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WEEK 6 - Audio

Audio Post-Production

The Basics

Once you have brought your interview or dialogue footage into your editing timeline, there are a few basic steps to finishing your audio:

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1) Be sure you have dialogue on both channels of your video.  If you use an external microphone (lavalier, shotgun), many cameras will only record the audio onto one channel. In FCPX it is very simple to turn your single audio track to play in both channels by switching your audio to "dual mono".

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2) Set your levels so your dialogue audio sits around -12 to -6

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... and thats it! Want to get fancy?

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3) Add a bit of EQ to roll off the low end and drop a bit of the highest end (very light - if it affects the voice, its too much). Then use your discretion to improve the sound of the audio. Rarely will you want to adjust more than 2 or 3 dB.

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4) Add a limiter to even out your audio levels. Generally there is a standard setting for "vocals" that will get you close - if not right on.

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IMPORTANT - use any effects LIGHTLY. We all know what the human voice sounds like ... it should sound exactly like you recorded it. If you start making too heavy of adjustments you can make a voice sound very odd.

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Links for more information and inspiration 

B and H

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Some great tips from B and H.

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Starting with  the very basics (he talks about organization so you know I'm going to recommend it)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yURssWxRP1c

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and getting more advanced:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFKfIKRBfdo

 

 

This Guy Edits

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This guys got a great channel for editing tips. Here he brings in some experts to really work the audio:

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Notching out unwanted frequencies can be a really powerful way to improve audio - and fix issues. Here's how:

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy31jShyKEY

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Sundance Winning sound designer talks audio. Pretty advanced, but it's fun to see how the masters work.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb2RRoEt4_M

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Audio Issues?

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Here is an option for dealing with audio issues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OJOw8xyuns

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..........

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Now it's your turn

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Any good audio tutorials you've found?

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Link them on our Facebook Page at:

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/ABvideotraining/

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NEED CAMERAS AND GEAR?

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Don't forget, cameras and gear are still available for you to borrow.

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Use the camera reservation calendar on the website. Once your camera is reserved. Send me a text to confirm.

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