Paulbernard
Level 1 (4 points)
Video

Q: Audio level changes

I am working on a multi camera project.

Cam 1 has the master audio. In the timeline I open the three camera angles and adjusted the audio of cam 1 to approx -6dB. When I collapse the camera angles on the timeline for editing I find the the audio from Cam 1goes well into the red.

 

I have also tried exporting the audio to Logic X . Once in Logic I again set the audio to approx -6dB. when I send the Logic x file back to FCPX again the audio levels are back in the red.

 

Could there be an issue with the audio meters in FCPX?

 

regards

Paul

Final Cut Pro X, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5), Imac 27inch i5 16G Ram Thunderbolt

Posted on Jul 18, 2016 10:08 AM

by EcoGreg,Solvedanswer
EcoGreg EcoGreg
Level 3 (507 points)
A:

Hi Paul

There are at least a couple of possibilities here.

First make sure that all audio channels are not adding to sound. If you only want a single source of audio from one camera or take you can set that up as audio only angle in FCPX. In the Angle editor you can set one angle for audio and do video only edits. Or you can detach audio from the cam you want to use and add that to your multi-cam angles. As an additional safe guard, you can set all the other audio in the other angles to full attenuation, off.

There is a known issue with what is known as the "Pan Law". In short, if you have a mono source audio and you export as stereo, then the volume will increase, roughly double the mono level, this will push your levels into the "red".

Set your levels lower in the timeline audio clips to avoid this issue.

Have not experienced any issues with the meters themselves, but if something is clipping, then that will be shown in the  waveforms in the timeline. You do not want any "red" in the waveforms or the RED clip indicator. If you find clipping overall in the waveforms, you need to reduce the volume in all affected clips. If however, you only find a few areas of spikes, you can use the "Range" tool to select a range of clipping and attenuate just the trouble areas. The nice aspect of using the "Range" tool (shortcut letter r) is that it will automatically add 4 keyframes, 2 in front and 2 at end of range  and allows you to adjust the levels to just the problem range/area.

If all else fails, you can add a limiter to the clips, this will keep all audio to safe levels, available in the "Effects" browser,  Audio effects.

 

Hope this helps, Greg

Posted on Jul 19, 2016 2:03 AM

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Paulbernard

Q: Audio level changes

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by BenB,Helpful

    BenB BenB Jul 19, 2016 2:04 AM in response to Paulbernard
    Level 6 (9,816 points)
    Video
    Jul 19, 2016 2:04 AM in response to Paulbernard

    No known issue with this in FCPX.  What version of FCPX are you using?  I'd adjust audio levels in the Project timeline when I start my edit.

  • by EcoGreg,Solvedanswer

    EcoGreg EcoGreg Jul 19, 2016 2:03 AM in response to Paulbernard
    Level 3 (507 points)
    Jul 19, 2016 2:03 AM in response to Paulbernard

    Hi Paul

    There are at least a couple of possibilities here.

    First make sure that all audio channels are not adding to sound. If you only want a single source of audio from one camera or take you can set that up as audio only angle in FCPX. In the Angle editor you can set one angle for audio and do video only edits. Or you can detach audio from the cam you want to use and add that to your multi-cam angles. As an additional safe guard, you can set all the other audio in the other angles to full attenuation, off.

    There is a known issue with what is known as the "Pan Law". In short, if you have a mono source audio and you export as stereo, then the volume will increase, roughly double the mono level, this will push your levels into the "red".

    Set your levels lower in the timeline audio clips to avoid this issue.

    Have not experienced any issues with the meters themselves, but if something is clipping, then that will be shown in the  waveforms in the timeline. You do not want any "red" in the waveforms or the RED clip indicator. If you find clipping overall in the waveforms, you need to reduce the volume in all affected clips. If however, you only find a few areas of spikes, you can use the "Range" tool to select a range of clipping and attenuate just the trouble areas. The nice aspect of using the "Range" tool (shortcut letter r) is that it will automatically add 4 keyframes, 2 in front and 2 at end of range  and allows you to adjust the levels to just the problem range/area.

    If all else fails, you can add a limiter to the clips, this will keep all audio to safe levels, available in the "Effects" browser,  Audio effects.

     

    Hope this helps, Greg

  • by Paulbernard,

    Paulbernard Paulbernard Jul 19, 2016 2:03 AM in response to EcoGreg
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Video
    Jul 19, 2016 2:03 AM in response to EcoGreg

    Hi Greg,

    Many thanks for all your comments. I will try the various options you have suggested. I think that detaching the wanted audio track and then reducing the volume of the unwanted audio tracks could do the trick.

    The other Issue I found was when editing in Logic X and then exporting back to FCPX the levels jumped through the roof. This could be a result of the various combined audio tracks in FCPX.

    Regards

    Paul

  • by BenB,

    BenB BenB Jul 19, 2016 4:54 AM in response to EcoGreg
    Level 6 (9,816 points)
    Video
    Jul 19, 2016 4:54 AM in response to EcoGreg

    Pan law is gain level changes during transitions, not overall levels.  What you describe is simply the accumulative nature of audio, not pan law.  And pan law does not effect a stereo pair.  A stereo pair by itself don't have the accumulative effect.

     

    You do not have to detach audio from video to adjust the levels of various channels.  Expand Audio Components is what you do, after configuring the channels in the Inspector.