Apple Final Cut Pro 7 - Manual (Page 928)

If you want to remove a clip’s attributes, including levels and pan, you can do so by using
the Remove Attributes command. For more information, see
“Removing Attributes from
a Clip.”
Adjusting Clip Audio Levels and Pan Using Keyframes
Instead of setting the audio level or pan of an entire clip to the same level throughout a
clip, you can mix your levels and stereo placement dynamically, raising and lowering the
audio level or changing the stereo pan of a clip numerous times within the same clip. To
do this, you use keyframes.
Keyframes can be used throughout Final Cut Pro with any feature whose parameters can
be changed over time. Keyframes allow you to specify different audio level or pan settings
in an audio clip at different points in time. The audio level overlay in your clip automatically
adjusts from one keyframed level to another using a smooth curve.
You can also record audio level and pan automation using the Audio Mixer, which creates
keyframes. These keyframes can be adjusted by hand, directly in the Viewer or the Timeline.
Note: Unlike the visual keyframes that you can set for motion settings, the shape of audio
level and pan level curves can’t be altered.
Tools for Adjusting Keyframes
When you adjust audio levels and pan settings in the Timeline and Viewer, you mainly
use the Selection and Pen tools. The Pen tools allow you to add, move, and delete audio
level and pan keyframes in the clip overlays in the Timeline as well as in the Viewer.
Pen tool
Delete Point tool
• Pen tool: The Pen tool allows you to add keyframes to the audio level overlay (press
the P key to select the Pen tool).
• Delete Point tool: The Delete Point tool allows you to remove keyframes from the audio
level overlay (press the P key twice or hold down the Option key while you are using
the Pen tool to select the Delete Point tool).
Using the Option Key to Temporarily Enable Pen Tools
When using the Selection tool, holding down the Option key and moving the pointer
over the audio level overlay in the Timeline makes the Pen tool the active tool. This is a
fast and easy way to create keyframes to adjust your levels.
928 Chapter 57 Mixing Audio in the Timeline and Viewer