Audio Help

ZombieApocalypse wrote on 3/13/2013, 6:39 PM

Hey guys. Not sure if this is the place to post this, but I desperately need help. I have a music track and a vocal track (For an interview) in my project. I'm trying to figure out how to make the volume for the music track fade down to a lower volume when the person talks, then fade back up again when she is finished. I believe, correct me if I'm wrong, this is called a curve point? Could someone please help me? Thank you.

Comments

Gorf wrote on 3/21/2013, 7:14 AM

Select the music track and go to the effects tab, audio effects, general

Enter 99% on the volume - you see the volume effect appear on the effects list, but it's an insignificant change with regard to its actual effect on the audio. Click the eyeball to enable the effect curve for the volume effect. You can now modify the curve based on the amplitude of the other audio track. If you enable the waveform in the speech track, you can do the adjustments by eye, rather than having to listen to it repeatedly.

terrypin wrote on 3/22/2013, 4:46 PM

Right-click the vocal clip and click Volume Reduction. Then choose the appropriate dB reduction. For all subsequent operations (assuming you want the same setting) use the hotkey Alt+Shift+L.

Or for better quality: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MEP-VolumeReduction.jpg

--
Terry, East Grinstead, UK

Scenestealer wrote on 3/23/2013, 1:09 AM

Hi ZA

There is a function in MEP called "Ducking" in the advanced settings section of Audio Recording where you can select to automatically lower the other tracks each time you speak but unfortunately there is no facility to do this with pre recorded voice on the video clip. Something I have long wished for, but probably a little difficult to implement as there is always some sound present on the whole clip and MEP would have to be able to recognise voice only.

There is a facility called "automatic track damping" (Alt+L) that will fade down and up the audio of the track below the clip, to a selectable preset level but it affects the lower track for the whole duration of the upper track, not just when someone speaks. This sort of helps if you have cut the upper track into takes, and as it adds a "volume track curve" with set points to the lower track, these can be added to or customised at will, along the timeline. Just take care to do this part after the upper track is completely edited as unfortunately the set points do not move if you move or add or subtract material in the video track above, or move the music track.

Simplest in the end might be similar to what Gorf has suggested, but just right click the music track and select "Volume Curve" and this will add a green line near the top of the audio track at 0db - double left click on this to create a curve point (Keyframe) and drag the green box that appears up or down or along the track to set a volume change. Setting another point further along and adjusting, will create a volume fade or transition.

NB. This volume curve will stay with the clip if it is moved - unlike the track cuve.

Cheers