Audio Editing Help
by robert meadows
on
Jul 8, 2008 at 2:29:57 am
Hello, I'm trying to figure out how to control the volume level in different sections of my audio without having to constantly split the stream. I want to add 'points' to the volume line (if that makes sense) so that I can control the level of volume from one area to the next. Thanks in advance.
Re: Audio Editing Help by John Rofrano on Jul 8, 2008 at 3:12:45 am
Hi Rob,
You want to add a Volume Envelope to your audio track. You can do this by simply selecting the audio track and pressing the Shift+V key. This will insert a purple/blue volume envelope line. Then Double-Click anywhere along the line to add an envelope point. You can then move the point up and down to adjust the volume.
To raise or lower the volume in just a section make 4 points. The two outside points will maintain the existing volume and the two inner points will create a gradual envelope to the new volume.
Re: Audio Editing Help by Aira Vehaskari on Jul 13, 2008 at 10:57:11 am
Hi!
I'm also trying to adjust the volume within a clip, but even though I've put in the anchor points and can adjust the line, the volume does not appear to change. No matter how high or low I drag the line, the volume is the same. What am I missing?
Re: Audio Editing Help by John Rofrano on Jul 13, 2008 at 1:29:26 pm
Are you sure you inserted a Volume envelope and not a Pan envelope or FX Automation envelope? Right-click on an empty part of the Audio track, select Insert/Remove Envelope and make sure that Volume Shift+V is checked. If you bring this line down to the bottom the volume should be off. If not, I can't imagine what is wrong. I use this all the time to edit multiple audio sources for my videos.
Re: Audio Editing Help by Aira Vehaskari on Jul 13, 2008 at 1:54:25 pm
I'm stumped too. I've checked that it's a volume envelope - when I raise and lower the line it even says at what dB the volume is. The strange thing is that I got it to work fine on my other tracks. The line is a different colour on this track, it's a darker blue, does that indicate anything about it?
Re: Audio Editing Help by Aira Vehaskari on Jul 13, 2008 at 2:11:10 pm
aha - I realized that my automation settings had automation off. I set it back to the default "automation write" setting (though I don't know exactly what that means), and the volume control works now.
I thought I had to have the automation off if I wanted to make manual adjustments, but this is clearly not the case.
I'll just go re-read the manual a bit now, shall I? :-)
But I do have another un-related question about audio levels. I'm producing short docs for national digital broadcast tv, and I'm adjusting the "speak" and b-roll volumes by ear. Is there a standard or useful guideline for what dB they should be set at? And is there anyway to minimize background buzz? I have an interview where either there was an air conditioner in the background or the radio mic was picking up some whine.
again, thanks for this very useful forum! Perhaps someday I could actually contribute something useful to it.
Re: Audio Editing Help by John Rofrano on Jul 13, 2008 at 2:56:30 pm
> Is there a standard or useful guideline for what dB they should be set at?
[Note: tongue planted firmly in cheek] I've never done any work for broadcast but as a consumer of broadcast TV and having been thrown out of my chair with my ears bleeding from the volume when a commercial comes on I'd say there is no standard. As far as I can tell it's a free-for-all and broadcasters should be embarrassed and TV manufacturers should be required to add an audio limiter to all TV's so that the volume never exceeds what I set it to. ;-)
I'll leave the real answer for someone who knows.
> And is there anyway to minimize background buzz?
There are several noise reduction plug-ins that will handle broadband noise. BIAS Sound Soap 2 is inexpensive and gets the job done. Sony Noise Reduction is also good but getting a little long in the tooth. The best one I've found is iZotope RX. This is a tool that I believe every videographer should have in their bag. Quite simply, it can perform miracles. It can fix problems that just a year ago we would have told you were impossible to fix. On of the tools in the RX suite is DeNoiser which is the one you want. If you can't afford iZotope RX, go with BIAS Sound Soap.
Re: Audio Editing Help by Steve Rhoden on Jul 8, 2008 at 4:23:56 am
Unfortunately the volume envelope cannot be applied to each audio clip,
only the entire timeline. So just use different audio tracks for each
clip that needs the envelope.
Steve Rhoden
Creative Director
TNX EFFECTS STUDIOS.
Or, you can control the trim of each clip/event individually. Put your cursor at the top of the event, it'll become a finger. click/drag and it'll reduce the volume of the event. You cannot increase the gain of the event, however.
Douglas Spotted Eagle
VASST
Certified Sony Vegas Trainer
Aerial Camera/Instructor
