Importing Multichannel Audio to Motion
Multichannel audio files can be imported as a single track or as individual tracks. The
same applies to QuickTime movie files that contain multiple audio tracks, including files
with stereo audio tracks. Because Motion treats multichannel audio files and multitrack
QuickTime files identically, references to QuickTime files in this chapter also apply to
multichannel audio files, and vice versa.
When importing a multitrack QuickTime movie file, you can import the audio portion of
the file as a single audio track or as individual tracks.
When you add any media file to Motion, an audio track appears that can be used
independently of the video file. When the file is unlinked from its source, a track can be
individually enabled, disabled, or deleted. However, deleting a source QuickTime movie
file from the Media list, deletes all audio and video that originated from that file.
Note: When you export a multichannel audio file from Motion, you may choose whether
to export all channels or mix them down into a single track.
To import a stereo QuickTime movie file using the drop menu
1
Drag the file from the File Browser or the Finder to the Canvas, holding down the mouse
button until a drop menu appears.
2
Do one of the following:
• To import the movie with a single audio track, choose Mix To Stereo, then release the
mouse button.
• To import the movie file with a single audio track for each track, choose Import All
Tracks, then release the mouse button.
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When you choose Mix To Stereo, the file appears in the Audio list as a single audio
track and the video appears in the Canvas (and Layers list). The link icon in the Audio
list (next to the lock icon) indicates that the audio object has a corresponding video
element.
Activation checkbox
Name field
Solo
Lock
Link
Pan dial
Mute
Level slider
Output channel
pop-up menu
Note: When a stereo QuickTime file is imported without using the drop menu, Mix To
Stereo is the default import method.
To import a QuickTime movie file with more then two tracks of audio
µ
Drag the file from the File Browser or the Finder to the Canvas.
Each audio track is imported as an individual audio object in the Audio list.
Important:
Audio tracks from files with more then two tracks of audio (such as 5.1 surround
audio) import as individual audio objects.
The link icon for the object also appears in the Layers list, indicating that the object has
a corresponding audio element.
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When you choose Import All Tracks from the drop menu, the file appears in the Audio
list with an individual audio track for each track in the file. The following image shows
the Audio list after importing a stereo QuickTime movie file using the Import All Tracks
option, with the resulting left and right tracks.
To import a multitrack QuickTime movie file using the Import command
1
Choose File > Import (or press Command-I).
2
In the Import File dialog, select the QuickTime file.
3
Choose an import option from the Audio pop-up menu (located at the bottom of the
Import Files dialog), then click Import.
The file is imported with your chosen option.
Important:
Audio tracks from files with more then two tracks of audio (such as 5.1 surround
audio) cannot be mixed to stereo. All audio tracks are imported as individual audio objects.