Workflows

ADD Audio Bridge for Final Cut Pro

Use the full power of Audio Design Desk inside of Final Cut Pro. The extension links the two program’s timelines so they work seamlessly together.

It is in beta. Let us know what you think!

Open ADD Audio Bridge

After installing Audio Design Desk and opening Final Cut Pro, you will notice the ADD icon in the upper left of the FCP window.

If you have multiple extensions installed, you will see the ADD icon in an extensions pulldown.

Press the icon to open the ADD Audio Bridge extension.

Open ADD

Click the ADD icon within the Audio Bridge to open Audio Design Desk. Once ADD is open, ADD and FCP will be connected. You can check by clicking the drop-down arrow next to the timecode in the Transport Bar. You will also see the lock icon highlighted in the ADD Audio Bridge.

Scrub in ADD or in the ADD Audio Bridge to control the Final Cut Pro timeline.

If you run into issues, make sure the start times of ADD and Final Cut Pro are the same. You can change the ADD start time by clicking on the triangle to the right of the timecode and typing in your desired start time.

To the left of the timecode is the Final Cut Pro Connect button. When connected, the triangle will glow orange.

Add Sounds

Once the timelines are linked, use ADD to add sound to your video.

Press H for hit, T for transition, R for rise and D for drone.

After you listen back, select all by pressing ⌘A and then replace by pressing ⌘R to try alternate sounds without losing sync.

You can create your own triggers by dragging sounds into the numbers or MIDI notes in the trigger menu below the library. Once you create a set of sounds on a Trigger, you can place sounds from that trigger to the ADD timeline by pressing the trigger. This can happen frame by frame or live, in real time.

Transfer

You can transfer session data from Final Cut Pro to Audio Design Desk by dragging the project from Final Cut to the Audio Bridge extension. If you placed markers when you were editing, ADD will ask if you want to import those markers as comments or as audio.

You can transfer Audio and/or Video from Final Cut Pro to ADD by right clicking a file or your entire project, navigating to the “Share” menu, selecting ADD from the pulldown and then selecting audio, video or both in the settings menu.

You can transfer audio from Final Cut Pro to ADD as individual roles from the roles tab. Select “Audio Only as Separate Files” from the Roles as pulldown.

Bounce

Bounce a selection or your entire project by pressing the Bounce icon in the lower left of the ADD Audio Bridge extension.

Once the bounce is ready it will say “Ready”. The Final Cut Pro playhead will jump to the point where your bounce started so you know where to drag the bounce.

Import

Import your entire ADD sequence into Final Cut Pro by pressing the “Import” button in the ADD Audio Bridge and then dragging the resulting file into the project from the extension.

You may need to click out of a popup that lets you know there are “items with matching names”. In this case, select “Keep Both”.

Once the ADD project is inside of Final Cut Pro, double click on it, select all by pressing ⌘A, copy by pressing ⌘C, double click on your original project, and press ⌘V to paste. All of your audio will appear in sync in your Final Cut Pro timeline.

Controls

There are a few other controls in the ADD Audio Bridge extension including: in, out, clear, go to beginning, go to end, go to previous marker, go to next marker, frame forward, frame back, play, replace and refresh.

This extension is new. Please let us know your thoughts by emailing info@add.app.

Frame.io Collaboration

Collaboration has a new sound.

Audio Design Desk makes collaboration easy. Login into your Frame.io account inside of ADD and start collaborating immediately!

Log In

Go to the Your Library tab in the Library window, scroll down, and select Frame.io. Then click “Login” to log into your Frame.io account. The window will then populate with your shared projects and teams.

Import Video

Use the dropdown to find your video in Frame.io, and double-click it to import at the default resolution of 720. If you would like to import a different quality, right-click the video, hover over Download, and select the desired resolution.

Comments

When you import the video, comments will come along with it. ADD will ask if you’d like to import the comments as Audio or as Comments. If you select “Audio” ADD will guess what audio you’d like to use based on our trigger keys (h for hit, r for rise, etc) or ADD will use the words to guess the intended audio. If you import comments, ADD will import the Frame.io comment markers into the ADD timeline. You can select the marker to read the comment.

Upload to Frame.io

Press CMD-B to bounce the project, and you’ll see this window.

Make sure the checkbox for “Export Video” and “Export to Frame.io” is selected, and click “Save.”
Your video will be uploaded to the Frame.io stack you pulled it from.

Collaboration made easy!

DAWSync

ADD can plug into virtually any digital audio workstation workflows. This means ADD can act as a giant plugin within your audio editor, adding the power of replacement and discovery to the DAW of your choice.

• Pro Tools
• Logic Pro X
• Ableton
• Reaper
• Studio One

Pro Tools

Enable MTC in Audio Design Desk

In your Audio Design Desk Preferences, enable MTC Receive and Send.

Click on the MTC Sync Receive icon on the Transport bar to enable MTC Sync.

Set MTC In in ProTools

Go to Setup > Peripherals in the Pro Tools menu, and set the MTC Generator Port to Audio Design Desk MTC In. (This allows Pro Tools to send MTC to Audio Design Desk.)

Open MIDI Input Devices

Open up the MIDI > MIDI Input Devices window.

Set MTC Out

Enable Audio Design Desk MTC Out.

Export to Pro Tools

Start Export

Once your project is finished in Audio Design Desk, go to File > Export > AAF or XML.

Export Settings

In the Export dropdown, select Pro Tools.

If you want ADD to automatically open your session inside of PT, check “Open after export”.

Specify your other settings such as preserve handles, then click Export.

Open in Pro Tools

If you did not click “Open after export” select File > Open Session in Pro Tools.

For best results set Audio Media Options: Link to source media (where possible).

Click OK

Logic Pro X

Enable MTC in Audio Design Desk

In your Audio Design Desk Preferences, enable MTC Receive and Send.

Click on the MTC icon in the Transport bar to enable MTC Sync.

Synchronization Window in Logic

In Logic, open File > Synchronization.

Change Settings

Enable Transmit MTC and set the input from ADD MTC IN.

Enable Auto Sync

If you want two way communication between ADD and Logic (meaning whichever program is in the foreground leads the other program) right click on the Sync icon, and select “Internal Sync” and “Auto Sync In” and then you’re done!

Export to Logic

Start Export

Once your project is finished in Audio Design Desk, go to File > Export > Logic. If you want ADD to automatically open your session in Logic, click “Open after export”.

Export Settings

In the Export To dropdown, you can select Final Cut Pro XML or AAF. Specify your other settings such as Preserve Edits, then click Export.

Open Logic

If you did not select “Open after export” in ADD, open Logic, go the File menu, and select Import > Final Cut Pro XML or Import > AAF.

Import

Find your ADD Export file and click Import.

Done!

Your Audio Design Desk Project is now in Logic Pro and ready to mix/master.

Ableton

Enable MTC in Audio Design Desk

In your Audio Design Desk Preferences, enable MTC Receive and Send.

Click on the MTC Sync icon on the Transport bar to enable MTC Sync.

Set Up MTC Out in Live

Go to Preferences > Link > MIDI Ports, and set up the in: ADD MTC Out. By doing this, Live can receive MTC from Audio Design Desk.

Plugin Sends MTC from Live

To send MTC from Live, first download the plugin (requires Max Runtime). Then, open the app and drag the MTC.amxd file into any Live track.

Update MTC Receive in Audio Design Desk

Inside Audio Design Desk, change the MTC Receive to the Bridge that is currently used in Live MTC. (We recommend doing one-way MTC sync when working in real time.)

Customize LiveMTC

Now you’re all set and can configure things from the LiveMTC app interface!

Reaper

Enable MTC in Audio Design Desk

In your Audio Design Desk Preferences, enable MTC Receive and Send.

Click on the MTC Sync icon on the Transport bar to enable MTC Sync.

Generate MTC from Reaper

Create a track and insert a SMPTE LTC/MTC Timecode Generator (can be accessed from the top menu item: Insert > Insert SMPTE LTC/MTC Timecode Generator.)

Configure Generated MTC

Bring up the source properties of that inserted SMPTE LTC/MTC Timecode Generator, and set up Send MIDI (MTC) with your desired frame rate.

Enable Reaper to Receive MTC

Right-click on the play button to bring up the External Timecode Synchronization setting. Enable Synchronization to timecode, and use All Inputs.

Studio One

Enable MTC in Audio Design Desk

In your Audio Design Desk Preferences, enable MTC Receive and Send.

Click on the MTC Sync Receive icon on the Transport bar to enable MTC Sync.

Set Studio One External Device

Now go to the Studio One Menu bar and select “Preference > External Device” to add a new device. In the Receive From and Send dropdowns, select ADD MTC and click Send MIDI Timecode

Sync the External Device

Go to “Advanced > Synchronization” and click Sync to External Device. Then select ADD MTC Out in the dropdowns.

NLE’s

Audio Design Desk offers a simple and seamless workflow between Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere or Avid.

Premiere Pro

Import Video into Audio Design Desk

Drag your video into the ADD video window and start creating audio! If you place markers in your video, ADD will ask you if you’d like to make audio from your markers.

Export from Audio Design Desk

Once you’ve finished your sound pass, export your work as an .AAF or .XML.

Check Settings

Make sure that the settings are set to Premiere XML. You can change other settings such as Rendering Regions with Effects or Including the Video, as well as choosing to Organize Timeline to prevent overlapping. Once the settings are to your liking, click Export.

Open in Premiere

If you elected not to “Open after export” or want to open the export later, go to the File Menu in Premiere Pro and select Open Project. Locate and select the XML project you just created and click Open.

Final Cut Pro

Audio Design Desk offers a simple and seamless workflow between cutting in Final Cut Pro and creating audio in Audio Design Desk. Above is a special section that discusses the FCP Extension, ADD Audio Bridge. Below are instructions to work with FCP if you elect not to use the audio bridge.

Export from FCP

When you’d like to add sound to your edit, export your video using the share menu.

Bring into Audio Design Desk

Drag your video into Audio Design Desk and start creating! If you placed markers in FCP, ADD will ask if you’d like to convert those markers into sound.

Export from Audio Design Desk

Once you’ve finished your sound pass, you can export your work as an .AAF or FCP .XML. 1.10 or 1.7. If you select “Open after export”, ADD will open your session in FCP for you.

Open In FCP

If you elect not to select “Open after export”, go to the File Menu in Final Cut Pro and select Import XML. Locate and select the XML project you just created and click Open.

Done!

Final Cut Pro will immediately bring in all of the audio you created in Audio Design Desk so you can continue editing.

Minimum System Requirements – Mac Only

Audio Design Desk is currently only available for MacOS and is M1 Native.

Operating System: MacOS Mojave Version 10.14 or later
Processor: Intel 1.3 GHz Core M or higher
Memory: 8GB RAM
Storage: 3GB Local Hard Drive space.

ADD itself isn’t so big, but you will need a fair bit of free space to download our Sound Packs for which you can use an external hard drive. Using an external hard drive is explained in Sound Pack Manager

One license is issued per subscription, which allows users to operate add.app on one computer. If you would like your license to extend to more than one computer, please contact us.

What’s new in version 2.0?

New Features:

• Your Account – You’ll need to sign up for a new ADD account, but after that you’ll be able to manage, cancel and upgrade on your own terms.
• Auto Level – Need to balance your mix quickly? Auto Level uses ADD’s content-aware timeline to automatically adjust gain levels for an audio element.
• New Extensions – In addition to Final Cut Pro’s ADD Audio Bridge introduced in ADD 1, we now have extensions for Davinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere.
• Improved Search – Totally rewritten and much faster
• Improved Replacement Tools – New ways to find and replace similar sounds
• Media Bridge – Access audio and video files from nearly every stock media site, right within Audio Design Desk
• Custom Workspaces – We know it takes time to set up your workspaces and configure everything the way you want it. ADD 2.0 now offers the option to save and recall customized workspaces and window sets.

Recently Added ADD Sound Packs & Music

ADD 1.10.24 – April 28, 2023

• Fix for certain Audio Units hanging on validation and preventing all AUs from loading
• Fix for AAF export crashing if there were certain errors

Version 1.10.21

Fixes in 1.10.21

• 1.10.21: Fix for triggers load menu not working in 1.10.20

• ADD Tags, importing of addAudio to Library
• ADD Tags, large conversions of files to wave or AIFF could result in corrupted audio files
• ADD Tags, Some key commands were being duplicated in both the ADD Tags window and the main one (such as bounce)
• ADD Tags, sort by loudness
• Dragging a selection of regions could also include locked regions
• Dragging selection from editor to timeline wasn’t working
• Expired trials are more gracefully handled
• Export fcpxml to Final Cut Pro, wave files with embedded start timecode might not load in FCP
• Improved reading frame rate from imported videos
• Issues with auto scroll and clicking in the timeline while playing
• Key commands in Save dialogs not always working
• Magnetic snapping wasn’t working in the timeline
• Option clicking with the time stretch tool might have strange side effects. It should just reset the region tempo.
• Reverse region consistency via the editor and timeline
• Timeline region selection groups will be maintained after dividing regions
• Track Automation UI and range
• Triggers area selection status label no longer truncates text

Version 1.10.18

Changes in 1.10.18

• New: LUFS, EBU R 128 standard loudness analysis for metadata.
• New: Plug-in Manager for Audio Units
• New: preferences for max gain adjustment for regions and tracks
• Final Cut Pro extension update
• Key commands for assigning energy in ADD Tags
• Metadata guessing updates
• Performance improvements when parsing large amounts of files for indexing sound packs, adding to playlists, triggers, ADD Tags, importer etc
• Sound Pack images in the library trees
• Sound Pack Manager: Added search
• Sound Pack Manager: Filter by sound pack type in install all and uninstall all
• Sound Pack icons and locations shown in library
• Updated Replace region popover dialog in Timeline

Fixes in 1.10.18

• Audio channel state (L-R, R-L, Mono) in regions not loading correctly when duplicating or loading regions from a project
• Blacklist functionality, search and replace
• Replace presets weren’t saving Key information
• Replace via region history menu now has undo
• Right click on video or video track was potentially crashing
• Selection in and out points might not be saved into project
• Set Master Tempo From Region now has undo
• Sound pack indexing and error detection
• Timeline mov files weren’t exporting correctly to other formats
• Timeline region dragging and copy placement is more stable
• Timeline updated track names weren’t saved in projects
• Track lock via the SHIFT L key command now can toggle
• Track offset UI issue with swap replacing with addClip files.
• Various memory leaks and stability fixes for file management
• Video regions in the timeline were being duplicated on organize timeline
• A number of issues with Paste Attributes
• Click in timeline track while playing (if preference is selected) will now scrub to new location
• Creating sound pack elements during the export process was disabled
• Stacks and Freeze regions weren’t duplicating with properties correctly in the timeline.

Version 1.10.17

Updates in 1.10.17

• Audio Unit validation is much improved. Previously failed AUs will likely load.
• Dropbox Replay marker xml import
• Preset format is supported again
• Relink in the Timeline and Playlists is much much better
• Updates to the Consolidate Project to allow creating a new folder in a different location
• Various preference items have been consolidated to the ADD->Settings menu

Fixes in 1.10.17

• Audio Unit state in projects wasn’t being saved correctly
• Edge case situation where the playhead positioned at the very end of a region might play it from the start
• FCPXML and Premiere XML won’t set the master volume to max on import
• FCPXML import warnings (rounding errors) for frame boundaries
• Fixes general undo not working if the certain child windows were focused
• Potential crash when playback via Final Cut Pro extension
• Preferences could cause a reset of the audio system when it didn’t need to
• ß: Stacks indexed in sound packs will now get their paths updated.
• Stability fixes
• Stacks timeline number display wasn’t updating correctly
• Stacks waveforms weren’t immediately loading when opened in the Stacks editor
• Timecode greater than 24 hours will now wrap back to 00:00:00
• Track level meters and record waveforms are more accurate
• Track mono/stereo/flipped state wasn’t being restored on project load
• UI color fixes
• Unsaved projects are now auto saved
• Various fixes specific to macOS 10.13 support

Version 1.10.11

Released on: Sept 15, 2022

Improvements

• Compatibility with 10.13 High Sierra is restored
• Improves initial start up time to launch ADD
• Metadata guessing improvements
• MP3 export support added. Also fixes crash where ‘same as source’ MP3 source files would crash on import
• Main timeline bounce selection intelligence improved
• New: Selectable (right click on header) columns in the audio tables to choose what columns you want.
• Video export’s audio is MP4 AAC now. PCM audio in videos was causing some issues on some sites that woudn’t play PCM in MP4.

Fixes

• Fix: (Timeline) Slice on a region will now update the cut regions edit points if cut during playback
• Fix: Conversion error that could happen with incorrect bit depths for PCM files
• Fix: CSV export from ADD Tags wasn’t exporting Mood value.
• Fix: Devices with incompatible sample rates such as air pods could cause a crash
• Fix: Invalid images in sound pack manager items will be removed.
• Fix: Stock media URL validation was failing for some URLs. Validation is temporarily disabled to allow them

Stacks Changes

• Stacks Editor is moved into the main timeline.
• Stacks editor will use the timeline preference “Click in track moves playhead”.
• Fix: Dragging folder of stacks to timeline or audio tables
• Fix: Improved loading stacks that could have invalid paths in them
• Fix: Improved replacing stacks in the main timeline with other stacks or other files
• Fix: Stacks Editor was removed from UI if engine audio was reset due to a device or sample rate change in preferences
• Improved automatic metadata tagging for Stacks when saving
• Improved finding mis-pathed URLs in timeline stacks for unpack

Version: 1.9

Released On: 6 Jan 2022

Check out version 1.9 of Audio Design Desk. This update introduces auto-compose, MIDI triggers, instant variations, and a dozen other new exciting features. We are also introducing the first-ever lite version Audio Design Desk.

Spot Mode

Spotting sessions are already a snap inside of Audio Design Desk. But for those users who don’t want to leave their editing applications, ADD’s 40,000+ sounds and music cues can now be used in any application. Audio Design Desk is thrilled to be exhibiting at CES this year from January 4th-8Th. Stay tuned for behind the scenes of “The Most Influential Tech Event in the World” and some exciting things we have to share!

Auto Compose

Imagine dragging your video into an audio application and having it do a sound pass for you. Markers from Final Cut Pro and Premiere transfer seamlessly to Audio Design Desk and can be converted into sound instantly.

Variations

Create any number of variations of combined sounds with the click of a button. Whether it is a beat, a bass line and a chord, a footstep and a cloth movement, or all of the impacts and debris sounds that combine to create an explosion, Audio Design Desk can take your creation and offer you endless variations in an instant.

Auto-Tagging

Users of popular sound libraries like Splice, LoopCloud, Pro Sound Effects, Boom Library, and others love our import tool! Audio Design Desk imports sounds from a variety of sources and applies its award-winning AI logic to those sounds for quick and easy placement.

DAW Integrations

Now ADD has an even stronger integration with Pro Tools, Logic, Live, Cubase, etc.

MIDI Triggers

Apply sound sets to Midi triggers for an entirely new creative experience. Through the power of randomization and replacement, Audio Design Desk is a new kind of instrument.

All New Art

We have had a major update to every sound pack, including new art.

Version: 1.7
Released On: Thu, 15 July 2021

New Features:

• Spot Mode: 30,000 royalty-free SFX, loops, and music cues in any application.
• Trigger Pad: Real-time sound design, music, and user-programmable triggers.
• Transient Detection: Generate elements from stems for real-time sound design in seconds.
• DAWSync: Control your DAW from Audio Design Desk.

Version: 1.6.0 (Build 480)
Released on: Thu, 01 Apr 2021

New Features:

• DAWSync via MTC: Effortlessly sync Audio Design Desk to any DAW including Pro Tools, Nuendo, Studio One, and Logic to add sound design, sound effects, and music 10x faster.
• Audio Recording and Editing Tools: Now musicians and podcasters can record directly into Audio Design Desk without the need for an additional DAW. New features include advanced snap settings to duplicate, trim, and place music to the beat, the ability to automatically quantize sounds as you’re placing them, and a metronome you will actually like.
• LoopDNA: Audio Design Desk knows your loops from Splice or LoopCloud—so replacing, time stretching, and mixing and matching is immediate. LoopDNA brings the full power of Audio Design Desk to every sample you import, offering users a real-time creative experience that keeps them in their flow.

Enhancements and Fixes:

• Adding Ruler display options such as Minute : Second, Timecode and Bars.
• Improved device and sample rate handling
• Improved Sound Pack Manager and Sound Pack handling
• Improved canceling various operations that refused to cancel before
• Added support to remember if Library or Video is hidden in both preferences and projects
• Added ability to type directly into the timecode display and use shorthand, such as 1 for 1 frame, or 0:02 for 2 frames
• Better metadata guessing in the Importer
• Added a remove all metadata menu item in Importer
• Loop button in preview player
• Many other bug fixes…

Universal Build: Intel + Native Apple Silicon M1. macOS 10.13 → 11+ Big Sur.
This is a free update for all users.

Full release history is at audiodesigndesk.com/add/release_notes.