2 Replies Latest reply: Nov 15, 2010 9:12 AM by Bill Hunt RSS

    Complimiting Audio Track

    theGadgetGuy Community Member

      I find I am stumped as to how to compress & limit an Audio Track for an entire project.  I have a three hour video completed but with some variations in the audio levels of the individual segments produced.

       

      I want to apply a Audio effect to the entire track to equalize volume levels.

       

      I assumed that selecting Dynamics in the Audio Mixer Effects panel would do the job, but I find that nothing seems to happen (assuming that one can preview the effect results by playing the Timeline).  I have tried other effects (such as Pitch Change that might be more obvious to hear, but they seem to do nothing too).

       

      I notice in the Help documentation that the small "f" icon (highlighted by orange outline below) is grayed out on my control panel, but is dark black in the documentation.  I'm assuming that this may be the source of the problem, but can discover no way to "enable" functionality.

       

      11-15-2010 11-05-02 AM.png

      What do I need to do to make the Track Effect functions work, or am I on the wrong track here and mislead by attempting to preview things, when that functionality is just not available?

       

      Also when an Effect is selected the control knob at the bottom of the function window shows a setting number but no more.  Many of the effects are not truely described by just a number, for instance the "EQ" effect has many band selections.  If one selects "Mid1 Gain" what does that means?  That is how/where is "Mid1" defined and/or changed?

       

      Thanks.

        • 1. Re: Complimiting Audio Track
          theGadgetGuy Community Member

          Got it!

           

          My "f" icon is still dimmed, but it seems to make no difference.  I discovered that right-clicking on the effect name in the Effects Panel caused a pop-up menu with an "Edit" choice that allowed one to set the effect parameters.  When I got things set up correctly, the effect seems to be working and previews fine.

           

          I have achieved a nicely equalized volume track.

           

          There is no mention of this "right-click" functionality at all in any of the doco I have found.  Seems a shame to keep such critical and important control a secret!!!

          • 2. Re: Complimiting Audio Track
            Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

            Glad that you found it.

             

            Some things do seem to remain a secret, and often one has to go on a "pixel hunt" for the right spot to either Click, or Rt-click, or Alt-click, or Shift-click, or hold your head just right, close your eyes tightly and Dbl-click. Sometimes I get lost and cannot remember if I need to Alt-click, or Shift-click something, so just try each..

             

            Good luck,

             

            Hunt