Why There's Always an Audio fX

john_dennis wrote on 11/4/2023, 9:34 AM

@bitman asked in this thread why I always use an audio fX, while I may not use a video fX on some projects.

I shoot with one camera where I may have very good control of the video, but little to no control over who is next to me and how loud they're shouting.

I usually play my work at home from a media server on a TV that would otherwise be tuned to an OTA ATSC broadcast channel. I don't want a significant difference in audio levels when I play my videos.

I attempt to level my audio program to the ATSC standard.

This is a simple project:

Sometimes they get more complicated with volume envelopes, event level fX and/or annoyance removal in Sound Forge or Isotope RX.

I usually level the audio before I cut the video. I don't like to listen to extremes any more than anyone else.

Comments

Howard-Vigorita wrote on 11/4/2023, 10:51 AM

Video has gotten a ton of operational work-flow improvements in Vegas while audio has gotten none. For instance video has gotten CGP, adjustment events, and adjustment tracks to reduce the tedium of fx-chains, envelopes, and key-frames everywhere. But none of this has changed for audio. Used to be I spent 3x more time editing video for a project compared to its audio. The video workflow is now so streamlined, the tables have turned.

rraud wrote on 11/4/2023, 11:41 AM

FWIW, In 1999 when Sonic Foundry originally published Vegas, it was audio only. Rudimentary video support was added soon after. The basic audio is much the same now as it was back in the Sonic Foundry days. I requested side-chaining and other standard pro audio features numerous times to Sonic Foundry, Sony and Magix, but it never evolved. Winamp's Justin Frankel was so inspired by Vegas, he developed 'Reaper', which has evolved considerably, while Vegas' audio has de-evolved with all the bugs and such.. Just the same, Vegas is my primary DAW.

wwaag wrote on 11/4/2023, 11:55 AM

@john_dennis

I do the same thing--target LUFS of -24. The loudness log tool is invaluable for easily getting the output pretty much the same. Since my productions are for "home use only", I usually adjust the individual audio tracks (e.g. audio from video, voiceover, and music) so they sound about "right" to my ear. I'm sure there are more precise ways, but it works OK for my needs.

rraud wrote on 11/5/2023, 10:19 AM

I use ATSC (or EBU) loudness standards ONLY for broadcast submissions. For streaming locally or on the internet, I use -14LUFS (integrated) for music projects and -16 LUFS for narratives. The broadcast levels are low for home based listening and streaming, other wise the PC' volume would need to 'cranked' which add noise (and unpleasant volume surprises),
-14 LUFS (or thereabouts) is the standard of most music steaming services (Spotify, TIDAL, Apple, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer) and many adjust the loudness arbitrarily after a file is uploaded.

john_dennis wrote on 11/5/2023, 11:17 AM

@rraud @wwaag @Howard-Vigorita

Thank you for adding context to the thread.

Though my levels translate from the usual programs that were watched last at my house, neither Spotify, TIDAL, Apple, Amazon, Pandora, nor Deezer was the last source played. I can see that may not be the case for those who get a copy of my video as their last program watched was likely one of those or Netflix, etc.

"... volume would need to 'cranked' which add noise (and unpleasant volume surprises),"

Since much of my program material is already noise, I don't struggle so much with S/N ratio. Most of my post processing is done to reduce the "unpleasant volume surprises".