I finished editing my video and just want to set the correct audio level for output. I want my video to comply with the industry loudness standard so the level is correct when it is playing back on the net or on TV, not too loud or too low.
Any idea how to achieve that natively in Vegas Pro 19 without having to install 3rd party audio plugins?
Check the Loudness meter. I think you can also create loudness log. Then adjust the volume accordingly.
I usually just open the audio in audio editor. Most of them let you normalise loudness (not peaks). So I just normalise loudness to -23 LUFS or whatever the target is for given platform.
Are you producing your video for internet streaming or broadcast? Two different sets of guidelines. The tools to adjust are already in Vegas.
Are you producing your video for internet streaming or broadcast? Two different sets of guidelines. The tools to adjust are already in Vegas.
This is true.
If you use the Loudness Meters in Vegas then let the project play and check the Integrated loudness.
If you have Sound Forge Pro 15, the 'Normalize' process has a new loudness option in addition to the legacy Peak and RMS normalization. The settings range from -20 to -25 LUFS, with specific settings for ATSC and EBU broadcast loudness. There are (currently) no settings for internet streaming though, which is an unenforced) -14 LUFS for music. YT and most music streaming sites alter submissions (with one-size-fits-all normalization) if it is not within 'spec'.
SFP also has an loudness scan function in the 'Statistics' process readout, which will indicate all the of the file's loudness factors w/o playing back the entire duration in real time, which obviously can be time-consuming obtaining accurate (and all important) integrated LUFS and dBTP factors.
rraud, MAGIX Sound Forge Pro forum moderator
Compress the peaks first so you can normalize and try to get to around -16 LUFS for internet. You can add free or paid VSTs for better compressor and equalizer interfaces than what Vegas has itself. I like Tokyo Dawn ones for free and Izotope RX for paid (Elements is quite cheap, though).
My favorite plugin is Barricade 4 from Toneboosters. You can run it in demo mode forever.
My favourite workflow is to open the audio in Wavelab (audio editor) and run the normalise loudness process. You pick the target loudness, maximum peaks, allowed compression... It's very easy to achieve a specific loudness without having to endlessly tweak plugins and volume...
iZotope's Ozone Elements has an auto loudness normalize option, but it is not accurate on a lot of material since it scans only part of the file to determine the level. The auto EQ function ain't very good either and always wants to add infrasonic and high frequencies (noise) to everything, it is like a one-size fits-all graphical 'smile' EQ. Other than that, I like the EQ's GUI and it sounds decent when adjusted manually.
Thank you very much for everyone. Your feedback was helpful and is very much appreciated.
However I found the fastest and easiest tool for this purpose is a plugin called Youlean Loudness Meter which let you visualize everything in very creative way and it has presets for all loudness standards.
I tried the free version then upgraded to the Pro version.
Watch this video:
I recommend it
I use Youlean as well in Vegas though you still need compression to reduce peaks.
I target -16 integrated LUFS for online delivery.