Audio production software with synchronized video playback?

Ask Fedora
1

Hello.

I’m looking for audio production software that can also play video in sync with the audio.

Up until now I’ve been using Kdenlive, but my work has gotten more complex over time and Kdenlive’s sound editing capabilities aren’t meeting my needs anymore.

I’ve tried out a couple of DAW’s, specifically Ardour and Zrythm. Ardour however doesn’t seem to support setting a custom frame rate and thus plays my 18fps video at the wrong speed and Zrythm doesn’t support video playback yet (though I’m told there’s plans to implement it). I’ve also heard Reaper has this functionality but I’d prefer to use open-source if I can.

Any recommendations?

2

Hello @im-crying-qwq ,
At the risk of asking the obvious, did you install the Fedora Multi Media spin? Or is this a normal WS install? If it is a WS install then you could install the Design Suite group with `sudo dnf install groups ‘Design Suite’.
What is included …

[jakfrost ~]$ dnf groups info 'Design Suite'
Last metadata expiration check: 5:08:54 ago on Mon 05 Feb 2024 07:11:15 AM.
Group: Design Suite
 Description: These packages are targeted towards professional designers, and are related to graphics, web and animation.
 Default Packages:
   GraphicsMagick
   aajohan-comfortaa-fonts
   adobe-source-sans-pro-fonts
   astigmatic-grand-hotel-fonts
   audacity
   blender
   campivisivi-titillium-fonts
   colord-extra-profiles
   darktable
   dia
   entangle
   fontforge
   gcolor3
   gimp
   google-roboto-condensed-fonts
   google-roboto-fonts
   google-roboto-slab-fonts
   hugin
   inkscape
   julietaula-montserrat-fonts
   krita
   lato-fonts
   open-sans-fonts
   optipng
   overpass-fonts
   pdfarranger
   pitivi
   redhat-display-fonts
   redhat-text-fonts
   scribus
   shotwell
   sparkleshare
   synfigstudio
   typetype-molot-fonts
   xournalpp
 Optional Packages:
   ImageMagick
   YafaRay
   calligra-karbon
   geeqie
   luxcorerender
   mypaint
   pngcrush
   rapid-photo-downloader
   shutter
 Conditional Packages:
   YafaRay-blender
   blender-luxcorerender
   darktable-tools-noise
   gimp-data-extras
   gimp-dds-plugin
   gimp-elsamuko
   gimp-fourier-plugin
   gimp-help
   gimp-high-pass-filter
   gimp-layer-via-copy-cut
   gimp-lensfun
   gimp-lqr-plugin
   gimp-paint-studio
   gimp-resynthesizer
   gimp-save-for-web
   gimp-wavelet-denoise-plugin
   gimpfx-foundry
   gmic-gimp
   inkscape-psd
   sane-backends-drivers-scanners
   scribus-generator
   xsane-gimp

You may be forced to look at some third party repos for advanced editing features like you are asking about. I know that pipewire has some cli tools for manipulating audio and video, including recording. It’s cli commands all start with pw- so <CTRL><TAB> will likely give command completion in bash.

3

No, I’m using regular Workstation. I’m familiar with most of the software in that group and I do use some of them.

4

Shotcut

5

Is it better for sound editing than Kdenlive though?

6

In my personal opinion, Shotcut is better than KDEnlive as a whole. It is never mentioned in any conversations when discussing editing, but honestly it is a better experience. I have used it across Intel/Nvidia & All AMD (GPU/CPU) workloads with GPU rendering. Tons of plugins for audio as well.

While I used Ardour & AbletonLive suites for my DAW, as those needs dwindled I found Shotcut to take care of everything else. The flatpak is an official release for Shotcut.

2024-02-05_13-24-28
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7

I will give it a try then, thank you.

8

If you need some help, While not Fedora related I can provide some assistance here if Mods allow for it.

9

Hi there, about synchronization between Kdenlive and Ardour, I would go for the following options in Ardour when importing and exporting files.

  • Import video (with audio)

When importing video file (Session - Open video),
‘adjust session framerate to match video framerate’ is selected by default.

  • Export

Session > Export > Export to Video File.

Use an option to cut the video on export

Settings> Range: from session start to session end marker.

Screenshot_20240205_185312
Screenshot_20240205_185312535×531 40.6 KB

10

Yes, I noticed that option. The problem is it doesn’t work. Ardour only seems to have a few presets for framerates, and my video doesn’t fit into any of them.

Though I suppose I could just reframe the video into a higher framerate like 60, import that into Ardour, make the sound track, export just the sound and reassemble everything using the original video in Kdenlive (or some other video editor).

Not sure why I didn’t think of that, seems like the obvious solution.

1 Like