Some audio definition/explanations (?)

[Steve Roberts]

Ahh I can answer these questions.

Hi Kelly,

I’m presuming that you’re talking about the compressor plugin ?

The Threshold is where the compressor starts to compress the material. Now the amount of compression is usually called Ratio but within this plugin it’s amount. Say if you set it to 3 then what you get out is a 3rd of what you put in after the audio has hit the threshold. Make sense ?

Thus using the input gain to amplify your audio to push it into the threshold makes quiet material louder and everything over the threshold not as loud – compressed.

Be careful though it’s not a perfect effect and it will start to distort if you push things too much.

As for the output that’s simply a level output control back to the buss.

The attack and release control the speed at which the compressor reacts when the signal hits that threshold. Attack is a curve that delays the reaction and release is how long the compression stays once the signal has gone below the threshold. Example – if you set the attack and release at zero and your amount (ratio) to a high number say 10 you create a limiter which essential stops everything that hits the threshold from going over the threshold. But it will distort.

Compressor are complicated things to get working.

Other please comment as I may have missed something.

Good luck !

Steve R.

Amongst Projects
——— Sound, Visual and Electronic Content
projects.amongstmyselves.com

[John Rofrano]

[Kelly Griffin] “The nature of my asking is that what I need to accomplish in most anything I do is to have tone be at -20dB, with peak levels for final output at -10dB (local TV station stipulations). “

Hi Kelly,

You want to be limiting your levels at the master audio bus. This way nothing gets by. I assume you have a -20dB test tone at 400Hz. If you don’t… get one because you can’t calibrate your audio without it. (BTW, you can make one in Sound Forge) Once you do, place the -20dB test tone on an audio track, place trhe timeline cursor at the beginning of the audio event, and solo the track.

Then follow these directions:

1. Add Wave Hammer (r) Surround to the Master Audio Bus.
2. Apply the [Sys] Master for 16-bit preset.
3. Select the Volume Maximizer tab.
4. Set the Output level to -10dB. (nothing will be louder than this)
5. Press the Input button once so that it displays Output
6. Press F12 to start playback
7. Adjust the Threshold down until the meters read -20dB

Congratulations, you just calibrated your project’s audio output to the specifications of your TV broadcaster.

Your Wave Hammer plug-in should look something like this:

Note: The -8.1 dB on the Threshold is where you want it to be. Just set it there as a start and make sure that you get a -20dB reading on the output meters. Save this preset as “Broadcast Safe” or something meaningful for next time.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Kelly Griffin]

Yo John,

Wow.

Thank you once again for your help. More than I ever expected, but greatly appreciated.

Now I just gotta find out what “Wave Hammer” means/is.

–Kelly

[John Rofrano]

[Kelly Griffin] “Now I just gotta find out what “Wave Hammer” means/is.”

It’s one of the audio plug-ins that come with Sony Vegas.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Kelly Griffin]

Hey John (Rofrano)–

I feel like an idiot, but where do I go to display the “Master FX” window you showed on your earlier post?? I see something kind of similar at the track level, but nothing for a master output level.

I’m trying to do the step-by-step sequence you advise, but can’t even find how to display that window you show (I’m on Vegas 10).

Can you point me to it?

THANK YOU,

–Kelly

[John Rofrano]

[Kelly Griffin] “I feel like an idiot, but where do I go to display the “Master FX” window you showed on your earlier post?? I see something kind of similar at the track level, but nothing for a master output level.”

Here are the buttons for adding FX to both the Master Video Bus and Master Audio Bus:

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Kelly Griffin]

Hey John–

Okay, I was in the right spot… just didn’t get the window I was after until actually selecting the Wave Hammer.

Anyway, I just tested my current project with it and it worked like a dream, and was a whole lot easier to get things pretty much situated than what I’m used to.

Thanks again. I see Vegas continuing to be a powerful toolbox with each reduction in my intimidation by it.

–Kelly

[John Rofrano]

Glad you got it all sorted out. Take care,

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com