Audio Settings at DVinfo.net

Jim Stamos · March 11th, 2012, 03:48 AM

i shot alot of weddings and noticed tonight that some of my audio seemed too hot. should i have my AGC set to High or Low and what does the limiter do? i have to On.
will having it set to High cause what happened?input welcome

Les Wilson · March 11th, 2012, 04:39 PM

I use AGC HI and Limiter ON. AGC LInk is SEPARATED. I am happy with this setting. The limiter kicks in and prevents distortion but yes, some loud stuff sounds hot and "on the edge". Your Trim level may help you manage. But sound isn't a fire and forget. It's dynamic like exposure. Your camera's audio has a range too and you may need to adjust it. I am sure others will disagree with me but this is how I operate as a one man band ( I don't do weddings) and it's satisfactory for me. YMMV

Zoran Vincic · March 11th, 2012, 06:38 PM

Les, use separated AGC only if you use two different mono sources, for example wireless system on one channel and external or internal mic on the other. If you use the built in mic in stereo the AGC should be linked.

That said, the built in mic on EX cameras sounds like crap, especially in very loud situations. I never really use it.

And I prefer not to use AGC at all and keep the levels below the limiter (it's there to save my ass in run'n'gun work) and then in editing (note that I didn't use the term post) I do have greater control over audio dynamics using compression than letting the camera AGC go wild.

I do have a background in audio engineering and pretty solid audio monitoring in my studio (RME Fireface 800 + Adam S2a's), that helps a bit.

Jim Stamos · March 11th, 2012, 09:39 PM

maybe i should keep my agc on low from now on. i had the limiter on and agc was linked. is there any software that may be able to fix this audio, its all the dancing at the reception and my second cam operator wasnt shooting as much as me so i cant use her audio all the time.
would sound forge or any other programs improve it???

Don Bloom · March 12th, 2012, 04:58 AM

If it's clipped, IOW, a pretty solid "waveform" on the timeline then the answer is NO, you've got what you got and you can't fix something that isn't there.

Now having said that, you MIGHT be able to help it using some compression and EQ. Also doesn't SF have a "clipped" FX plugin?
Again, if it's clipped nothing is going to make it right but it's possible to massage it a bit and make it a bit better.
Good luck, me thinks you'll need it.

Zoran Vincic · March 12th, 2012, 08:03 AM

I remember that one colleague used some izotope software VST plugin to remove (or at least lessen it a bit) some mild clipping.

John Peterson · March 12th, 2012, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

Also doesn't SF have a "clipped" FX plugin?

The Noise Reduction plugin has Clipped Peak Restoration™

Sony Creative Software - Noise Reduction DirectX Plug-In 2.0

It actually works very well. Seems a little overpriced these days though. I bought it a long time ago.

Jim Forrest · March 13th, 2012, 05:27 PM

You might try Singular 'Levelator'. Its made by the folks who make Plural Eyes.

I have found it works well with Audio recorded too 'hot'
Its free.

Singular Software - The Levelator

Don Bloom · March 13th, 2012, 09:30 PM

Levelator is a great little program. I'v ebeen using it for a long long time and works fast and clean. One can hardly believe it free. BTW if you goto; www.conversationsnetwork.org that's where it is by the orignal writers of it.

March 11th, 2012, 03:48 AM	#1
Jim Stamos Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 565	Audio Settings i shot alot of weddings and noticed tonight that some of my audio seemed too hot. should i have my AGC set to High or Low and what does the limiter do? i have to On. will having it set to High cause what happened?input welcome

March 11th, 2012, 04:39 PM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Audio Settings I use AGC HI and Limiter ON. AGC LInk is SEPARATED. I am happy with this setting. The limiter kicks in and prevents distortion but yes, some loud stuff sounds hot and "on the edge". Your Trim level may help you manage. But sound isn't a fire and forget. It's dynamic like exposure. Your camera's audio has a range too and you may need to adjust it. I am sure others will disagree with me but this is how I operate as a one man band ( I don't do weddings) and it's satisfactory for me. YMMV

March 11th, 2012, 06:38 PM	#3
Zoran Vincic Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Split, Croatia Posts: 189	Re: Audio Settings Les, use separated AGC only if you use two different mono sources, for example wireless system on one channel and external or internal mic on the other. If you use the built in mic in stereo the AGC should be linked. That said, the built in mic on EX cameras sounds like crap, especially in very loud situations. I never really use it. And I prefer not to use AGC at all and keep the levels below the limiter (it's there to save my ass in run'n'gun work) and then in editing (note that I didn't use the term post) I do have greater control over audio dynamics using compression than letting the camera AGC go wild. I do have a background in audio engineering and pretty solid audio monitoring in my studio (RME Fireface 800 + Adam S2a's), that helps a bit.

March 11th, 2012, 09:39 PM	#4
Jim Stamos Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 565	Re: Audio Settings maybe i should keep my agc on low from now on. i had the limiter on and agc was linked. is there any software that may be able to fix this audio, its all the dancing at the reception and my second cam operator wasnt shooting as much as me so i cant use her audio all the time. would sound forge or any other programs improve it???

March 12th, 2012, 04:58 AM	#5
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Audio Settings If it's clipped, IOW, a pretty solid "waveform" on the timeline then the answer is NO, you've got what you got and you can't fix something that isn't there. Now having said that, you MIGHT be able to help it using some compression and EQ. Also doesn't SF have a "clipped" FX plugin? Again, if it's clipped nothing is going to make it right but it's possible to massage it a bit and make it a bit better. Good luck, me thinks you'll need it. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

March 12th, 2012, 08:03 AM	#6
Zoran Vincic Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Split, Croatia Posts: 189	Re: Audio Settings I remember that one colleague used some izotope software VST plugin to remove (or at least lessen it a bit) some mild clipping.

March 13th, 2012, 05:27 PM	#8
Jim Forrest Major Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Washington DC Posts: 368	Re: Audio Settings You might try Singular 'Levelator'. Its made by the folks who make Plural Eyes. I have found it works well with Audio recorded too 'hot' Its free. Singular Software - The Levelator

March 13th, 2012, 09:30 PM	#9
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Re: Audio Settings Levelator is a great little program. I'v ebeen using it for a long long time and works fast and clean. One can hardly believe it free. BTW if you goto; www.conversationsnetwork.org that's where it is by the orignal writers of it. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don