Audio level problem

Question

I'm working with some pretty terrible source audio that I sent over to soundtrack pro. The dialogue is incredible low and applause and laughter are really hot. Is there a way to reduce the amplitude of all the applause and laughter in one shot rather than having to go in and do each one separately. I've done some compression but that results in clips. Can I set a maximum level, say .10, and have all audio above that be reduce to that level?
Thanks,
matt

Answer 1

Ah: that audio which you posted isn't phase-reversed, but it's skipping ..jumping, with bits missing.
This sounds (seems) as if the video was recorded at perhaps DVCAM speed (..on a Sony professional camcorder..) and it's being played back on a normal miniDV camcorder.
Your Canon MV5iMC wouldn't be able to play back a videotape recorded at DVCAM speed, although (almost) any Sony camcorder can.
If you can borrow a Sony miniDV camcorder, try importing from that: it should be able to play the video and audio correctly, I believe.
[NOTE: I don't know anything about Panasonic DVCPRO, if that's what your "AV expert" used ..well, I know a bit: it won't play back in any normal miniDV equipment. But it seems to me that he probably used a Sony DVCAM camera, not a Panasonic camera. DVCAM is identical to normal miniDV, except that the tape runs 50% faster, to give a wider recording track and thus to avoid dropouts. Although you can't record at the DVCAM speed with normal 'amateur' Sony camcorders, they will correctly play back DVCAM recordings: they detect the faster recording speed, and then automatically speed up their playback tape transport mechanism accordingly. This only works with Sonys, though, and won't work in any other make of camcorder.]
P.S: If it's a 60 minute tape, and the entire tape has been used, but you've only got 40 mins of recording on it, then it's definitely been recorded at DVCAM speed.