Setting audio envelope points - a faster way?

JAP wrote on 11/19/2010, 1:04 AM

I have quite a stretch of video where one voice is loud (nearer the cam) and the other - a child - is faint. For each instance of the latter (and there are many), I'm having to right click four times to insert the required four audio points to raise the volume band just for those sections.

Is there a faster way to do this than right clicking to create the edit points on the volume envelope? (I've searched Help and the Forums.)

Can you perhaps 'copy' the two nodes needed for each section so they could be 'pasted' at each future point? (If there was an option to insert two points for every one right mouse click, that would halve the effort. A suggestion for a future version?)

Having been a previous Premiere Elements user, I remember being able to do this with far fewer clicks and feel sure that VMS10 HD must have some way of making this workflow smoother.

Comments

jetdv wrote on 11/19/2010, 8:19 AM

This works in Vegas Pro so I'm not sure about VMS

1. Create a region that you want louder. Then click and drag upwards to increase the volume inside the region. That creates two points at the beginning and end of the region adjusting the sound only in that region.

2. Hold down the shift key and "draw" the volume envelope the way you want it.

Alternately, you might try using something like a compressor to lower the loud parts and raise the soft parts.

TOG62 wrote on 11/19/2010, 8:54 AM

I couldn't get either technique to work in VMS 10. I do find compressor works well in this type of situation though.

musicvid10 wrote on 11/19/2010, 9:34 AM

As an aside, the automation envelopes in Vegas Pro are a lifesaver if you are an experienced realtime audio editor. First pass is a rough mix, then you can go through and tweak the points a levels for a perfect mix.

On the other point, I recommend Wave Hammer over the normal track compressor for this kind of leveling. Once one gains some real-world experience, some very professional sounding mixes are the reward.

JAP wrote on 11/19/2010, 1:26 PM

Thanks, all. I hadn't thought of using the compressor, having never tried one before and, will give it a go.

Does anyone know of a good tutorial on using it? (I'm certainly no pro, just a keen family amateur over about 12 years, from Pinnacle's Studio 7 up to VMS HD.) There's nothing under 'compressor' in the VMS helpfile.

dalemccl wrote on 11/19/2010, 5:20 PM

jetdv posted: "This works in Vegas Pro so I'm not sure about VMS

1. Create a region that you want louder. Then click and drag upwards to increase the volume inside the region. That creates two points at the beginning and end of the region adjusting the sound only in that region.

2. Hold down the shift key and "draw" the volume envelope the way you want it."

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I did not know about these two techniques, but just tried them in VMS 10 HD Platinum and both worked. That's good to know for future reference. Thanks. And the OP might want to try these techniques.

TOG62 wrote on 11/20/2010, 1:30 AM

1. Create a region that you want louder. Then click and drag upwards to increase the volume inside the region. That creates two points at the beginning and end of the region adjusting the sound only in that region.

I must be doing something wrong but I can't get either technique to work. Can you elaborate a bit please. Does this work on any track? Where do you draw or drag?

JAP wrote on 11/20/2010, 10:43 AM

Many thanks JETDV! Have just tried it and, after getting it wrong the first time, it does work very well. And much faster than all the clicking! Just what I was looking for.

I'd still be interested in any tutorials anyone could recommended on using a compressor, though, not having tried one before.

jetdv wrote on 11/21/2010, 5:44 AM

Tog62, I don't know what versions contain what options but here's another explanation on how this works:

1. Make sure you have a volume envelope on an audio track. Create a selection area somewhere on the timeline where you want the audio changed. Now click on the volume envelope inside that selection area and drag up or down. It will adjust the volume ONLY in that selection area (if your version supports it).

2. Put your mouse over the volume envelope line. Now hold down the SHIFT key. Then click and move the mouse up and down as you move it right and you will "draw" the new shape for the envelope.

TOG62 wrote on 11/21/2010, 12:21 PM

Thanks. It was the volume envelope that I was missing.