that in user settings is VERY frustrating!!!

Of course we can change clip attributes manually at the beginning of EVERY project.
But, adding the possibility of changing the default option would be GREATLY appreciated.

It can't be that difficult.

PLEASE PLEASE!

+1