Apple Final Cut Pro 5 - Manual (Page 290)

Chapter 20 Capturing Audio 289
IV
 Preview: Select this option to listen to the incoming signal on the audio output
selected in the Sound pane of System Preferences. Each audio channel you enable
for capture is routed to a corresponding output on your audio interface, while
disabled channels are not heard. If your audio interface has less audio outputs than
the number of channels you are capturing, the audio is downmixed to two channels
(mono channels are panned to the center and stereo pairs are previewed in stereo).
This does not affect your captured media files; only the preview of audio during
logging and capturing is affected.
 Master Gain: This slider allows you to adjust the gain on all audio channels
simultaneously. You can also enter a gain or attenuation value in decibels in the
corresponding field.
Note: Not all devices support a master gain control from Final Cut Pro.
 Individual channel meter: Each audio channel meter shows the current level of the
audio entering your audio interface.
Note: If the Preview option is enabled, and an audio channel is disabled for capture,
then the audio meter does not display levels.
 Clipping indicator: Each audio channel meter has a clipping indicator that lights up
when audio levels above 0 dBFS are encountered. This indicator stays lit until you
stop and start playback again.
 Stereo/Mono control: Enabling this control tells Final Cut Pro to capture the two
corresponding audio channels as a stereo pair. When this control is disabled, you can
select one or both audio channels for capture. In this case, each channel is captured
and handled as a discrete mono channel.
 Capture Audio Channel control: Enabling this control tells Final Cut Pro to capture the
corresponding audio channel.
To choose which audio channels to capture:
1 Make sure your audio interface is connected and selected in your current capture preset.
2 Choose File > Log and Capture (or press Command-8).
3 Click the Clip Settings tab.
4 Check that the number of input audio channels in the Input Channels pop-up menu
matches the number of channels available on your audio interface.
Note: The audio interface used for capturing is determined by the currently selected
capture preset. For more information about capture presets, see Volume IV, Chapter 24,
“Capture Settings and Presets.”