Sync audio clips . . . where has video clip's audio gone?

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Level 7

23,967 points

Sync audio clips . . . where has video clip's audio gone?

I have tried something I have not done since 2012 and things have changed!

I shot some normal video and also used an external recording device so I ended up with the camera audio and the recorder's audio.

Then I selected both clips in the browser, control clicked and selected "Synchronize Clips" from the dropdown menu which created a new clip with the audio of both synchronised.

This clip was then dropped into the timeline and I right clicked it to select "Expand Audio Components".

Back in 2012 that would have separated the external audio from the original video clip leaving the original clip with its own audio displayed.

However, in 2025 there is no sign of the video clip's audio.

Have I done something wrong or is that the way it now works?

Incidentally the video with the new audio is fine but I am curious as to why the ideo clip's audio is no longer visible.

Audio Sync 2012

Audio Sync 2025

Mac mini, macOS 15.6

Posted on Oct 22, 2025 6:37 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BenB

Level 6

13,142 points

Oct 23, 2025 5:38 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

I've done this daily producing TV shows for the last couple of decades, and it's pretty much always worked this way. The trick is when you originally create the Sync Clip that dialog box has some check boxes. One is "Disable audio components on AV clips". That is checked by default. (You can also chose to "Hide" the originals.) Problem is, it doesn't disable anything. Double-click the Sync clip and look inside, both clips audio are still enabled. BUT, if you drop it into a Project, the Storyline Audio is now disabled as it should be.

What's changed is Break Apart Clip Items doesn't work with Multicam and Sync clips now, as you used in your video. Now you can only Expand Audio Components (which you could always do). This will show only the active audio components in the Sync Clip. This can be easily controlled in the Inspector (Audio tab, Audio Configuration at the bottom).

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Answer 2

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

23,967 points

Oct 22, 2025 7:32 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

I think I have cracked it.

Both audio tracks can nowadays be accessed in the Inspector as "Storyline" and "Connected" so I assume I deselect the "Storyline" audio.

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Answer 3

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

23,967 points

Oct 23, 2025 8:53 AM in response to BenB

Thanks for the further clarification Ben.

The latest method is far slicker, removing the necessity to get rid of the original audio etc.

My original DVD also contained a demo of how easily you could make multicam clips.

It was shown at my film-making club and I anticipated a rush to get FCP but it never materialised . . . most of them were quite satisfied with their windows machines and grumbling each week about the number of crashes and other malfunctions they were experiencing. The fact that those of us using Macs had very few disasters did not seem to register.

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Answer 4

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

23,967 points

Oct 22, 2025 6:56 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Just in case you think my memory of 2012 is at fault . . . I wasn't using my memory.

I had dug out an old tutorial I had made on DVD . . . here it is . . .

Sync External Audio

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