Help needed with TrackFX

jwestby wrote on 11/5/2004, 12:44 PM
Here's the situation... I'm editing a number of teaching series (talking head) recorded at multiple locations using lavalier audio and various levels of compression/EQ. I've developed a pretty good mix of graphic dynamics settings, and my plug in chain is as follows...

First, I set the normalize switch on the track, which is already a monaural source, then I go to the Track FX and add the following:

Graphic Dynamics :: Soft noise gate below -36dB
Track EQ :: Generally rolling off <100Hz with minor drops/boosts @ 160Hz & 1.2KHz, w/a slight shelf boost 5.1-20KHz for presence.
Graphic Dynamics :: Maximize Volume (-12 dB w/Gain compensation)
Graphic Dynamics :: Limit levels to -6 dB (hard limiter)

The only problem is, I'm still getting clipped audio (1-5dB over) which for the render back to .avi or .mpg2 for DVD and final DVCAM mastering is unacceptable. I've yet to find a peakstop limiter setting that will absolutely limit anything at or above 0dB. I'll commonly find this in outboard compressor/limiter gear, but I've not been able to dial this in using Vegas.

I use envelopes only for pops, clicks, thumps, and when the speaker accidentally 'breathes' the mic, and the dynamic processing seems to even out the rest, but I'm still getting overlimited signals.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-jw-

Comments

Youn wrote on 11/5/2004, 1:24 PM
There are a couple of things you could do:

You could lower the level of everything either track-by-track or, if you are adventurous, via master fader. If you have the newer version of Vegas you can even automate this using envelopes.

Alternatively, you can apply a compressor to the Master Bus, or, if you have it, you can use Sony's WaveHammer plug-in there which is also a peak limiter (and with this you can also easily push the levels higher if you really need it hot!)
teaktart wrote on 11/6/2004, 12:26 AM
Hi,
I have a similar question....

I have several live music audio recordings made with a mic and mini-disc or with my video shoot.
I load this into Vegas.
I then end up making a copy in Sound Forge so I can "massage" the audio to get a better quality sound. I would like suggestions on what order of effects to use. Would love to hear some ideas....

Do you EQ first, and why?
Dynamics next?
Wave Hammer?
and then Normalize?
As per the question above is "Normalizing" a first, middle, or final step in mixing audio?

I really had an eye opening experience messing with the Wave Hammer for the first time when I could both amplify the volume and also keep it from clipping.
One problem with recording sitting in an audience is the clapping can be very loud compared to the performance and its been a challenge to find a way to even out those volume discrepancies without spending hours tweeking each section by "hand". This is where understanding the different effects can do the job almost automatically.

Teaktart
pwppch wrote on 11/6/2004, 3:32 PM
With out seeing your project or the media, my guess is that the track levels (or rather peaks of the tracks) is causing the clipping at the master bus.

Mixing/processing at the track level does not control the "mix" at the mixer level. You are controlling the "input" to the mixer, not the mixer's output.

If you are mixing multiple tracks, do your limiting, and perhaps your dynamics, on the master or a sub bus if you have multiple source tracks you are mixing.

My basic rules of thumb.

Use track FX to fix/adjust/change things on a track that are unique to the track. (EQ, Amp distoritions, dessing.)
Use Bus FX to fix/adjust things at the output stage of the bus. Limiting, compression, "wave hammering"
Use Assignable FX to provide a 'common" FX to multiple tracks. Reverbs, choruses.

Of course each project and mix is unique, but this is how I tend to approach a mix. More out of habit from my old days of not having the physical numer of FX available in hardware that we are all so spoiled with today as software plugins.)

Peter