Sound often seems like a spooky task. It can feel like you're going into it blind :) but you're not! Sound is very easy.
Here's a no pressure crash guide to all the essential funtions of sound in video. All tips will be from the adobe suite, however any NLE will have the functions you'll need.
Mixing is the stage in audio editing focused on keeping everything at the right volumes. Mixing will make your sound feel both plesant to listen to and allow listeners to hear every element of your soundscape.
You can adjust your mix in a couple of ways, likely your NLE will have an option called "Audio Gain" when you right click an audio clip. You may also choose to drag the horizonal line on your clips to adjust gain as well.
The following elements should live around these ranges...
- Dialouge | -3db to -12db
- Sound Effects | -8db to -24db
- Music | -18 to -38db
- Ambient/Room Tone | -30db to -40db
All ranges are subject to some wiggle room so play around and find out what you like.
Noise Reduction is the process of removing unwanted sounds from a soundscape. These are all the things that you don't want your listeners to hear, Air Conditioners, Refridgerators, traffic, wind, you name it. If you don't want it, get rid of it!
Noise Reduction will typically be an effect in your effects panel, likely under a section called "Audio Effects" in Premiere, you're looking for "De-noise". De-noise operates on audio frequencies, you essentially tell Premiere which noise you don't want and it will cut out it's frequency whenever it detects that noise.
Personally, I find "De-noise" to be a little weak, I'd recomend right-clicking on the audo clip you're working with and sending it over dynamic link to Adobe Audition (Adobe's dedicated sound tool) The general process is the same, except this time we'll use hot keys!! Once you send it to audiotion, select a portion of the clip that is only noise. once you select the noise, enter "SHIFT + P" to capture a noise print of the clip. Enter "CTRL + SHIFT + P" to open the noise reduction panel. from there simply hit the "Select entire clip" button so that the de-noising will be applied to the entire clip. play with the Noise reduction and Reduce by sliders. Aim for the lowest level of change as the more extreme the more destructive the effect becomes.
Keep in mind! Noise Reduction, as well as other audio effects, are considered "Destructive". This means that these audio effects may seriously alter the audio clip and cause unintended effects like frequency changes, distortion, artifcating, intensity, etc. Luckily we live in the world of NLEs so you always have an undo button. Add audio effects responsibly but also have some fun and break things too :)
Audio Transitions are a lot like video transitions. They are methods to ease cut between clips. Typically, cuts in sound are experienced WAY POORER than cuts in image. It's best to avoid any and all perceived cuts in sound as these feel like mistakes and call attention to the soundscape. To do this we will use Audio Transitions.
here are the three most used transitions...
- Constant Gain
- Exponetial Fade
- Constant Power
Constant Gain
Constant Gain will bring the first clip and second clip up to the same place in your mix so prevent a difference in loudness during the cut. This effect is useful in certain situations but can be seriously jarring in certain situtations. Only use on similar clips.
Exponetial Fade
Exponetial Fade is sort of the opposite of Constant Gain. It exonetially decresses the Loudness of the first and second clips to nothing during the cut and raises the second clip's loudness to what you have it mixed to. This effect is great for a quick reset, it stops all momentum which is good in very certain situations and becomes incompatible when there is image on screen as it will make the audio cut very noticable.
Constant Power
Constant Power is my lord and savior. It saved my cat from a burning plane wreck. Constant Power is by far the most advanced effect as it matches the loudness of both clips and plays their audio over each other. I find this effect is usually what I want in 99% of situations. It smoothes over the cut so we hear both clips but never really hear when each clip starts and ends. Trust in Constant Power and you will be very happy.
Thank you for clicking through my little Sound Guide :)) I have a few more tips to share
Sound is the intuitive side of your video. It digs straight to your listener's subconcious and informs their emotions throughout your piece. That being said your job is "vibes" when image is more focused on "thoughts". Not to say sound is brainless, but your top priority will usually be ensuring your audience is feeling what they need to be to make image and other elements "knock em dead".