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Audio level mixed out to DVD etc
ANy reason why the audio level is lower when I create a DVD or stream file.
My levels on the Final Cut meter look excellent (bounce between -18 upto -12) I can componsate when I dump to tape. But for the a DVD or stream all I have is the option to export.
How can I ensure my levels are replicated exactly as I see them and how I have been mixing them. It’s mostly a concern with DVD’s, I can tell that with a store bought DVD is louder than what I create in DVD studio Pro from my export from Final Cut Pro.
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5 Replies
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Tony,
What program are you using to make your DVD?
– Don
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“Store-bought” DVDs and CDs have been processed to be at the upper end of the level scale.
If you want to make a DVD that is louder,
1. Duplicate your finished Timeline (Keep the original the way it is now.)
2. On the dupe, select all of the audio clips and increase the levels as much as you think necessary to make the DVD “louder”.
3. You might want to add the Compressor/Limiter Filter and adjust it so the lower levels are brought UP, but the higher levels don’t go “over the top”.
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Like I mentioned above, DVD Studio Pro
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Oh sorry, I missed that part. Reading too fast. Okay, I can tell you what I do for consistent audio. Export a self contained QT movie, video only. Then export audio using the “export audio to .aif” command, using 2 channel stereo. With my audio only file I import into A.Pack (not sure what version of DVDSP you’re using) for compression, and the important thing here is to make sure to set dialogue normalizatiion to -31 so that your audio file stays at the same attenuation level. In A.pack this level defaults to -27 every time. Once you’ve encoded the audio with A.Pack and your video with Compressor you can bring both files into DVDSP and drop them into a track. This workpath prodiuces no change in audio levels, for me, anyways.
– Don
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To expound a little, “store-bought” DVDs and CDs are processed with the audio at or extremely near 0dB. You can’t go above 0dB, but it’s still possible that at 0dB, your’s will sound quieter than a “store-bought”. They will generally use a very expensive, high-end mastering limiter (fancy compressor/limiter) to squeeze the peaks down a little so the volume can then be raised back up to 0dB, which in turn, raises the perceived loudness while staying at or below 0dB peak.
I have two different workflows. One is for down and dirty quick, when good is needed, but perfect isn’t needed. For that, I duplicate the sequence, then on the duplicate, I open the mixer view and raise the master fader till the peaks are very near 0dB (without ever going over). Maybe I’ll use a compressor/limiter too.
Since I started out as an audio engineer many years ago, I take great pains on audio for DVD’s that will be sold, but what’s most important to your question is that in soundtrac pro, I do use a mastering limiter (compressor/limiter will work too), then normalize to 0dB (or -.5dB because I don’t trust FCP to be dead accurate), then bring it back to fcp and put it on two new tracks, and mute the original audio tracks, then export using compressor to take to DVDSP.
Thanks,
Gary
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