Hello,

When I export my ProRes 422 HQ sequence to QT, I have the audio setting on stereo.

The resulting QT file has one audio track with a stereo mix. But I'm required to deliver two (2) separate tacks ( Track 1-L, track 2 - R) of audio in the QT file.

How do I set the export to get two separate tracks of audio into the QT file? If I export Direct, it gives me a two separate channels of audio in the QT but they are mono? How do I get my two channel (L/R) stereo mix out of Avid and into the QT that I am delivering to air?

Any help is greatly apprecaited!

workinman:

If I export Direct, it gives me a two separate channels of audio in the QT but they are mono? How do I get my two channel (L/R) stereo mix out of Avid and into the QT that I am delivering to air?

Using Direct will get you what you want.  Just make sure you only have two audio tracks in your sequence and all of the L content of the mix is on Ch 1 and all of the R content is on Ch 2.

Stereo is nothing more than two mono tracks with different content.

Jef

I can't seem to get this to work! My sequence is set us as you suggested -- stereo audio with Ch 1 L and Ch 2 R in Avid. I have it set to "Direct" in the Audio Mixer and in Export setting, I have Audio set to "Direct Out". When I export the QT it has two channels of audio, but they are listed as Mono, as shown in the attached pic (but as you mentioned, if stereo is just two mono tracks with different content, I'm assuming this is ok?)

BUT, when I play the QT, it sounds Mono -- but if I AMA that same QT back into Avid it plays as Stereo? 

Can't figure out where I'm going wrong?

You're not going wrong. But the requirement to deliver a 2-ch output, with L on ch1 and R on Ch2, will result in an output with two monophonic channels, one meant to be panned L, one meant to be panned R. In classic QT7, you could assign the channel designations for these tracks and/or pan them – I don't think QT X lets you do that, though.

Perhaps FFMPEG lets you do it, as suggested here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ffmpeg/comments/uo7j7n/how_do_i_change_channel_positions_in_a_mov_file/

Or Apple Compressor might let you do it: https://support.apple.com/guide/compressor/modify-audio-tracks-cpsr8987b30a/mac

Hmmm, I'm not understanding? Are you saying there is no way to preserve the panning from Avid to my .mov file? So, I need to use a third party to get into my .mov file and pan the audio L and R? 

Mono audio will never have a pan because it is Mono. The panning of the audio would need to happen via routing. What ever playback device is used needs to route ch 1 to left and ch 2 to right. This happens in broadcast facilities. If you just open and play the file on your computer your software would need the ability to let you program channel routing, this isn't common thing for software to do as most people don't need this. If you just want to preview the file yourself you could use Avid. Just AMA Link the file, drop it in a timeline, and route ch1 to left and ch 2 to right, press play.

Thank you all for your responses -- I think I am understanding. So the 2 channel .mov that I am delivering for air -- when played in QT, it will sound mono -- but that's ok, the L/R routing will happen at the broadcast facility -- if I wanted to use one of those 3rd party apps to change the routing I could, but it's not necessary since I can check via AMA linking the .mov file back into Avid, it shows 2 channels of audio and when routed l/r it plays in stereo, so I'm good to go -- please let me know if that doesn't sound correct. 

You have it!  Some of this has to do with legacy equipment and tools.  And as result one of the reasons it used to be common practice to put color bars and audio tone at prescribed levels on tapes AND files so that the signal could be verified through out the distribution path.

In my old fart opinion, those are still very valuable elements for a deliverable file.  But many organizations are doing away with it.  Sort of a "Digital = Perfect" mentality.  If only .....

Good luck,

Jef