How to manually adjust audio level along a track?

ralford wrote on 8/7/2004, 6:17 AM
A recent recording suffered from burst noise interferrence that occurred frequently on the recording. I need to reduce the audio level at those portions of the audio track.

Is there a tool or method to reduce the level only on portions of the audio track. I have found the envelope edit tool, but it appears to be fairly painful to use - click to add a start and an end and then add two more points near the start and end to reduce the middle - as awkward as it is to describe.

I would really appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,

Rusty

Comments

zemlin wrote on 8/7/2004, 6:38 AM
Perhaps it would be easier for you to highlight a section of the track and press S to split. You can now drag the envelope line for that section down. If you want don't want the volume change to be sudden, drag the edges of the new clip out (and/or the originals in) to auto-crossfade from the original volume to the new.

Actually it isn't an envelope line - each event has a GAIN level you can change by clicking/dragging from the top of the event. Don't know the proper "vegas" term.
drbam wrote on 8/7/2004, 6:55 AM
Personally I don't find find using the volume envelope that awkward. If you've never used it before, like any other *new* feature or function, you have to get familar and comfortable with it, but typically I can move through a great deal of volume edit points very quickly. Of course, it helps a great deal and feels less awkward if you expand the tracks you're working with and zoom in closely.

drbam
ralford wrote on 8/7/2004, 8:15 AM
I am glad you don't find it awkward, however that is not very helpful, if you don't mind me saying so. I understand about learning curves and hope to get some hints as to how to expidite that.

I accidentally found that with envelope on, and automation turned on you can move the db slider on the audio track and that will automatically create points and levels on the envelope line. Still difficult to sync with the sound, however that may be inevitable. It does add points "automatically" that can be adjusted later.

Documentation for Vegas is abysmal, imho. Explaining vegas jargon using vegas jargon is unexcusable.

Cheers,

Rusty
adowrx wrote on 8/7/2004, 8:44 AM
The "break point" automation in Vegas is well implemented, especially when compared to cubase, et al. Also, even the quick start manual touches upon most of the basics and you should be able to easily manipulate your loud passages with the advice posted by others.

-jb
mhbstevens wrote on 8/7/2004, 5:54 PM
My dog, Harriet learnt how to apply edit points to a volume envolope while I just took a piss.

Stop panicking, relax, exhale, add an event envolope and play around. Oh look, Harriet just normalized it to -31 db. Good girl Harriet. Down Harriet, down, down.
MJhig wrote on 8/7/2004, 6:36 PM
If the "burst noise interference" is significantly louder than the wanted material then you may be able to set up a compressor/limiter's threshold a couple of dB's lower than the average "wanted material's" peak. This will only reduce the "bursts" close to the wanted material's peaks.

Other than that you must use volume envelopes and go through the effort yourself or pay someone else to do it.

Vegas' envelopes are as easy to use (very to me, but you don't want to hear that) as anyone's software.

If it were me I'd avoid the "bursts" on record, you probably will too now.

MJ
GlenL wrote on 8/9/2004, 11:24 AM
I had the same problem and found QuickEnvelope from the post below. It is pretty handy for setting up four envelope points and then you can drag the center section to the level you need. I hated creating the four points.

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=21&MessageID=265769

Edit: You have to select a region and the track, but you can set up a short cut key very easily to automate the whole scripting process.
PeterVred wrote on 9/8/2004, 11:24 AM
another approach if using Vegas 5;
select volume automation control to ON,
Go thru and do volume changes on the fly with fader...then go back and drag the bars down by hand for exact levels.

I have found the fader to work very accurately though and seldom do i go back and have to hand drag any levels.