Audio level jumps on export

I have created a movie in iMovie HD. I have the ususal video track with its corresponding audio, then I added a background music track and adjusted the volume slider to 15%. All is well and good until I export the movie. When I do, the audio track from the background music jumps up to an ungodly level and completely drowns out the voiceover from the the video track. I have tried rebooting, resaving, nothing seems to help. Any help please!!! I have deadline to meet.

Your audio from the camcorder should be set to 16-bit/48KHz. I would also make sure to re-sample any "other" audio to the same sampling rate. It is possible that you have inserted an audio track at a different sampling rate but when exported, the program creates a DV file of your sequence thus resampling the audio to a higher level.
Don't know if that's it... but it could be.
Mike

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Audio levels before / after export???

hi,
i'm using a background audio track in one of my adventure videos and when i am in PProCS5, the audio is at a good level BUT after i export the video, the audio seems to have gone up a few notches.
any ideas?
i only edit the audio levels in PProCS5 down in the audio section of the timeline. i add keyframes and then drag the audio level up and down. is that the right way to do it? is it possible to increase / decrease the audio level by more than the allowable 6dB?
am i missing a setting when i export the audio?
i mean, it should all sound the same, in PPro and when i play it in VLC or on my TV?
thanks!

In PrPro, there are at least 3 ways to adjust the Levels/Volume of the Audio:
At the Clip-level, one can Rt-click and adjust the Audio Gain. This is often the least desirable method, but can be used.
At the Clip-level, one can use the fixed Effect>Volume, and easily Keyframe this Effect. This can be done on the Timeline, or via the Effects Control Panel, and this is the most common method. Remember, this is at the Clip-level, so those Keyframes will follow that Clip, should it be moved.
At the Audio Track-level, one can use the Audio Mixer to automate the Sends, and set Track Keyframes to control the Levels. This will apply Track Keyframes, which will remain on that Track, even if one replaces the Clips on that Track. The frequency of these Track Keyframes can be adjusted in Edit>Preferences. Remember, these are Track Keyframes, unlike the Clip Keyframes above.
The display of either Clip, or Track Volume Keyframes can be toggled in the Track Header.
There are several other Levels/Volume Effects, like Normalize, but they are really something a bit different.
I agree with Jim's suggestion on doing a DVD (I use RW discs to test - no more coasters), and test the Levels on my reference audio system.
Good luck,
Hunt

Audio levels won't export when doing a "share."

Audio levels set with the bar at the bottom, won't work when "shared."
Also audio volume levels set by clicking on the clip volume line and making dots to drag won't work either. They sound fine in the project but when shared, they all go to regular volume.
It has nothing to do with "extracting audio." Because I've tried setting the levels in the video track. I've also tried unchecking the audio on the far right toggle for the video track, after extracting the audio and setting volumes in the audio track: it works in the project but not in the production of a Quicktime video via a "share."
It has nothing to do with transitions or titles as there aren't any.
I'm working with mpeg 4 clips.

Hi,
You don't say how you got the MPEG-4 clips into iMovie - though it was great that you mentioned that they started life as MPEG-4 - nor which version of QuickTime you're using (..sorry to be so pedantic!..)
iMovie expects to be working with the embedded audio within DV clips, or with .AIFF audio clips, though it can handle other audio formats ..but not so reliably.
The problem is probably with the type of audio file you've ended up with in iMovie. iMovie writes audio volume levels as a set of 'instructions' within a text file, to tell itself, and other programs, where and how to set those levels for clips. If the audio format can't be properly regulated by iMovie (..e.g; it's in the form of embedded MPEG-1 level 2 audio or MP3 audio, rather than .AIFF..) then iMovie may try to tell QuickTime - while 'Sharing' - "set the audio level at this point to 25%", but QT may be unable to adjust that type of audio file correctly, even though it's correctly reading the instructions.
See if you can export ('Share') the whole thing as DV, then re-import it - in which case the audio will be in the correct format - and then you should be able to satisfactorily set the audio levels again for a successful 'Share' to QuickTime.
Others may suggest a simpler or faster way to handle the problem, but that's the first thing which comes to my mind..

Plugging in headphones results in audio level jumping... why?

Why does OSX think the best thing to do after plugging my headphones in is to turn up the audio levels 5x, blasting my eardrums?
Why can't it keep the volume as is, and let me adjust it instead? I now have this intense fear when plugging in headphones i start smashing the audio down level, but inevitably there is a delay and the volume starts to blast.
This seems insane to me given most headphones are now in peoples ears, the upping doesnt need to be done automatically.
Seems it's actually trying to remember that last used audio setting, but that seems risky given different types of headphones can result in very different audio levels (over ear / in ear).

Your phone is? and are the headphones fully inserted?
If i have helped at all a click on the white star below would be nice thanks.
Now using the Lumia 1520

Final Cut Pro Audio Levels Low when exporting to mp3 and mp4

Hi everyone! When I export audio from Final Cut as an mp3, my levels are very low. When I export footage as an mp4, the audio is low as well. But before exporting, my levels are right at or below 0. So they are where they should be. So for example, when I open the audio in Adobe Audion or Logic, they could almost be doubled before peaking within those programs. Could this be a compression issue? And input would be helpful. Thanks!

Are you working 0n 10.0.9? If not, update FCPX and see whether that solves the problem.
Russ

Audio levels jump way high after burning to DVD

Hello!
I don't mean to be spamming the forums, but in case this is an FCP-related problem, I thought I'd ask here too. I've also asked in the DVDSP forum.
I just burned my first test disc of a project and have come across a strange problem. The audio on all of my tracks has jumped to an extremely high (and unacceptable) level. It is well above the level set in FCP and even what plays when simulating the disc from within DVDSP. The ac3 files out of compressor seem to be fine. In fact, everything seems okay until the actual burn. When playing the disc in DVD Player, it's so loud that in many places there is actual audio distortion. Is there a setting I'm missing, maybe? Could there be something in FCP that I've done wrong?
Any ideas?
Cameron

Dolby dialogue normalization is intended to keep the relative levels of different program sources at a similar level.
We generally set our system playback level based on the voices (dialogue) we hear (music discs are an exception) in a progam.
For example: If correct dialogue normalization is applied in a TV program and commercials, when the program/movie goes to a commercial break, the compressed and loud voice of the commercial is lowered to the same level as the voices in the movie and we don't have to jump for the remote.
Determing the correct seting for your project is not simple however.
"The dialogue normalization parameter needs to be set to the LAeq level of your program material's dialogue. LAeq stands for the long-term A-weighted sound pressure level. Loosely, this is the average volume level of your source material's dialogue."
more in this article:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=56020
An extended examination of dialogue normalization can be found in this article:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume72/feature-article-dialog-normalization-6-2000.html
Making a preset within Compressor 2 is explained in this Ken Stone article:
http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/compressor2_custompresets.html
What I do for Dolby 2.0 is always set my dialogue normalization to -31, which effectivly just turns it off, and set Compression to none in the Prepocessing tab.

A good audio level range for export to DVD (for a short film)

Hello,
This question was a bit hard to search for... what is the recommended audio range to keep my project within if I am making a short film which I plan to export to DVD.
As of now, a lot of my audio stays between -30 and -18, even if I turn it up all the way in each clip. Is it a problem if I add the "Boost" effect to every single audio clip I have? Or is there a quicker way to turn up the audio (Master volume is already at 100%)
Thanks!

I shoot for about -6dB, with no peaks above 0dB.
Sounds like you have a very weak signal. I'd set away from PrPro and handle this in SB, or Audition. Listen carefully with a good pair of noise-canceling headphones first, and then test on monitors.
Are you working in mono, stereo or 5.1 SS?
Good luck,
Hunt

Audio level drop after exporting from FCP to Comp

my dialnorm at -31db, precompressor compression setting @ none, any other setting i need to look at??

do I need both of the audio files that ALL generates, or just the APack lookalike file?
This is the topic of some debate.
One camp - which I belong to - believes that you only need the A.pack lookalike (the .ac3 file). This allows you to either fit more video into your project or encode the video at a higher bit rate. Also, there is strong belief by that the inclusion of high data rate AIFF files causes many players to choke. This is the reason that gets the blame for many iDVD discs choking on players, since iDVD uses only AIFF audio for it's projects.
The exception to the rule (for this camp) is if you're doing a music-based project - a concert, music video or karaoke DVD - where you don't want any compression of the audio.
But, to try and answer your question directly, if you've successfully used A.Pack files in the past, you should be fine with just the .ac3 file from Compressor 2. At least, that's how I feel about it.

7.2 Bug? Audio Levels Normalized to Max on Export - Blown Out Audio

Is anyone else experience an audio level shift upon export from Premiere Pro/Media Encoder CC 7.2? Since updating audio or video files I export (AIFF, WAV, h264, etc.) have the audio levels automatically increased, it appears maybe they are being automatically normalized to 0db. But, the increase results in blown out audio.
Pretty major issue if this is a bug. If it's a 'feature' anyone know how to turn it off?
I'm on a PC using Windows 7 64bit.
Update: The audio levels are not being normalized. The problem has to do with stereo audio tracks that have been imported as mono. I was able to resolve the issue by changing my import audio preferences to import Stereo Media 'Use File' and reimporting my audio files - exporting then worked as expected.
However, exporting from stereo tracks imported to mono tracks the audio is somehow being duplicated on export resulting in levels that are too high. Not sure if this is a bug or just something to do with the conversion of my old project files...
Message was edited by: JesseB

Nick,
Maybe not very useful info here, but an advice...
Being a native user of æ, ø and å when it comes to talking and writing, I have learned long time ago that using such (æ. ø, å) in file names (or in anything purely computer related) is something that causes hick-ups now and then.
PS! "Half" when it comes to sound is -3 or -6 dB (dependent on sound power or sound level)
Dag

Exporting & Audio Levels

When I share (export) back to my Panasonic mini Dv deck my audio levels change. For example...I have imported music and set the audio level low as a person is being interviewed so the music is in the backround behind the interview. When i export, the music takes over the entire project and you can't hear the person being interviewed. The audio level actually increases and drowns out everything else. Has anyone else had this experience? Solutions! Thanks!
Tom

Hi Tom,
Yes, I have the exact same problem, but with a "share" that makes a QT movie on my hard drive. See
flailing, "audio levels won't export when doing a "share."", 10:25pm Nov 1, 2005 CDT

PPro CS4 - half of audio is missing from exported files

Hi all.
I'm currently working on a project in PPro CS4, and by that I mean that I've already completed the project. It was exported and uploaded to youtube for my boss, no problems. Then he asked me to combine the two videos, so I copied the second half of the video and pasted it onto the first half's sequence. The settings I used for the two sequences were the same. When I play the video in PPro everything works fine. When I export the video, however, the audio is missing from the second half of the video (the half I copied). The second half audio is on the same track as the first half of the audio, so the audio levels on the exported video should be exactly the same.
I've been browsing the forums and looking at troubleshooting pages but I still haven't found a solution to the problem. The video is intact; only the second half of the audio is missing. I have no idea why it's doing this or how to fix it.
I'd appreciate any input.
-RD

Yes, if he is exporting one file of video and audio then either the entire track is exported
or only the work area bar is exported for both video and audio. If he is exporting video and audio separately THEN they might be different lengths.
You might right-click the audio for the second section and select Audio to see if it is muted.
Try exporting the audio alone without video, listen to the audio in Windows Medica player and listen if all or only half of it exported. If all of it exported, then that narrows the problem.
You might try creating a new Sequence and pasting the video and audio into the new Sequence (don't just duplicate the sequence, that may just duplicate the problem). Then export and see if that circumvented the problem.
What format are you exporting to?

Exporting a project with multiple audio tracks changes the loudness level regardless of export format

I recently had to submit a TVC and discovered that premiere was changing the loudness level after export, when the TVC failed the quality check.
I checked the audio loudness of other formats that I had exported and the same thing had happened the audio loudness, it had changed.
After a bit of troubleshooting I found a workaround. I mixdown all of the tracks in adobe audtion to one track and then imported it into premeire.
Once I did this the audio loudness was not changed after exporting.
Workflow for when it didn't work.
I used edit in adobe audtion for the audio tracks from premiere.
Matched the audio to the loudness level I wanted, and then saved each track.
Export from premiere.
To Check Audio Loudness
Bring in exported file into new premiere project
Edit the audio in adobe audtion.
Drag the audio file into match audio to check loudness level.
I am using
Adobe Premiere Pro CC v8.1
Windows 7 on PC
Please fix this adobe.

I recently had to submit a TVC and discovered that premiere was changing the loudness level after export, when the TVC failed the quality check.
I checked the audio loudness of other formats that I had exported and the same thing had happened the audio loudness, it had changed.
I have never experienced that or had any need for a work around.
What did your Broadcast Quality Control pick up on?
Audio Levels and Loudness are two different things in this regard.

Audio levels in exported video [Premiere Pro CS6]

The audio level is just what I want in the actual track. However, when I export the video the exported audio is too loud. So I went back and lowered the clip by 3dB...the volume level of exported video still didn't change--it sounds like people are shouting.
This is a new problem...is there a setting in the export dialog box I have accidentally changed?
Thanks in advance.

I have found this to be a problem in CC at one of the places I work.
Export at 16bit perfect levels with a tone ident...bring it back it into the project and now -3db.
I tried exporting 32bit float and it comes out 3db higher!
Only method I have found is to export audio separately to a 32bit file then in a new final video sequence, replace the audio timeline with this file and adjust levels. The new export seems to come out at the right levels
May have something to do with a bug in the pan law but you can't adjust settings like in Audition.
Many bugs in this program causing me nightmares....
....Can't save track preset effects and have to copy complicated track EQ and compression settings by hand
....Track effect settings adjustments that revert as soon as you click away or hit play
....Very slow with crashes and freezes in sequences with nested sequences.
Leave plenty of time for your final exports...you will need it

Audio Levels when exporting are too low

so i tried searching the forums to find an answer, but couldn't really find one. Everytime i export a project from FCP (as WMV, Flash, Quicktime, whatever) the audio levels are extremely, extremely low...to the point that I have to bump them up to +12 and duplicate the audio layers several times. I have to imagine there's an easier way to doing this.. any ideas?
thanks
Paul

I didn't know you could export to WMV in Final Cut. Must be a new feature since the Apple/Microsoft merge....
As far as the audio, how are you monitoring it in FCP? You might have your speakers (or headphones) turned up really loud, so you think the levels are fine until you export. Also, look at the audio meter. You should judge the overall volume by that, not by your speakers. It's kind of like a waveform scope for audio.
Check on those two things and report back.
jesse.
ps. just kidding on the merge. that'll start some rumors.

Export with different audio levels

I need, very often, to export the same clip with different audio levels.
Is it possible to make presets with altered audio levels, let's say one for -12db and one for -8db.
Until now, i alter the audio level in Premiere, then I make one export, then I go back to Premiere, change again the audio level, I make the second export etc. It works, but it is very time consuming.
Thanx in advance.

It is currently not possible. However, feel free to log a feature request:
https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/mmform/index.cfm?name=wishform

Audio level jumps on export

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