OMF import-How do others deal with stereo tracks?

Question

When importing OMF's from Avid or FCP all stereo audio files come in on separate mono tracks (ie all music tracks will appear as two adjacent mono tracks). When track managing, all stereo audio files need to be moved from the mono tracks and placed on to stereo tracks (for inserting of effects, etc.) prior to editing and mixing.
In another pro audio ap that shall remain nameless, one would simply grab the stereo pair (left and right sides of the audio file) from the adjacent mono tracks and drag them onto a newly created stereo track. This method is extremely fast and is vital when faced with an hour long show (especially when the video editor hands off an OMF to which there is no rhyme or reason which happens more often than not!).
How is this accomplished in Logic?

Answer 1

Rohan Stevenson1 wrote:
aaron, read through this twice before and now about 3 times more. i still don't understand your problem.
i would have prepared tracks prior to importing in logic, or imported them into some kind of template and shifted them around like that. i would use KCs to accomplish most of this. you only need the LH file to play back a split stereo file in stereo.
Hi Rohan,
As a professional post audio mixer, I am given OMF's from either Avid or FCP from the client. I have no control over how the tracks are managed by the video editor prior to my receiving them.
Even if the video editor has track managed the audio appropriately (VO, production audio, FX and music all placed on their own tracks which rarely happens), the files will still come into a DAW on separate adjacent mono tracks.
For example, all of the music in an hour long program will come in with the left side of the stereo file on one mono track and the right side of the audio file on another mono track. This is just how OMF's translate from video aps to DAW's. The OMF cannot be tweaked to operate differently. It is what it is. Obviously any stereo elements need to be placed on stereo tracks for eq, compression and volume automation.
When mixing a show, the first thing that must be done is to 'track manage' all of your elements. Usually VO on one track, production audio split amongst a few tracks, mono and stereo effects on their own tracks and then a couple of stereo tracks for the music.
So let's say I open an OMF. The first thing that must be done is to go through the show, identify all of the stereo elements (most commonly music tracks and FX), grab them from the mono tracks that they came in on and place them on to newly created stereo tracks. In Pro Tools this is a fairly quick process as you are able to grab two mono files and drag them directly on to a new stereo track right in the arrange page.
Every time you open a new OMF you are confronted with hundreds of regions that need to be track managed before you can edit and mix. Deadlines are always tight so a fast and efficient method is a must.
What I am describing is standard practice in a post audio workflow when mixing for television. This is not a pressing issue as the studios I freelance for are all PTHD based. However, I would love to start testing my Logic rig at home to see how it stacks up on big sessions!
Any help or tips would be appreciated.
Thanks