Audio Levels at DVinfo.net

Rick Newsom · November 19th, 2007, 07:42 PM

I'm working on an hour long documentary consisting of 8 separate segments. Each segment has, at a minimum, a voice-over track, audio from interviews, and a music track. I'm rapidly coming to the point where I have to decide the best way to render these 8 separate .veg files and still get consistent audio levels throughout the finished project.

So far, I have set the master "mixer" level at the default on each segment and I am keeping the relatively consistent VO track at 0db as a reference for all of the other audio within each segment. I also have Wave Hammer applied at the master "mixer" stage of each segment with the preset "Limit -6db and maximize volume".

My goal: to "master" the audio levels so they are similar throughout.

My current plan: to nest all 8 of these .veg files into a single .veg and render as a single long video.

Plan B is to cut and paste the clips of each .veg into a single, hour long (non-nested) .veg.

There is currently no Plan C, but I'm open to suggestions.

How would YOU do it?

Vegas 6, P4, 1.5gb ram.

Don Bloom · November 19th, 2007, 09:06 PM

Render each completed VEG with the proper audio enhancements to AVI. Stitch them all together do a last triple check of audio (this way you can make fine adjustments at the bus OR with envelopes) and render to final format. Be it AVI or MPG or ... I've always done all of my projects this way and feel quite comfortable with it but that's just me ;-)
Don

Rick Newsom · November 20th, 2007, 11:21 AM

Thanks Don.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Now all I need is another 500 gig hard drive to render the AVIs to. :-)

Mike Kujbida · November 20th, 2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Newsom

Now all I need is another 500 gig hard drive to render the AVIs to. :-)

Be at a nearby Best Buy or similar store VERY early Friday morning for the Black Friday sales and you'll probably find one for well under $100 :-)

Don Bloom · November 20th, 2007, 03:42 PM

Yeah HDD space even FW external drives are cheap now a days.
I got a 750 Maxtor for $250 a few months ago and now have seen it as low as $225.
While it does take up more space to me it's well worth the money to buy another drive at least until I build my new machine. Hopefully soon.
Don

Rick Newsom · November 20th, 2007, 04:06 PM

I agree.

320 gb $69 (Best Buy pre-Thanksgiving price)
500 gb $99 (Best Buy Black Friday price)

Truly amazing. I'll probably get the 320 gigger just to avoid the Black Friday mob.

November 19th, 2007, 07:42 PM	#1
Rick Newsom New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elkins, WV Posts: 20	Audio Levels I'm working on an hour long documentary consisting of 8 separate segments. Each segment has, at a minimum, a voice-over track, audio from interviews, and a music track. I'm rapidly coming to the point where I have to decide the best way to render these 8 separate .veg files and still get consistent audio levels throughout the finished project. So far, I have set the master "mixer" level at the default on each segment and I am keeping the relatively consistent VO track at 0db as a reference for all of the other audio within each segment. I also have Wave Hammer applied at the master "mixer" stage of each segment with the preset "Limit -6db and maximize volume". My goal: to "master" the audio levels so they are similar throughout. My current plan: to nest all 8 of these .veg files into a single .veg and render as a single long video. Plan B is to cut and paste the clips of each .veg into a single, hour long (non-nested) .veg. There is currently no Plan C, but I'm open to suggestions. How would YOU do it? Vegas 6, P4, 1.5gb ram.

November 19th, 2007, 09:06 PM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Render each completed VEG with the proper audio enhancements to AVI. Stitch them all together do a last triple check of audio (this way you can make fine adjustments at the bus OR with envelopes) and render to final format. Be it AVI or MPG or ... I've always done all of my projects this way and feel quite comfortable with it but that's just me ;-) Don Last edited by Don Bloom; November 19th, 2007 at 09:07 PM. Reason: correct misspells

November 20th, 2007, 11:21 AM	#3
Rick Newsom New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elkins, WV Posts: 20	Thanks Don. Sounds like a plan to me. Now all I need is another 500 gig hard drive to render the AVIs to. :-)

November 20th, 2007, 03:42 PM	#5
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	Yeah HDD space even FW external drives are cheap now a days. I got a 750 Maxtor for $250 a few months ago and now have seen it as low as $225. While it does take up more space to me it's well worth the money to buy another drive at least until I build my new machine. Hopefully soon. Don

November 20th, 2007, 04:06 PM	#6
Rick Newsom New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Elkins, WV Posts: 20	I agree. 320 gb $69 (Best Buy pre-Thanksgiving price) 500 gb $99 (Best Buy Black Friday price) Truly amazing. I'll probably get the 320 gigger just to avoid the Black Friday mob.