Audio Levels

shermdog219

New member
When I print to video my audio levels in Final Cut are fine, but when I look at the levels on the lcd screen on my DVX they are peaking. Is there a way to adjust the levels coming into the camera, on the camera.
 
Re: Audio Levels

No, what's coming over the firewire gets laid down to tape without any alteration. When you say "peaking" what do mean exactly. Because even if your source material is lighting up 6 of the red bars on the level meter, you're not distorting. ONLY if you see the thin red bar at the end light up--are you getting any distortion from overloading. That thin red bar is at 0 db--the distortion level for digital audio. Each of the regular red bars represent 2 db, starting from the first red bar at -12 db. Do you *hear* any distortion?
 
Re: Audio Levels

When you say "peaking" what do mean exactly

When I say peaking I mean going into the red but not quite to the end line.

I don't actually hear distortion but the mix is definately hotter when its on tape than from what I hear on my computer.
 
Re: Audio Levels

Peaking to me means the very peak of the signal, in this case it would be all the red bars showing representing 0db.

Don't be fooled by the red color. The signal going into the red is perfectly fine, the first red bar represents just going over -12db which is where you want your normal dialog to average at. The first half of the red bars should really be yellow, red doesn't mean bad in the case of the audio meter on the DVX.

And you really can't judge "hotness" from computer volume vs. tape (I assume output to a TV).

If you want to adjust your recording levels before or while you're taping, there are two knobs on the left lower back side of the camera representing the left and right channels that adjust the gain. I figure you know this, but just in case....
 
Re: Audio Levels

Then it sounds like you're ok. Again, anything under 0 db won't be distorting (due to overload). The exception would be if the tape is destined for broadcast or cablecast. In that case, you should talk with the engineer for specs on where the levels should be set. Otherwise, peaking between -8db to -2db should work fairly well.

[quote author=shermdog219 link=board=Events;num=1100796723;start=0#2 date=11/18/04 at 10:26:41]When you say "peaking" what do mean exactly

When I say peaking I mean going into the red but not quite to the end line.

I don't actually hear distortion but the mix is definately hotter when its on tape than from what I hear on my computer. [/quote]
 
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