Default Audio Filters Suggestions

MarcS wrote on 7/26/2004, 1:31 PM

I know how individualized and sophisticated audio filters can be, but can someone provide some rudimentary suggestions on how to use the three default audio track filters (noise, equalizer, and compressor) for:

1) track with speech

2) track with background music

I'd just like some basic rules of thumb...Thanks,

MarcS

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/26/2004, 8:13 PM

Marc,
I NEVER use the noise gate, and so have removed it from my track defaults.
I use the EQ for whatever I need to tweak, but usually it boils down to a slight midrange reduction because of a small bump in our tracking room, and a slight extreme high end boost because I tend to record fairly flat.
Regarding compression, only your ear can help you here, depending on levels recorded and quality of mic, room, and other mitigating factors. Starting dialog at a compression rate of about 2:1 is a good benchmark.
I hope this small bit helps

MarcS wrote on 7/26/2004, 8:17 PM

This is a good start. Is it easy to remove the noise gate from the defaults?

Thanks,

Marc

farss wrote on 7/26/2004, 8:56 PM

Good question!
I've somehow managed to add an FX to the default audio FX chain and cannot see how to get rid of it. No real drama, just a minor PIA.

As to your original question, SPOTS advice is right on, I've not found the noise gate to work very well, maybe I don't understand it but I seem to remember the audio guys saying there's much better ones around.
It really depends on what you're sources are like and what your target output is. For a 30 sec TVC type of thing, I've sent the VO to SF for some serious wave hammering, at other times with really BAD audio from nth generation VHS I've had to EQ all but the speech spectrum out of it.
SPOT may have a better idea on this one but I find when I've got multiple audio tracks and I'm in a hurry the track compressor used as a soft limiter on the audio bus keeps things under control nicely.

Bob.

Spot|DSE wrote on 7/26/2004, 9:38 PM

To change your default FX:
Click the FX button on the track
Insert/delete desired FX from the chain.
Save presets as desired on each effect, save chain
Close FX
Right click the Track Header, and choose "Set Default Track Properties"
This opens a dialog for audio. Check the boxes you'd like set as defaults (all are checked by default) and the click OK. You're done.

I do a lot of Wave Hammering in Vegas, but frankly, I typically use iZotope's Ozone instead, or WAVES UltraMaximizer. Slightly more finicky than Wave Hammer, but greater control. However, for 5.1 mixes, I only use Wave Hammer.

HPV wrote on 7/26/2004, 9:40 PM

Is it easy to remove the noise gate from the defaults?
--------------------------
Left click on the audio track fx icon (in the track header) to bring up the audio fx plug-in window. Right click the noise gate box at the top (plug-in chain). Select "remove". Close the window and then right click the audio track header in a blank area and select "set default track properties". Don't change anything and select OK. Now all new audio tracks will only have track eq and compression in the plug-in chain. You can add things this way also.

Craig H.

TorS wrote on 7/26/2004, 11:46 PM

I've made fx packages with settings that are good starting points for my kind of audio. Unlike the default fxs, when you save a package the settings are preserved. When you apply a package, it replaces the existing fxs. So if you want to create standard treatments of different types of audio - packages is the way to go. And then you need not worry about what's in your default selection because you'll be replacing it anyway.
But I do not believe you can automate the process of making your sound track work. You have to listen to what it says.
Tor

MarcS wrote on 7/27/2004, 7:30 AM

Thanks for the suggestions....MarcS