Where should I add my audio?

[BusinessToast]

I'm working on my second cartoon and I've come to realize that importing audio to flash and putting it on the timeline is a major pain in the ass because of the lag. I have to put all my audio in to movie clips if I want it to play at the right time. Is there a better way to add audio to a cartoon? Should I sync it up inside flash, but then remove the audio and put it back in in another program? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Mownkey]

I just make a keyframe, import sound to it, and then I make sure the sound is set to "Stream".

[CatFat]

I'm not sure exactly what you need help on, so I'll just try and explain my method of working with sound as a whole :P

What I usually do is start by making a storyboard in flash and then pace each key shot to the length I feel it will run.

Then I use a separate program like garageband or soundbooth to compose an audio track of sound effects and dialogue to roughly the same pacing as the storyboard. Though, in the end, the soundtrack dictates how long the animated shots will run and the storyboard will be adjusted to the audio.

So when you mix down the tracks into ONE audio file, that you put together in a different program, just drag it into flashes library and put it on a layer of its own.

Then animate to it.

After it's animated I'd normally go back into the audio track in whatever program i used and add in the smaller things like footsteps etc, pacing it to the animation.

I use soundbooth because you can add video reference files, so i can see that i'm getting the timing right.

Otherwise I'd normally try to match up the time codes in flash and the audio program as best I could to make it sync well, going back and forth between the two (importing/exporting the audio file over and over) to make sure I've added the new audio/sound effect in the right place in the main audio track.

So once the audio is complete and there's nothing more to add to it, just mix it down again and import the new version into flash and viola! You have the full audio track in one file, on one layer and no unnecessary cluttering or lagging of flash.

Also, one last thing, Using this method, you should have the audio keyframed/starting on the second frame of the timeline (assuming you're gonna have the play button menu on the 1st frame) and have it run throughout. Set it to stream.

And remember to go to export/publish settings, flash, click "set" next to "audio stream" and uncheck the box "convert stereo to mono" and I'd advice you set "compression" to MP3, "bit rate" to 128 kbps and "quality" to best. ( The higher the KBPS rate the higher the quality of sound, this is the most important thing to remember, but it also dramatically increases the swf file size, so don't set it too high)
I can't tell you how many years it took me to work that "quality" shit out, but it'll make you flash sound much more beautiful :P

I had to rush this, so i hoope it makes sense and helps you.

Goodluck ;)

[BusinessToast]

Thank you, this was very helpful! My problem was the lag. I'll try editing all the sounds together in to one file, that should help.