Normalise Audio

[swsw1550]

Hi Guys,
Just shot a wedding today as much as I didn't want to, Anyway I need to know is there any way to Normalise the Audio on the time line as you render or burn to DVD, As we used a Lapel mike then switched back to the camera mike the audio increased in volume as we switched to the camera's mike.We noticed this when we watched the Video on TV direct from the camera. Any help would be appreciated.

Steve

[tingsern]

The best way is to use Sound Forge to normalise the audio. The audio facility in EDIUS is pretty primitive.

[Virs]

Use VST plugin Wave Arts Power Suite 4.12/Track Plug/preset "What Dinamics?"-he is working fine in Edius.There is possibility saving Edius presets with you specific settings.
Fоr final mastering sound,use Final Plug from Power Suite in secondary sequence,preset "DVD Mastering"

[SoundFreak]

You could use a VST plug-ins like a compressor / limiter.
Raise up the lower audio parts and compress the louder parts as in dynamic compression.

This makes it more pleasant to hear when played back but can not match the sound difference between the lapel mic and the camera mic, this needs to be done manually with e.q / tone control etc.

edit : there are many free VST effects, but for good processing you need to use something like TL Audio or TC electronics.
To get the best results export the audio as 48 Khz wave and use a Standalone Audio editor with the plug-ins to process.

[Alter Ego]

Steve, I would suggest using an audio app if you have one, such as Sound Forge. Export the entire timeline as a wav file and than open the file in the audio app. This allows you to see exactly what the levels are and adjust them accordingly. For example, you could normalize the whole file or portions of the file, and than apply the wavehammer filter to set the file to a uniform peak level (-2 or -3 db) with the volume maximizer control. I do this all the time. This works very well. There is no guesswork involved.

You can also give your vocals extra punch by using the equalizer filter. Boost the 2.5 khz to 3.5 khz region by 3 db before you apply the wavehammer or other limiter.

If this is an option for you, and I strongly suggest it, I can give you a nice and easy step by step recipe for great sounding audio.

Tom

[swsw1550]

To Tom

Hi Tom,
I would like to hear this receipe Tom if you don't mind.

Cheers
Steve

[Virs]

You could use a VST plug-ins like a compressor / limiter

Track Plug is compressor / limiter

[swsw1550]

Vst

Sorry Tom but I forgot to mention that I do not have Sound Forge installed, What can you recommend in VST plugins?

Cheers
Steve

[cuervo]

Sorry Tom but I forgot to mention that I do not have Sound Forge installed, What can you recommend in VST plugins?

Cheers
Steve

Go here.... http://www.voxengo.com/

[Marc44]

Another one, free and high quality : Classic Master Limiter

Marc

[number88]

Hi Tom. If possible I also would like to see your guide. I have soundforge and have often tried to use the normalize feature but not sure if I'm doing it right, or if there's a way to take some guesswork out of the final result ..not sure if i should email you or not...thanks.

[Alter Ego]

Here is what I do in Sound Forge for vocals that need to be raised, and the levels unified:

1. Under process select "Normalize", select Average RMS (not peak), select normalize to -10 db speech, and change the normalize vertical slider to -13 db. -10 is usually to hot. Also select the "if clipping occurs" use dynamic compression, from the drop down menu next to it. This will apply compression to the peaks if the normalize goes over 0 db.

2. Paragraphic EQ - check boxes for both the Enable low shelf (set at 100 Hz and set the slider to -inf), and high shelf (set at 10,000 Hz and set slider also to -inf). This knocks off any low and high frequency noise. So your graph should look like a mound now with the graph showing the low and high frequencies being attenuated to infinite. Next put a +3 db bump between 2.5 Khz and 3.5 Khz. Use the center frequency and the gain sliders to accomplish this. So one box will say 2,500 and the box next to it will say 3,500. Now you should have a small +3 db tall bump on top of the graph. This will enhance the speech clarity.

3. Select Wavehammer, than "Master for 16 bit", this will give you a mild compression of 1.5 to 1. Now select the "Volume maximizer" tab at the bottom and bring the gain down to -2 or -3 db. This will limit the whole file to the level you just set it to. By setting this to -2 or -3 db, you will never have to worry about distortion or over peaking the audio.

The goal with this recipe is to raise low and uneven audio levels by normalizing and applying some compression and than limiting the output. If massaged properly you will end up with a high dynamic range file that looks like you gave it a flat top haircut. Never over normalize or over compress or you'll be worse of than you started. I hope this comes across as intended, if not i will glad to clarify further.

Tom

[number88]

Thanks very much! I will give that a try later when I work on some clips.

[iibw]

Here is what I do in Sound Forge for vocals that need to be raised, and the levels unified:

3. Select Wavehammer, than "Master for 16 bit", this will give you a mild compression of 1.5 to 1. Now select the "Volume maximizer" tab at the bottom and bring the gain down to -2 or -3 db. This will limit the whole file to the level you just set it to. By setting this to -2 or -3 db, you will never have to worry about distortion or over peaking the audio.

Tom

Hi Tom, these settings work great! I have a question though... in step 3, do you adjust the threshold value of the "volume maximizer" at all?

[antonsvideo]

Hi Tom, these settings work great! I have a question though... in step 3, do you adjust the threshold value of the "volume maximizer" at all?

I usually set the right slider to -6db so no audio will go higher

I then set the left slider to -12, this will give the volume an overall much louder and ironed out sound without being louder