BATCH PROCESSING AUDIO IN SOUNDTRACK PRO - NEW!

Batch Processing Audio in Soundtrack Pro
By Steve Martin

As a busy producer you are always looking for new ways to save time and/or money. And since computers were born to do both, this QuickTip will show you how to create and apply a script to batch process an entire folder of audio files.

Before you attempt to batch process your audio files make sure you back up your files. The process I am about to show you is destructive, which means your original audio files will be permanently altered. Did I mention that what I am about to show you is destructive?

Below is a folder of voiceovers recorded for a corporate client. After listening to the audio I discovered that the mic was placed too far from the subject yielding an unacceptable level of noise.

Fortunately, Soundtrack Pro makes quick work out of fixing common problems such as these. Here I applied two processes – reduce noise and normalize - to one of the 7 audio files.

Because all the audio files came from the same source tape and were recorded under identical conditions, I wanted to avoid having to separately open the remaining audio files in STP only to repeat the same process.

My solution was to create a script.

1. Make sure there is a checkmark next to all the processes in the Actions pane you want included in the script, then choose “Save As AppleScript” from the File menu.

2. In the Save Dialog give the script a name that reflects what the script does.

If you look closely at the save dialog in the image above and the directory path in the image below, you’ll see that STP places the script into the Soundtrack Pro Scripts folder inside your user library. The full path is: User/Library/Scripts/Soundtrack Pro Scripts/My Script.

3. In the Finder, drag your unaltered audio files onto the Script icon you saved. STP is launched for each separate audio file, the process automatically applied, and the file saved.

Below is what all your files look like in the Finder when the script has run it’s course.

But wait, there’s more! If you are working in Final Cut Pro, you can batch process your audio right from within the Browser or Timeline.

4. Just select the audio clip or clips then right or control-click on the icon and choose >Send To>Soundtrack Pro Script> and any scripts that are in the Soundtrack Pro Scripts folder on your hard drive will show up in this handy menu. How cool is that?

When the script is run from within Final Cut Pro, your audio files are processed, saved, and then automatically linked to the clips in Final Cut Pro.