[This article was first published in the January, 2008, issue of
Larry's Final Cut Pro Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.]

Emily Rumsey, from Madison, Wisconsin, writes:

I'm logging and capturing on a laptop with no external monitor, using a DVCAM deck. The log & capture window registers sound on the meters but I can't hear it. Once out of the L&C window you can hear clips fine.

Where can I set the L&C to hear audio while logging?

Larry replies: Emily, monitoring during capture showed up with Final Cut Pro 5.

Open the Log & Capture window and make sure Preview is checked in the Clip Settings window. This turns on audio play-through during capture.

UPDATE - Jan. 27

Michael Grenadier sent in the following caution:

I think this is a dangerous recommendation to make without the following caveat: Monitoring the audio during capture adds to system overhead. Occasionally this will create problems in the captured file usually manifested as random clicking. I saw this way back in fcp1. Since in my opinion, a good fcp system includes an audio patchbay, it should be possible to monitor your audio directly of the camera or deck. So I haven't left myself vulnerable to this problem in a long time. I figured this wouldn't be a problem with faster mac's and newer software, however recently someone recently posted on the Apple FCP forum a problem with random clicking in captured media that was not there in the original material. Sure enough this was the cause of the problem.

Larry Jordan is a post-production consultant and an Apple-Certified Trainer in Digital Media with over 25 years experience as producer, director and editor with network, local and corporate credits. Based in Los Angeles, he's a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America.

The information in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication. However, the author assumes no liability in case things go wrong. Please use your best judgment in applying these suggestions.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. This newsletter has not been reviewed or sanctioned by Apple or any other third party. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are mentioned here for editorial purposes only.

Links to my website home page or this article are welcome and don't require prior permission.