Audio levels help!

Tim Miller

Tim Miller

Well-known member
I also posted this in the Avid section, but I thought I could put it here and it wouldn't hurt. I am editing on a PC based Avid Adrenaline. Thanks!

Hello,
I am just curious what are acceptable audio levels for a video. This particular video contains narration, interviews, ambient sound, and low level music. Is there any particular level for each type of sound? Or should I shoot for a highest peak for the over all video?

For some reason I have always had it in my mind that the level should stay at -20db (not in the yellow). Not sure why.

I also work in a small market for video, I have been doing this for over 2 years and a client has never asked for any certain level (except a car dealer who wants his level HIGH!). It might not matter here, but I don't want to be stuck here forever so it should be beneficial for me in the future!

Thanks for any help.
 
Anyone?

The levels I am looking for are either within the AVID when I am editing and/or when I master the program onto either Beta SP and/or DVD.
 
-20 dbFS average and tone and -10 dbFS peak for output to SP.

With that in mind bring the music, narration, FX, foley, etc to taste. Some like the whole thing normalized and blasting. Others like more dynamic range.

Good luck
 
Sorry, because I know very little about audio, but what does "dbFS" mean? db is decibels. But I don't know the FS
 
DeciBle Full Scale. Basically it means a digital db scale (maxing out at zero...full scale).
 
When my band use to record we always went hot to tape. It gets rid of some of the unwanted tape hiss and other noises that come with low levels. A little trial and error will get you there. I don't think you can just have a certain db level in mind because of the difference in room ambience and the distance your mic is from the performer. Just my 2 cents worth. I haven't had my dvx long but if you make it hot(not distorting) you can always go down without adding noise its hard to go the other way.
 
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