Mismatched audio levels on export

Forgive me if this has been answered, but I've been searching for the answer and cannot seem to find it here.
I have two projects that are essentially the same. Both are templates for a news teaser that we create every day (there are actually seven). One of them, however, consistenty exports with a lower audio volume than all the rest, and I can't figure out why.
I'm using Stereo channel configuration for all projects.
The volume levels are exactly the same in every corresponding clip within each project.
All projects are using the ProRes codec for audio rendering.
Even the audio meters show consistent levels.
The disparity appears ONLY after exporting, and it is the exact same project every time.
Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts?

Try to re-drag the audio file into the project. FCPx is really bad with audio. Many times after altering levels, say lowering by 6db... Then dragging the slider back to 0db will STILL playback @ negative 6db.
Re-dragging the soundclip to the timeline normally fixes this. Sometimes I even have to create a new project, and copy paste from culprit to new project.
If you are using .CAF files on ML you are asking fro trouble as OS X cannot handle those files properly. The way to deal with those are to open them in Logic Pro (if you have it) and export the file to WAV

Similar Messages

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.

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!!

Quicktime Pro doesn't hold audio levels when exporting (or "sharing").

I just upgraded to Quicktime Pro for one reason only: to add my music to an exsisiting video (that has it's own embedded dialog track) and posting to a webpage for review. Adding my music is easy. Setting the level of my music is easy. Saving and reopening with everything intact is easy. The problem is when exporting to another format. I've been choosing the preset called "Braodband Medium". It's the h.264 codec and AAC audio etc...
After the export, my music level has been "bumped up" to 100% - drowning out the dialog track. I've tried it on 3 different Macs with the same result. Does anyone else have this problem? It seems like a glaring problem that needs fixing.

Confirmed.
Export your original two track file to your required settings (Broadband Medium), add (scaled to selection) your second audio track, make the volume setting adjustments (Movie Properties window) and Save As.
QuickTime files can have up to 99 tracks.

Audio levels when exporting a video.

Hi,
I am not really a video person (hence the reason for this question) so please ignore my ignorance. With new broadcast standards introduced as of the 1st Jan 2013 in Australia we are providing all our audio to video production houses with the correct level, however somewhere in their editing process the levels of these audio files are changing (usually lower) so they are then not compliant. This seems to be happening mostly with adobe premiere. What is the best adivce I can give them so that the audio we provide to them is the same from when they import into adobe to when the video is finalized,
Thanks

The best advice is to tell them their work is coming back non-compliant and you can't have that. Let them figure out why and solve it. (That's is part of their job, after all.)

Normalize audio level (during export to AC3 audio) -- what should it be?

Hi. New to STP (v3) in general.
Someone recommended, when I reported having issues with my burned DVDs stuttering at certain places, consistently, to both use a constant bit rate for video when encoding an MPEG2, as well as making the audio an AC3 file at 256K.
Using soundtrack pro, the 256K part I can figure out. What I'm worried about is this option (that you can't seem to bypass completely) called "dialog normalization". I have no idea what that should be set at. It defaults to -27. Now, I do all the audio work in the original edit, so I don't want this encoding to do any additional normalization. So what's the deal?
If it matters, my file that will be encoded is an uncompressed (in DV terms) AVI that was edited and rendered on a PC. I know this is not optimal for Macs, but I know it can work. So the video will be made MPEG2 with DVD studio, and I want to encode the audio as AC3, at 256K. Just for safety. These are film festival screeners, so the quality doesn't have to be maxed out.
So, where do I want this "dialog normalization" set to? In the original film, most sounds are between -18 and -6 dB, generally, rarely approaching 0. This particular film is a toughie here because there's little dialog period, mostly sound FX and music.

Dialog norm shouldn't be confused with Normalization as it is usually used.
Dialog norm is metadata popularized in AC3 (Dolby Digital) files in an attempt to have the DVD player adjust its volume so that every DVD has the same loudness. If you know the [LEQ(m)|http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/techlibrary/34_TV_LoudnessAES.pdf] of your track, then you should set the dialog norm to that level. LEQ(m) is a measurement of "loudness equivalence". It's invented by Dolby, but they and many others are pushing it as a way to equalize the listening experience in the face of louder and louder sounding mixesl The setting of -27 is the default setting. Unfortunately the only way to measure LEQ(m) is with an [expensive box from Dolby|http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/techlibrary/123_pa_br_0206Model737.Spec.pdf]. There is [software|http://www.channld.com/audle.html] that will measure [LEQ(a)|http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=leq(a)&ie=UTF-8& oe=UTF-8], but that may be slightly different than LEQm. It might be good enough for non-broadcast.
I haven't used the STP AC3 tools, but I have used Dolby encoders in other software. If you don't know what you're doing, I would recommend setting it to OFF or -32 (if that is the highest number available). That way the DVD player will play your track at its full volume without any attenuation.
Here is a short excerpt from the [Metadata pdf|http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/techlibrary/18Metadata.Guide.pdf] available at dolby Labs.
+The dialogue level parameter (aka dialogue normalization or dialnorm) within the Dolby+
+Digital stream provides a normalization value to the home decoder. This value lowers the+
+volume of the audio to a preset level, which aids in level matching from program content+
+to program content and media to media. The setting of this dialogue level parameter is+
+crucial to the proper operation of home decoders and provides three main functions:+
Dolby has [tons of information|http://www.dolby.com/resources/tech_library/index.cfm] if you want to educate yourself.
Hope that helps,
jim

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

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 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..

Audio levels go wacky when I export to AIF file?

I am working on a 13 minute multitrack project in Soundtrack Pro. I went through and set all the levels, then I export it to an AIF file and put it back into my Final Cut Pro project. Once I export, there are three scenes in which the audio levels go completely wacky - some places are at a lower level than what I set and other places are at a higher level than I set. I then go back into STP and when I listen back at those scenes these new wacky levels show up in STP. I then close STP and reopen and lo and behold the levels I orginally set (that I was very happy with) are back in place like nothing ever happned.
Some notes on what it might have to do with: All three of these scenes were shot using 2 Lav mics. These were each set into it's own channel on the Handy recorder. In STP, each lav channel is in it's own track. The audio level settings that I like for these two channels are very different (one actor was much quieter than the other). It almost seems as if in the export STP wants to put Channel 2 at the same level I have Channel 1 - which I don't want.
I have been spinning my wheels for hours trying to fix this. Anybody out there have any ideas or solutions or workarounds?
Much obliged for any help!
Michelle

This problem has also been plaguing me today. Here are my specifics and how I solved it (Expanding on what Quentin Holmes mentioned)
CONFIRMED WORK AROUND! The .m4v file gets created while encoding, but Adobe Media Encoder does not re-pack it back into the .mp4 unless you select the "Export Audio" in Adobe Premier export prior to queuing. If you don't want audio, mute the individual tracks and still export audio.
My details:
Just bought a GH4, shooting 4k 25fps MOV, trying to simply trim a few clips and export them as H.264 .mp4 with no audio. (By the way it would be nice if we could export 4k .MOV files from the camera back into .MOV once finished editing, but in premier that frame resolution is not supported)
Specs: Mac Mini, Quad Core i7, 16GB Ram, OSX 10.9.4, Adobe Premier Pro CS6 6.0.5, Adobe Media Encoder 6.0.2.81
Hope that helps anyone with the same prob

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

Adj. audio levels - transparent to DVD Studio Pro

I've reviewed posts about audio levels and I understand it must be done outside DVD Studio Pro. I've run into several work-flow bumps that pose these questions...
When I use an app to raise or lower the audio level when I "Save As" or export to match the original parameters (48k, 16bit, Stereo, big endian) DVD Studio Pro will reject the new file (that has been used in the project already) with this error msg.... "file no longer uses a supported graphics format"
What is the fastest and most transparent way to change audio levels? (to aviod this rejection by DVD Studio Pro?) Ideally one would simply "Save" after the adjustment vs Save As or export.
On a related score, other apps allow you to substitute assets. So provided the running time and basic (audio) parameters are the same, can one do this in DVD Studio Pro?
In my haste for a solution in a simple dvd demo reel I was making I was willing to trash the pair of quicktime files (m2 & aiff) after manually purging them form the project, then re-importing and reassigning a new pair that included the adjusted audio. Even in a simple project this workaround was no fun. Suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Paul

As this "imported" file is the only thing in it, I'm not sure what multitrack means in this example but I'll experiment. When you say "editor in a new tab" I wish I understood what this "editor" tab is as it does not appear in the pdf manual. Is there another name for this tab-window? Exporting the multitrk proj would put me in the same mismatch pickle I was in to start with.
Thanks,
Paul
This is strange. Are you viewing it in a "multitrack"
project? Once double-clicked on, the file should open
in the editor under a new tab, which has the same
name as the file. In this editor you can perform
whatever is necessary. If this continues to fail, try
exporting the multitrack project with the same name
and file type as the original to replace it. That
will work also. Hope it works this time.
-Filman

Is there a way to find peak audio level?

I'm using FCE 4 and I am trying to adjust the audio level on a number of tracks. In most of the I can do it without problem using Normalization Gain, but one track refuses to adjust. From what I have read it could be because there is a peak (audience clapping) at the end of the track. If I split the track into a different clip item, should that work? or is there a way of finding out where a peak is without listening to the entire track? I saw something like that but it may have only applied to FCP.

I don't believe that there's a way to find the peak (or peaks) within FCE. But if the track isn't normalizing then there should be at least one peak somewhere.
However, I have experienced audio anomalies when playing back and when exporting content with four to six audio tracks: at certain moments, the volume rises abruptly, even though such a volume increase is not present in any of the audio tracks. Perhaps FCE is incorrectly "reading" a volume increase at a certain moment, thus interpreting it as a peak, and therefore "deciding" that normalization is not possible.
By the way, my solution for fixing the audio anomaly that I mentioned above was to process my audio in an external editor, as I simply could not get FCE to handle it properly, even after trashing my preferences files, trashing all of my render files, creating a new Sequence and copying my clips to it, etc.

Mismatched audio levels on export

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