Normalizing audio

Frizzle Fry

Frizzle Fry

Well-known member
Could someone please provide a quick run-down on how to normalize various audio sources in Vegas? (And perhaps other rules of thumb if you have time)

for example, i've got various clips with varying volume levels from my shotgun mic. Can i easily bring them all up to the same level throughout the project?

also, i'm finding that my audio levels are overall low on the final render. how do i use vegas' tools to check or preview audio levels? I'm sure the answer is right in front of me, but I'm not seeing it.

sorry if this has been discussed previously--the search function times out on me...thanks, gentlemen.
 
Re: Normalizing audio

You can normalize an audio event in the timeline by right-clicking>Properties>check Normalize>click Recalculate.

This will maximize the volume of the clip, based on the wave's highest peak, without introducing clipping.

OR you could rubber band the sound by inserting a volume envelope:
Insert>Audio Envelope>Volume

To see your levels, use the mixer (alt+3).
 
Re: Normalizing audio

Be careful when normalizing a clip. For instance, if you have low volume overall, but one loud mic pop or something like that, cut that sound before normalizing, because it will only bring up the volume based on the loudest sound in the clip. I think audio envelopes might be a better way to go.
 
Re: Normalizing audio

Good to know, fm58. It appears a combination of techniques is called for. As well as improved audio acquisition. That Evolution G2 wireless is looking less expensive all the time!
 
Re: Normalizing audio

thanks for the normalization tip.. is there a way to de-normalize? I mean like it seems that I have a lot of highs in my clips.

Also, what's a good audio level for action films? A friend once said to keep levels around -15 Is that true? All the footage I have seems to peak at around -6 to 0 and sometimes crosses into the red zone.

Would it be wise to use the master volume to knock down the highs, then use the normalize trick to bring back up the mids?

My cousin is a pro author and so he's been running the audio through a 'transcoder' (not sure what it does) to knoock down the highs but not touch the mids.
 
Re: Normalizing audio

Oh and Frizzle Fry... Awesome name. They are hands down my favorite band. My cousin that I mentioned earlier... works for SpitFireMedia which does work for Interscope so he gets me Primus stuff from time to time. :)
 
Re: Normalizing audio

Yeah man, Primus Sucks! Insanely creative, they are. Best live band I've ever seen. I'd like to check out their new DVD, have you seen it?

As far as de-normalizing, you can bring the volume down (insert volume envelope [shift+v], double click on the blue line to create control points, drag up and down). But if the source audio clipped, there's nothing you can do about it--the information was never recorded. Kinda like blown highlights.

"Normal" or recommended levels for action films? Couldn't tell ya.
 
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