Apple Final Cut Express HD - Manual (Page 442)

442 Part VI Rough Editing
Using Audio Transitions to Smooth Audible Changes
Sometimes, a cut in the audio will be quite noticeable despite your best efforts to find
just the right frame on which to place the edit. In these cases, you can apply a cross fade
to the edit point to try to smooth out the transition from one audio clip to the next.
Final Cut Express HD comes with two audio transitions: a +3 dB cross fade (the default)
and a 0 dB cross fade. Each cross fade results in a different audio level change as the
transition plays. Your choice of cross fades depends on the clips you’re transitioning
between. Try one, then try the other to see which sounds better. For information on
applying transitions, see Chapter 35, “
Adding Transitions ,” on page 507.
Creating or Separating Stereo Pairs
Although stereo pairs are meant to be used for intrinsically stereo audio like music or
stereo sound effects, any two clips of audio in the Timeline can be made into a stereo pair
or separated into two mono clips. This operation can only be performed in the Timeline.
Note: Stereo pair linking is not the same as clip item linking. It is not necessary to break
the link between clips prior to disabling stereo pairing.
To create a stereo pair:
1 Select a pair of mono audio clip items in the Timeline. (Use the Command key to select
the second item, if necessary.) If you click one item of a linked pair, the other item is
also selected.
2 Choose Modify > Stereo Pair (or press Option-L).
The stereo pair indicators appear on the selected clip items in the Timeline.
Stereo pair. Green arrows
indicate stereo pair;
underlines indicate linking. Mono clip items (linked).
Underlines indicate
linking. Mono clip items
(unlinked)