Used Normalize in FCP for Audio and Have Some ???s

[Jared Smith]

Should I just start over and do this:
https://www.larryjordan.biz/articles/lj_normalizing_audio.html

[Michael Gissing]

There is a world of difference between normalizing peak levels and matching apparent volume. FCP is not an audio finishing tool so you will be better to send to Sound Track Pro which will let you apply dynamics processors to give you channel based peak level control and the ability to change both clip gain and channel gain, plus basic bussing of dialog, music and FX to create a nice final mix.

I am not a fan of normalising as it often changes the matching atmos levels between sync dialog in order to create a common peak level. It can create a lot of work to undo this as it makes dialog really lumpy.

Normalising is a bit like auto color grading. 90% of the time you will not like the result.

[Jared Smith]

so at this point in the game is there a way to get rid of the normalizing that i have done? i guess it would be ideal to get it back to how it was originally before sending it to STP. i am not a fan of STP simply because i am not comfortable with it and have no spent much time with it. this project is due monday so i highly doubt i will have enough time to really get it perfect, but it needs some audio help for sure!!!

let me know if there is a way to undo what i have done with the normalizing in FCP… is it just under filters and i need to go clip by clip and uncheck the box???

[Andy Mees]

Hi Jared

Using the “Apply Normalization Gain” function in FCP 7 adds the “Gain” filter to the selected audio clips. If you want to remove any of this normalization then just remove those filters. If you have also adjusted levels manually in the timeline and want to remove those adjustments then you can use the “Remove Attributes” method … select the clips you want to return to their original state and choose Edit menu > Remove Attributes and then tick the “Levels” checkbox under the Audio Attributes section in the consequent dialog. If wanted (and useful if you have no other audio filters applied) you can use the same Remove Attributes method to remove the Gain filter from all your clips in one fell swoop … just tick the “Filters” checkbox in the same section. (Note that it will remove all audio filters from the selected clips if you so this, not just the Gain filter).

Hope it helps
Andy

[Jared Smith]

Thanks so much… Color is Rendering right now so I am trying to stay out of its way and not opening FCP right now… I know I will get reemed for not saying this in the first post, but all of these questions are for FCP 6… but I believe your suggestion will work on 6 as well- right?

[Andy Mees]

Yes, same for FCP 6.

Best
Andy

[Jon Smitherton]

You could just pull down the master in the audio tool.

Jon

[Jeremy Doyle]

[jon smitherton] “You could just pull down the master in the audio tool.
“

If you like the mix you have, this is certainly the easiest and fastest way.