Audio gets lower on import???

Question

I am importing a wav file with some speak to a FCP X project- but when I add it to the timeline and play it gets significantly lower in volume than when I play it as received from my sound engeneer??   It´s about minus 12 db and was made to be as close to 0 as possible??
Any ideas what is going wrong??
Thanks-

Answer 1

Perhaps this discussion of analogoe and digital audio, from the FCP7 manual, willl help.
Analog 0 dB Versus Digital 0 dBFS
Even though audio is exclusively digital in Final Cut Pro, it is likely that your audio will exist in an analog context at some point. Most digital workflows begin with microphones and end with speakers, which are both analog devices.
On an analog meter, 0 dB is the optimal recording or output level of a device. If the voltage is much higher, the signal may distort. If the voltage is much lower, the signal may be lost in the noise inherent in the device. On a digital meter, 0 dBFS refers to the highest audio level allowed before clipping.
When you look at the meters in Final Cut Pro, you need to consider how the signal level will correspond to an analog meter. Specifically, you need to choose a point on the digital meter that corresponds to 0 dB on an analog meter. This point is where your average signal level should be, providing headroom for occasional peaks. Headroom is particularly important in digital audio because any audio that goes beyond 0 dBFS during export or output instantly clips and sounds distorted.
The level you choose for your average audio level affects the potential dynamic range of your mix. The lower your average signal is allowed to be, the greater the difference between the average and loudest sounds, providing a larger dynamic range. However, you should also choose an average level that allows a significant difference between your quietest sounds and the noise floor.
There are several common digital levels used to correspond to 0 dB on an analog meter:
-12 dBFS: This level is often used for 16-bit audio such as DV audio, and for projects with compressed dynamic ranges, such as those for television or radio.
-18 or -20 dBFS: This level is more common on projects with higher dynamic range, such as professional post-production workflows using 20- or 24-bit audio.
Russ