<span class="s1">Fixing audio is probably the biggest headache in post for many video creators. Bad audio can totally ruin a good video and make it unbearable to watch.
In this article, you will read how to get the best from the audio you have. Read on!
Don’t let bad Audio ruin your video.
Perfect tutorial, every second is designed with a teaching purpose, every action teaches, no wasted dialogue or activity
Very helpful tutorial! You made it simple, concise, and most importantly, you helped me improve my audio! Well done!
Excellent Tutorial, really really helpful! Also thanks for the plugins tips: Izotope and Sidekick. I only use these now. Saved me so much time as I shoot a lot of interviews….
“Quality audio is significantly more vital than the visual components of a video.” Read here why audio is considered more important than video in most projects.
Loading Plugins / Audio Units
The Plugins I use for processing Dialogue and Music are specific for this purpose. They allow additional adjustments for the audio beyond simple plugins.
Disclosure Triangle
Clicking this will reveal the slots to add Plugins
Slots to add Plugins
Now you are ready to add the first plugin
Multiband Compressor
This is the first plugin I use. A Multiband Compressor works with 4 frequency bands / sections and only works on the specific frequency selected without effecting the others. This plugin gives clean and punchy audio
Multiband Compressor
This plugin splits frequency bands into sections so each can be compressed in detail
4 Bands to Compress
As seen above, the Multiband Compressor works with 4 frequency bands / sections
Parametric Equaliser
This is the second plugin I use in the chain. A Parametric Equaliser is so good for sculpting the exact sound you need by adjusting the 5 centre frequency bands, the High / Low shelf on either sides of those centre bands, and the High Pass / Low Pass filters on the ends of the EQ.
Parametric Equaliser
A really good EQ is one of the most important plugins in any audio chain
Sculpting audio
As seen above, the EQ has 5 centre bands, a High / Low shelf, and High Pass / Low Pass filters
Voice De-noise
This is the third plugin I use in the chain. The RX6 Voice De-noise plugin is the best noise reduction plugin I have ever used. It’s so clever how it figures out noise on a variety of material.
Izotope Voice De-noise
This is the best de-noiser I’ve used. This plugin has an Adaptive mode which adjusts noise even if it’s constantly changing!
Izotope Voice De-noise Controls
As seen above, you can change the modes; dialogue or music and adjust how much you want it to effect the audio;Threhold and Reduction
I used a Zoom H4n to record the audio in the video below. To read about how to Connect a Zoom H4n to a Mixer click here OR click on the image below
Cutting a Music file
After I’ve worked on the dialogue section, I start preparing the Music by cutting, looping and processing it.
I don’t use many plugins apart from a Parametric Equaliser (to cut clashing frequencies with the dialogue audio I’m working with) and a Side Chain / Ducking plugin as I did earlier.
Music Preparation
I punch in Markers as the music is playing on the timeline to highlight sections I want to cut and loop
Down Beat
To create good loops in a music file, I always cut on the down beat which is the first and last beats
Colour sections
After cutting the sections, I add colour to them so they’re easy to find
Parametric Equaliser (for clashing frequencies)
This is the only processing plugin I use on the Music audio. I don’t really change the frequencies of the audio as it’s already been mixed by a sound engineer and usually sounds good.
When 2 or more audio files use the same frequency range at the same time, the mix will usually tend to sound ‘muddy’ and unclear. This usually happens with bass playing on top of kick drums but can even happen with files that aren’t bass heavy. So the reason to open up the Equalisers on all audio files playing at the same time is to see and lower certain frequencies
Parametric Equalizer
I use this to see and hear clashing frequencies of all audio that is playing on my timeline
Clashing Frequencies
Looking out for the same frequency range at the same time with both the Dialogue and Music audio
SideKick Extended 6 (Side chaining / Ducking)
This is the last plugin I use on the Music and Dialogue channels.
It doesn’t process audio but more lowers the level of any audio using the levels from another audio. For example, lowering the Music levels when important dialogue is playing. This is known as Side chaining or Ducking (audio ducks to make room for another audio).
This plugin makes it so easy instead of manually adding volume keyframes all through the audio which is so frustrating!
SideKick Extended 6
This Plugin is a real time saver! It needs to be added to both the Dialogue and Music channels
SideKick Extended 6
The Plugin is added on both channels. Notice how the Music is dipping the audio when the Dialogue audio is playing
Izotope Voice De-noise
Audio plug-in and module
SideKick Extended 6
Side-chain / Ducking compressor
Izotope Voice De-noise
Audio plug-in and module
SideKick Extended 6
Side-chain / Ducking compressor
