Audio correction in FCP at DVinfo.net

Matt Hockett · August 22nd, 2006, 10:28 AM

After I finished taping our school's graduation ceremony, I sadly found out that the audio levels were extremely low. I'm wondering if there is any "trick" to increasing the levels in Final Cut Pro. I have already raised the db to 12. I am at a loss. Can anyone suggest something?

Thanks...Matt

Tom Vandas · August 22nd, 2006, 02:27 PM

Duplicate your tracks and stack them up. It's not perfect, but if your tracks are clean it will help.

Martin Pauly · August 22nd, 2006, 02:31 PM

Do you have the complete Final Cut Studio set of applications? If so, Soundtrack Pro has a function called "normalize" (in the "Process" menu) that adjusts the overall audio level. What it does is look for the highest peak in your audio, and then bring this peak to a level you can specify. You can choose 0 dB to make it as loud as possible. Everything else in your file (or selection) is adjusted by the same amount.

And to add what you probably already know: doing this will increase the noise in your recording along with the actual signal, so don't expect too much...

- Martin

Dean Sensui · August 22nd, 2006, 11:32 PM

In the "Apple" audio filters in FCP there's a peak limiter filter. In that there's the option of pre-amplifying the signal. That will help a great deal.

I would rather do that than stack tracks. Less clutter on the sequence.

Loren Miller · August 26th, 2006, 10:18 PM

There's a big booster filter in FCP-- I've never used it, but you cna draw 60DB gain out of it. Forget the name.

To reduce clutter,(hate clutter) rather than stack, simply nest the track. Suddenly you get another 12DB boost from raising the nest volume line.

- Loren
Today's FCP 5 keytip:
Preview effects sections with Option-P or Option-Backslash!

August 22nd, 2006, 10:28 AM	#1
Matt Hockett New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wheaton, IL Posts: 8	Audio correction in FCP After I finished taping our school's graduation ceremony, I sadly found out that the audio levels were extremely low. I'm wondering if there is any "trick" to increasing the levels in Final Cut Pro. I have already raised the db to 12. I am at a loss. Can anyone suggest something? Thanks...Matt

August 22nd, 2006, 11:32 PM	#4
Dean Sensui Inner Circle Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 2,054	In the "Apple" audio filters in FCP there's a peak limiter filter. In that there's the option of pre-amplifying the signal. That will help a great deal. I would rather do that than stack tracks. Less clutter on the sequence. __________________ Dean Sensui Exec Producer, Hawaii Goes Fishing

August 26th, 2006, 10:18 PM	#5
Loren Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 34	There's a big booster filter in FCP-- I've never used it, but you cna draw 60DB gain out of it. Forget the name. To reduce clutter,(hate clutter) rather than stack, simply nest the track. Suddenly you get another 12DB boost from raising the nest volume line. - Loren Today's FCP 5 keytip: Preview effects sections with Option-P or Option-Backslash! Last edited by Douglas Spotted Eagle; August 27th, 2006 at 12:48 AM. Reason: non-sponsor link

August 22nd, 2006, 02:27 PM	#2
Tom Vandas Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: currently in Kigali, Rwanda Posts: 144	Duplicate your tracks and stack them up. It's not perfect, but if your tracks are clean it will help.

August 22nd, 2006, 02:31 PM	#3
Martin Pauly Major Player Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 563	Do you have the complete Final Cut Studio set of applications? If so, Soundtrack Pro has a function called "normalize" (in the "Process" menu) that adjusts the overall audio level. What it does is look for the highest peak in your audio, and then bring this peak to a level you can specify. You can choose 0 dB to make it as loud as possible. Everything else in your file (or selection) is adjusted by the same amount. And to add what you probably already know: doing this will increase the noise in your recording along with the actual signal, so don't expect too much... - Martin