Media Skills

AUDIO EDITING

Audio & Video

Good quality audio will boost any piece of video footage, poor quality audio will reduce the perceived quality of even the most beautifully shot footage.

There are contexts in which video dance can be produced with the absence of sound such as for certain instillation settings, there may be a conceptual reasoning, for viewing on phones where you expect the audience are watching without sound, etc

The majority of time however sound is not only expected, it forms an integral part of the storytelling.

Audio Sources

Your video soundscape can consist of many elements such as pre-recorded music, voice or sound elements, live sound captured on the shoot, foley, sound effects or music composed in response to the edited footage.

These elements are usually layered together as part of the video editing process in order to build the audio world or your film.

Audio Syncronisation

When audio has been recorded live using a separate audio source from your camera, these clips will need to be synced with the video clips in your video editor.

Some editing software will have the ability to synchronise the audio quickly and efficiently by reading the audio waves from both sources and linking them together.

Where this option is not available, you will have to do this visually by looking at the waveforms and listening as you watch, making micro adjustments to the placement of the sound source until they are aligned.

Both of these options are helped by a loud 'clap' when recording, but where this is not possible, look for key audio moments to guide you along.

You will usually then reduce the volume of the original sound source, but not always.

Volume & Balance

I usually edit with my computer volume down at around half. I want the volume to be comfortable and clear at this level so that there's room to lift or lower the audio for playback on alternative devices. I also edit with headphones the majority of the time in order to hear everything in detail. I will playback on speakers and on other devices when the project is nearing completion to double check the overall balance.

You want to make sure all elements are clear and audible, for example background music should not overpower any important voice elements.

You don't want to be straining to hear important audio elements and you definitely don't want to damage your audience's hearing with blaring volumes.

Too Quiet

Optimal Volume

Too Loud - Yellow and red indicate peaking

Fades

On the whole, changes from audio states and environments should happen gently. Sudden audio cuts can feel quite jarring, which could be used for creative effect of course, but for wouldn't be recommended general editing purposes.

Using fades will assist with the flow of your video, particularly at the beginning and end of your video.

Ideally you should have permission to use any audio files that you bring into your project.

As well as recording your own, there are host of platforms which offer free to use music, sound effects, text, etc which you can use in your videos. Pixabay, freesound.org, youtube audio library, etc

Sometimes your editing software itself will provide a library of free audio you can use in your projects.

DaVinci Sound Library

The DaVinci Sound Library exits on each mac in the 'Shared' folder so it is available for all the users.

To 'Add Library' browse the folder:

Computer > Users > Shared > Fairlight Sound Library > Media Files

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