Master audio level goes "red"

I just want to know what it means when my master audio level goes up to the "red" level and wont come back down until I pause the clip? Also does this effect anything else within the video such as other audio levels or quality?

What that means is there was some point in that clip where the audio peaked in the "red" level. Which suggests carefully monitoring this during playback for where that appears, or perhaps applying some sort of limiting or compression effect on the clip.
Neil

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Master Audio Level Not Showing

My individual audio levels show but the master is on and off. When I get it, I can't figure out how I got it. Any ideas?
Scot

with me, I was trouble shooting Premiere CC 2014.2's inability for proper 5.1 sound mix.
I can hear all audio tracks fine, and all tracks display in the audio mixer except for the master is displayed intermittantly. It makes for trouble shooting Premiere's inability 2014.2 to properly map the Lfe channel pretty tough when the master 5.1 track will not display.
WIth 2014.2 the Lfe bleeds into the left front track.
I have trouble shot this (along with many others) before and got nowhere. A recent awakening of one of those threads had me retrace my frustrating attempts. Further frustrated when I could hear the Lfe being bled into the front left channel, knew it was bleeding, but could not see any channel in the master output, only could see input channels.
my trouble shooting was diverted into just getting the master audio track to display the 6 channel output of the 5.1 audio.
After actually locking in the master audio output display, all attempts were futile to achieve proper 5.1 audio mapping.
I paste a link to one of the many threads here.
https://forums.adobe.com/message/7508799?et=watches.email.thread#7508799

Why don't my FCPX and RED epic audio levels match?

So I have a RODE something or the other mic connected to channel 1 in the RED EPIC, recording in mono. Its runs on batteries and all that good stuff so there is no need for phantom. When I record on the RED my levels are appropriate, they are getting to what I'd assume is -6 (a lil bit into the yellow). Then I import to FCPX and the levels are off. In order for me to get useable sound I need to jack up my levels 12db. So I recorded at a bad level on the RED, all in the red area of the graph. (there are no number indicators on the RED EPIC for audio), and now me levels in FCPX are hitting -6db. Is the RED audio scale off, or is FCPX auto compressing my audio. It also seems like it is limiting it, because some of my audio that I import from the EPIC won't go past 0db unless i alter it in anyway, not that I would want to go past 0db but I should be able to. What I think is happening is one of two things either the EPIC's audio scaling is radically off, or FCPX is doing some sort of automation during ingestion, b/c the levels on the camera do not match the levels on FCPX. I also doubt RED would mess up such a long standing, standardized measuring system as the one that is currently used. Also on another side note when I change my clip from dual mono to stereo it changes the audio levels w/o changing the waveform. I go to dual mono and it limits all the sound to under -6db not matter how loud, and then I switch to stereo and without changing any volume settings it seems to go back to a original raw form that uses the whole spectrum. Does anyone know whats going on here, b/c I am really confused at this point.

also in addition I brought it into Premiere Pro CC and Pro Tools and in Pro Tools the audio was spot on, in Premiere it was 3db off and in FCPX it was 6db off. Is anyone else having this problem?

Random Audio Levels Change Exporting STP to Aiff Master

I've been mixing a feature film scene by scene (STP can't seem to handle a full feature mix at once due to memory problems) and generally pleased. However, I've noticed on two out of 10 scenes mixed so far, when I exported the aiff file as a master mix, audio levels on various clips (not all) drop considerably in the mixed file. Even clips in the same track lose audio level in places in the mix, seemingly randomly. It's very weird. Then, when I listen again in STP the levels have been mysteriously dropped as well. NOT the volume slider bar. It stays the same. No change in gain. All LOOKS as it was before exporting but the drops are there. It's as if the exporting process has done something to the STP timeline levels without visually changing anything. If I change the layout screens or play around with the submix locations, all returns to normal in STP. But after I tried exporting again, the same problem happens.
I couldn't find any other forum help with this. Some people suggested 'Render to Action' or 'Flatten Audible Actions' for a similar problem someone else posted, but those options are ghosted out on my multi-track project.
I tried deleting all .plist files related to audio, soundtrack and final cut studio (not easy to find, may have missed something). And this problem doesn't exist on some other scenes using the same process which worked fine.... so it's extremely odd.
I am using minimum filtration, just a limiter with -4.5db and 3db of gain on one track. All dialogue going to a submix and all fx to another. There are only 4 tracks of audio in the mix in question.
I 'analysed' and 'fixed' all phase issues in clips. No change.
The original recordings are .wav files from a Zoom H4N set at 44.1 hz, but that's the same in all scenes, so not sure why only two would make a problem. (the project itself is set to 48hz)
I'm fairly experienced in FCP Studio but getting a bit loony over this one, so hope you can offer some help. Please don't suggest using other software like Pro Tools for this mix. It has been working fine and I'm happy with 8 scenes. There must be something simple going on with the 2 odd ones.
Thanks, Ken STP 3.0.1 Snow Leopard, Intel Quad MacPro
'It's not a question of becoming. It's a question of uncovering what you really are, of letting everything that is not yourself fall away'. - Journey to Ladakh
I think this applies to editing as well....
Ken Barnes, Producer, Director, Editor
www.blissmonkeyfilms.com

I may have found a clue, but still don't know how to fix it. The file from FCP to STP was a stereo file with mic A on left and mic B on right (used a Zoom H4N). I split the file in STP into two mono files and separated the tracks. So actor A is on track 1 and Actor B on 2. All levels fine. I checkerboarded the tracks so there wasn't a lot of overlap. So far so good. Somehow, STP seems to be reading only Track 1 when it does the export; the level drop I'm hearing seems to be Actor B appearing on Actor A's lavalier, even though that data has (supposedly?) been chopped for the checkerboarding. Is this clear? IOW, even though the timeline shows clearly distinct and clearly audible separate mono tracks 1 and 2, the export mix isn't reading it that way and ignores my separation of stereo to 2 mono tracks, preferring to read from only one of the stereo tracks (or possibly only Track 1, but not throughout the track, only where the checkerboarding has occured). And then it somehow 'remembers' the export when it re-opens the project until I make almost any adjustment in STP and it magically returns to normal. Help!!

Audio levels changing in mix

I spend a lot of time getting my audio mix right and ensuring that nothing goes above 0db (red line). After playing back the project time and time again and seeing no issues with the levels going above zero, today I open the project and now levels are guess what, going above zero! Why is this? What can cause the levels to change? The levels I have set on my clips are where they were yesterday so why are they now showing over 0dbs?

For the future: You may want to use the "Dynamics" effect for the master track with limiter set to 0dB and adjusted by compressor. Then it will take care nothing goes over 0dB no matter what.

What average audio level do most users aim for?

I have read Ken Stone's page on audio in FCP, where he recommends an average audio level of -12 dB for most work with DV. Is this what most people here aim for?
I have bought a lot of background music files, and when initially brought in, mostly they stay in the general area of -12 dB, though some are a little louder. When audio from my video footage is added, they almost always go into the yellow and even occasionally into the red areas. There are many booms and explosions in my footage, and these always go all the way into the red area for a second or two. Is this acceptable? If I reduce the volume of these, the booms and explosions get lost in the music.
Thanks for any advice.

Hi Bob,
As far as I know, Apple's reference level is -12db and it's what I think most people target. Audio that goes into the yellow shouldn't be any cause for worry, but material that consistently goes up to or beyond 0db is a problem. For what it's worth, professionals typically target a -20db digital reference level.
In your case you have sound with a wide dynamic range but, since it's booms & explosions, if you're not hearing any noticeable distortion on playback I wouldn't worry about those transient sounds.
You could try reducing your background music level to about -20db and then cut back the level of your booms/explosions a bit to keep them out of the red. Hopefully that way they won't get as lost in the background music.

Audio levels in the Viewer

After recording or capturing an audio clip in FCE 3.5, I play it and monitor levels in the floating levels meter. Then when I open that same audio clip in the Viewer to adjust the level, I find it's is always set to zero db, instead of the level at which the clip was recorded/captured.
Question: Does an audio clip's level in the Viewer always default to zero, regardless of the level the clip was recorded/captured at?
Thanks.

OK.
And, since I don't have an audio levels meter on my camera, I don't really KNOW what level I'm recording at; so, beyond knowing the dynamic range of my equipment, can I assume that after ingesting into FCE, upon playback, if the floating levels meter is not going red, and the waveform in the Viewer is not clipped at the peaks or valleys, that I have good sound?
Thanks.

Why are audio levels limited to 12?

I have never understood why raising audio levels is limited to 12. I end up doubling audio tracks, which still doesn't raise the audio to the desired level, and seems really foolish for a professional program like FCP. Am I doing something wrong?
While I'm on the topic, I aim to peak my levels at -12, but that generally leaves my final product on the quiet side in its final form (generally DVD). Any tips there?
Thanks
Aaron

This is actually kind of tricky. Ever notice how when you import music from a cd you've got to crank the levels way DOWN? This is because the digital realm allows for a lot more perceived volume. And producers, in their wisdom, use every available bit of headroom. Even look at some of the soundtrack loops-- same dealie.
the -12 on the FCP audio scale, of you do out to an analog mixer is understood to equal zero dB ANALOGUE. But you can set the scale any way you want, really. A lot of television stations want a reference tone of -20-- giving you that much more headroom.
So... unless you're going to end up with an analogue master, treat that -12 as a general level, rather than a peak, which could go as high as -3-- although I still like more headroom than that, and try never to peak over -6 for an atomic explosion or some such.
Then you've got to take into account all the subtleties of your mix. A motorcycle passing by is louder than the dialogue, shouting is louder than whispering, foley effects like footsteps ought to be subtle. I could go on and on.
What I think one should strive for is a soundscape with things at a realistic level in relation to each other, with nothing either so low it won't be heard, or so loud that it will clip. Remember that folks can always turn up the volume on their sets, as long as you didn't make it too low.
Am I babbling yet?

Trouble viewing audio levels in Voice Over tool

Hello,
I often record voice over into Final Cut Pro using the Voice Over tool. In the middle section of the Voice Over window there is a 'Level' meter that flashes Green to Yellow and Red, illustrating the level of audio being fed into the Mac. For some reason though, this has stopped working for me.
My set up is this: A Mic in our voice over booth connects to a Soundcraft 4 channel mixing desk via an XLR cable. The mixing desk is linked to a JVC HD tape desk, which is connected to the Mac via FireWire.
Previously, to capture Voice Over I set the tape deck to 'Line' input, in 'DV' mode and set the Voice Over tool to 'DV Audio' as the source.
I can see sound levels on the mixing desk. I can see sound levels on the tape deck, but I can't see sound levels on the Mac's VO tool. Despite this, it does still capture voice over (I just can't 'see' it).
This problem is annoying because it means Im unsure whether the Mac is actually receiving an audio feed or not unless I do a test recording first.
Any suggestions as to why the Voice Over tool would suddenly stop showing me Levels, would be greatly appreciated!

My secondary Mac works fine when the AV settings are set to HDV, despite it receiving standard DV audio input. Whether FCP is set to DV or not doesn't seem to matter in this case.
In trying to resolve the issue I played around with DV/HDV settings within FCP and the Deck; trying different combinations, but with no success.
+To recap (just to clarify in my own head), the situation is this:+
+Both of my Macs, Primary and Secondary, happily record Voice Over, via the Voice Over tool.+
+The Mic in the sound room connects to a Mixing desk via an XLR cable. The mixing desk is also connected to 2 sets of headphones, one for the Artist and one for the Engineer. 2 audio jacks connect the mixing desk to the JVC tape deck. The JVC tape deck connects to my Mac via FireWire to the port at the rear of the Mac.+
+The issue is that the Primary Mac does not display audio Levels in the Voice Over tool, whilst it does on the Secondary Mac.+
+While Im recording Voice Over on my secondary Mac I can see that there is an Audio input because the Green/Yellow/Red bar flashes up. On my Primary mac this bar is inactive and therefore gives me no clues as to the level of audio being fed into the Mac.+

Audio levels on an external monitor vary during playback when using HDMI audio

I've been having issues with movie playback using a large 1080p HDMI TV. During playback the audio level will come in strong, go faint, then go strong again, but not on any sort of pattern I could discern. It did this on three seperate movies legally purchased via iTunes. I get audio and video without trouble, its just the audio goes soft when it shouldn't.
If you remember the VHS days and "MACROVISION" encoding, then you have an idea what it was doing, although it was the audio levels, not the video playback.
Is this a fault of the system, a DRM gremlin, or something else?

I think you may be onto something with the graphics card concept. The problem I am having only exists when I am working on an HD project. When I switched back to DV-NTSC then the monitor is fine during playback.
Yes, I am routing my external monitor through my DV deck, which is not an HD deck - so again, that could be another weak link in the chain.
This is the first HD project that I am editing, so obviously a few kinks still need to be worked out. My internal hard drive has 1.5 gigs of ram but I am not sure what the specs are on the graphics card.

Audio levels on the timeline & Audio Mixer

I'm confused why when you change the audio levels on a clip using the Audio Mixer it changes the levels for everything on the track?
I'm from an FCP & Avid background where you can adjust each clip using the Audio Mixer, is there a way I can do this? I find using the yellow sliders in each clip is very unaccurate and having to open each audio clip in the viewer is such a time waster.
Thanks, Andy

Audio in Premiere Pro is different--but quite a lot, in many circumstances. I'd recommend going through the help file's audio section to get a better idea of what some of the main controls are: Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 & CS5.5 * Editing Audio
But to answer your question more directly: the Audio Mixer controls track volume, not clip volume. By default, the Audio Mixer isn't set to drop keyframes, so it will affect the level of a track as a whole; check out Recording audio mixes to get more background on setting up the Audio Mixer for automation, so that you can record level changes.
The rubberbands (the yellow lines you're referring to) can be more finitely controlled by holding down the Ctrl/Cmd key as you drag; the values will move in smaller increments, then.
You don't have to load a clip into the Source Monitor to adjust the levels, if you want to adjust by the numbers. Just single click a clip in the sequence, and if the Effects Controls panel is forward, you'll be able to adjust the volume with the standard effects sliders/dials. Note that keyframing is enabled by default for the Level property, so if all you want to do is adjust the total level of a clip, it might be faster to do it in the sequence.
Audio mixing in Premiere Pro is pretty capable and the feature set is pretty deep, but I'll grant you it's a little overwhelming coming from a different NLE. I don't know if any of the previous helps you, but post back with any specific questions and we'll try to figure out a way to approach this in a fashion that makes sense to you.

Audio levels low in final cut pro 5

my levells seem low in final cut, tho the master fader of the audio mixer is set to its default zero. I know they are low too because i made omf files from my time line having boosted the levels, which still had to be boosted considerably in the final mix suite. The audio levels on the camera tape were recorded fine. can anyone help?

The audio clip beeps if it is not in the standard format for FCE.
The standard format is PCM Stereo 16bit integer 48kHz.
If the audio is not standard you must render the clip in FCE (Render Only/Item Level or Render All/Item Level) before editing.
The best way in any case is to import audio already standard.
Piero

How do you know the audio level of a keyframes

I'm varying the audio levels of clips on the timeline by creating keyframes using the pen tool. I create four points:
1) -inf = beginning of fade-in
2) -5dB = end of fade-in
3) -5db = beginning of fade-out
4) -inf = end of fade-out
But when I'm going back to adjust points, how do I know what level they're at already without having to drag them away from their home position and then back?
Scrolling over them with the mouse (and not clicking) just gives me a crosshair and no info.
I want to make sure that points 2&3 are at the same level, so I can just move the envelope region between them up and down to change the volume. Any quick way to do this to speed up my process?

T-Bob wrote:
I want to make sure that points 2&3 are at the same level, so I can just move the envelope region between them up and down to change the volume. Any quick way to do this to speed up my process?
Specifically to address this point: if you mouse over the audio levels' rubber band segment BETWEEN your points 2) and 3) until the cursor changes to an up/down adjustment arrow ⬍, and move it up/down, it will adjust BOTH the levels at 2) and 3), maintaining the relative difference between them (or, if points 2) and 3) start at the same level, this adjustment will keep them equal as you drag them both up/down together in one action.)
As usual, much easier to DO it, rather than describe it!

What are the iTunes digital audio levels in and out

I am having a lot of trouble with finding out and setting the audio levels in and out of iTunes.
Digital audio has 16bits at '1' with an analog signal level of +12dB, 24bit has all'1's at +18dB. Making the overhead capability for CD 16bit 12dB and that for HD 24bit 18dB.
I would like to record (using SoundStudio) a set of standard audio tones from 20-20kHz with digital levels of "all 1's" 16bit, or +12 dB analog level, "all 1's" 24bit ditto, and the same for levels of analog 0dB (-12dB digital) for 16bit and 0dB(-18dB digital) for 24bit.
What I am finding is that if I get Sound Studio to inert a tone at what it calls 0dB, save it as AIFF, then the output it from iTunes I get a much higher level, around +8dB or so!
Any ideas?

As an addition to my first question. I asked the makers of Sound Studio about levels. They tell me that the Mac standard is to have all '1's in the digital stream defined as 0dB.
Which helps as I can now record a tone at the CD level of -12dB and the HD audio level of -18dB. And if I make recordings I know to keep the input levels well into the green, not yellow and definitely not up to the red.
As you say the output of iTunes is boosted, and from my measurements this boost is in the analog circuitry and is about +8dB.
I woul dnot recommend turing down the iTunes volume control as this brings in the digital volume reduction, which depends on the algorithm they have implemented. This is not so bad for iTunes as the Audio Core software works at 32bit and can handle 16bit volume changes fairly well. But on the iPad it is different as iOS is only 16bit audio so the volume algorithm is poor. So always leave the volume at maximum and turn down your HiFi volume control!
Or use a digital output to an external DAC as the iTunes volume control is then disabled. Set Audio MIDI for 24bit output and you are ready to go with HD Audio.

Audio level setting for music tracks in dance recital video project

I am editing dance recital using the CD music tracks and editing in the audience clapping, some of the music tracks have lower audio level than others.
I am setting up the audio levels between -3dB (for the lower audio tracks) up to -6dB (for the higher ones) including the audience clapping. I am making the adjustments by listening to the tracks on fixed output volume level.
My question is if the final output (DVD) will have the the same adjusted audio levels I am hearing, or should I just stick to fixed level (-6dB) for all the tracks? If so is -6dB ideal for DVD output?

Thanks for your reply Steve,
I normally watch DVDs on different sound system than the TV, however, from your answer I gather you're setting the master level -18 to -20db. If it is so, are you setting the individual tracks below that, and in my case where the audio levels of the original music fluctuate from high to low, would you set them all on the same level or adjust to hear them out the same?

Master audio level goes "red"

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