Boosting low audio signal

[Robin Dickey]

If you are wanting to raise your audio levels, you can also just copy your original audio track and paste it into another audio track. For example, if you have a vocal on Track 1, just copy it and then paste it into Track 2. In FCP 5 and 6 you copy it, then move the original down one track, then paste into the original track. In 4.5 you might have to paste it at the end of your original track and then pull down one track and back to line it up with the original. If your audio is clean, as you said it was, then you can raise your audio level significantly this way.

Hope this makes sense.

rwd

[Frank Cervarich]

i thought that doubling your tracks was a bad idea in fcp. something about the software not liking to see the same audio on left and right channels (i.e. 1 and 2 for instance). did i misunderstand?

but, hooray, i have tried the au peak limiter filer and the ‘pre-gain’ setting in that filter does a wonderful job of boosting audio.

thanks to all. i really appreciate this tip.

[Michael Gissing]

A word of warning. Normalising, processing the file and replacing using software like audacity may help but all of them will be an issue if you are exporting an OMFi for sound post.

Sound post facilities have much better gain algorithms and will always want the original clip. Just use the peak limit or gain plugin. If you need more gain, use two plugins. The plugins don’t translate in an OMFi. (this is a good thing)

Please don’t double tracks or replace the original file. These are messy and unnecessary options that create more work for the editor and sound post team.

[Scott Newell]

To boost super low audio, click the low audio track to highlight it, then select Effects>Audio Filters>Apple>AUDynamicsProcessor to apply it to the track. Then go the Filters tab in the audio clip and you’ll see a master gain in there. It should provide any boost you need. This is the best solution I’ve found besides the new gain filter in FCP 6.

I believe Apple includes the AU audio filters in versions of FCP earlier than 6. I used to stack tracks, but there are lots of problems you can get into with that method. Plus, if you have to do anything else with the audio track, you only have one to deal with rather than several.

Hope this helps.