Re: Normalizing audio average volume, not peaks, in FCP

A lot of misinformation in these answers. Broadcast levels do vary but there are set international levels for SMPTE and EBU broadcasters which limit peak levels to -10dbfs (digital full scale) in NTSC land and -9dbfs in PAL land.

Reference at -12 is not the common broadcast standard. -20dbfs is SMPTE standard and -18dbfs is EBU standard. The bottom line is to ask your broadcaster what their specs are.

Pro audio post people all use high quality compressors and limiters to achieve these and with high intelligibility of dialog by also EQing. FCP, Vegas and all the other video edit tools do not have this quality of dynamics or EQ. Normalising is not going to come near to making a proper broadcast quality sound track and nothing automated can come close to human perception. Sound post is not and never will be something that a machine can do. As this is the most misunderstood aspect of video production, a keen amateur will be unlikely to come close to a sound post pro. You might make a better fist of graphics or grading if you are trying to cut budgets.

The price of sound post compared to the value it adds to the finished product makes it the cheapest aspect of professional program making. My advice is to cut corners in every other aspect of production before under funding sound post. Just do it once with a professional and you will see how much more value you get doing it that way.