[Freddy Mclennon]

That I don’t know.
I even had to google te word DAW lol.
Anyway, I don’t have equipment with analog meters.

greetzzzz,

Fred

[Freddy Mclennon]

Hi Richard,

Tnx for this reply.
The big mistake I made was indeed assuming that dB was used in the same way as for example KG, or Volt or Watt and so on …
The only difference between me and the people who gave me the reaction that I was telling wrongfull things about dB was that the maths behind it are used different for different apllications, while they believe it is completely the same.
So to be honest I still don’t understand all of it.
But tnx to all of you guys I do have a better understanding now and it gives me a little more insight on how to use my audio and what my VU meters mean instead of simply avoiding going into red because that might cause clipping.
For example, when shooting video I mostly use 2 shotgun mics.
I have 2 XLR inputs on my camera and mostly I use them to generate a kind of stereo sound. (for theater and stuff, when I make shortfilm I use one mic, mostly on a boom)
Today I filmed an animator who brought a short (45minutes) show for kids, mostly for birthday parties, but today he hired an indoor location with the purpose of shooting the whole gig so we can make a promotional video.
Since there where 3 camera’s, I didn’t realy needed 2 mics, but I still used both of them.
I mostly don’t use AGC and set the gain equally for both mic’s.
Today I set one mic lower, and the ohter higher.
In the past it happened (with or without AGC) that I had clipping when the audience starts to applaud.
So I set one mic lower to avoid clipping when that happens.
The other mic was set higher so the animator was understandable.
(the animator had a headset mic that was send to speakers in the room)
So I imported the footage into Premiere and for the first time I was able to mix my audio in such a way that there was no clipping when loud but the artist was clearly understandable all the time.
I don’t know if that’s te good way to go about it.
But after reading all your reply’s, read your links, did some googeling and Youtubing, this was what I came up with in an attempt to improve my skills as an amateurfilmer.

And so far (at least today) it worked great.

So, tnx again.

Greetzzzz,

Fred

[Freddy Mclennon]

Hi Jean-Christophe,

I’m terrible at math.
The thing ofcourse is that I’m working with audio, although I don’t understand the maths behind it.
But I’m thinking now…
If I don’t understand all of it, then they won’t understand it also.
So I’ll try to find a very neutral answer if someone asks this question to me again lol.
Something like “google it” or “search for it on Wikipedia”.
So I do understand there are different ways you can use dB, but it is not neccesary to know alle the maths behind it to be able to work with audio.
As I told before… I’m not an audio technician but meanly I use my ears when recording or editing audio.

So I wanna thank all people here for there reply, because it made me a little wiser.

Greetzzzz

Fred

[Freddy Mclennon]

Tnx for your reply Peter,

I’m working in Premiere since version 1.5 and so far I was able to avoid clipping.
But I have a great hearing that compensates my lack of technical knowledge lol :oD.

But I assume on the dB issue that I’m correct in saying that Sound in real live isn’t measured in the same way as used in a studio (or audio mixer)or as represented on a videocamera (gain, +3dB, 6dB, etc.)
And that was where I got lost to start with.

Greetz,

Fred

[Freddy Mclennon]

Hi Jordan,

I read the site following your link but to be honest …
this reads like chinese for me lol ;o)
(I’m terrible with mathematics, formulas and numbers)
So I’ll waite for the rest to come.
In the meantime, have a great nap.

greeetzzz,

Fred

[Freddy Mclennon]

Hi Peter,

I can feel the red blush on my cheeks.
Ofcourse where talking about VU meters (shame on me)
And yes, I was incorrect about what I wrote earlier about the clipping part.
At least partly…(I think)
I work in Premiere Pro CS5.
In this program you’ll find an audiomixer.
The tracks are standard set to ‘0dB’and can be changed to max 6dB or lower dB values, while the master volume is standard set to ‘0 dB’ but here this is the maximum.
And that’s the VU meter I use to avoid clipping.
So that’s a very important point you made and so I’m very greatfull for your reply.
I’m working in Premiere for many years now, but I never knew what the difference was between the values in the tracks and the master.
Maybe I should follow some classes myself before teaching others.
But they keep asking me for these things because they like what I do in the amateurclub I’m a member of, and they think I’m on a high level.
Well, I’m on a higher level then they are, but that’s because I keep on learning thru tutorials (for example Linda.Com) and thru endless searching on the net. (and to say English isn’t my native language
,I learned that all by myself as well… god I love the internet)
Anyway, in compairisan with you guys I’m a newby.
But hey … I’m learning as we go and I want to get better.

Well, I’m off to bed now.
I’m sure I’ll get the answer I’m looking for and in the meanwhile I’m greatfull for the things I learn on the side.

Tnx

Greetzzzz,

Fred

[Freddy Mclennon]

Okey,

Well eric,
now I’m even more confused lol.
But hey, that’s why you guys work in the field and I’m a amateurfilmer.

The question ofcource is…
Is the way audio is measured in the world, or the way audio is represented in editing software, the same?
Or is there a difference in Sound Pressure level (what we hear)and the way it’s represented in editing software (what we see on the UV meters)
I’ve been thinking there’s a difference and so I was teaching this.
dB for sound pressure level is NOT the same as dB represented on UV meters.
But There’ve been some occasions where people told me I was telling false information.
That’s what got me doubting myself if I was wright or wrong.

When I’m editing, to be honest, I use the UV meters to keep my audio from going into red, all the rest I do with my ears.
But then I believe, when you’re teaching people, you should tell them these things correctly.

Greetzzzzzz,

Freddy

[Freddy Mclennon]

Tnx Ty for your response.;o)

The things I know about dB and gain comes from that exact wikipedia subject.
But some people keep thinking, because anybody can write on a subject and place this on Wikipedia, that you should not always believe what’s written there. (or anywhere on the internet)
That’s why I was looking for a scond opinion in a place I KNOW there’s people who work with audio and video and also have the knowledge.
And it always sounds better if I can say that I have reference from someone in the field.

So hopefully Mr. Crowley stops by and is able to give a little explanation.
Ofcource I must also admit … I don’t quite understand everything that’s written on the Wikipedia page, probably because there talking about a lot of different kinds of dB (confuses me), while I’m just looking for the difference of dB used in sound (sound pressure level) and gain in the editing software.

But tnx anyway.

Greetzzzz,

Freddy McLennon

[Freddy Mclennon]

Wel,

Tnx for the replies ;o)
Wel, usualy I plan my project very carefully so that won’t be a big problem.
and now I know how to do it in AE.
For the time beeing, my final output is DVD PAL Widescreen.
In the near future i’ll go to Blu-ray.
So I shoot my video in HD 1920×1080, and some footage in 720P (mostly to shoot 60fps to create slow-motion)
I aply effects and do the things I need to do in that shot.
Difference now is, I use a semi transparant ‘safe frame’ layer in this ‘cinematic image size’.(inspired by you guys)
Now I even have some room to adjust the position of the shot footage or apply some motion stabalization without having to worry about the edge of the image in my picture.
Once my shot is finished I render it out and use the ‘region of interest’ settings so AE will only render out that part creating a file in square pixel, 1280×540
Then in Premiere I import the files into a 720p project and do the editing. When I’m finished there, I render it out to MPEG DVD Pal Widescreen and tadaaa.
Yes, ofcourse I have black bars watching this on my 16:9 LCD screen.
But I have the seem look as a feature film …

So … tnx a lot for your help and advice

Freddy