2 identical audio files / 0 db & -12 db / is there a better way to combine them

[James5F93]

I record speeches quite regularly on a wireless microphone that allows me record at 0 dB and -12 dB simultaneously from the same lav mic. If the audio peaks on the 0 dB track, I may fade-switch to the -12 dB track to avoid distorted audio.

I have been syncing the 2 tracks and manually compensating the audio levels through dB keyframes between the 2 tracks whenever it is needed as shown in the attachment. I fade down the dB of the peaking track and fade up the dB of the -12 track under multitrack.

I’d like to keep doing the duo-record and primarily use the 0 dB track with intermittent -12 dB track fixes. I’ve already tried lowering the recording gain level so I never run into peaking issues; however, then I find normalizing the audio necessary and it brings up unwanted noise. Yes, I’m sure I could use NR, normalizing, compression, & EQ effects better, but may this conversation please stick to mixing the two tracks faster & better?

Efficiency & a cleaner way to mix between the 2 tracks is what I’m looking for advice on if there is anything I can learn there.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_ · Accepted solution]

The best long-term answer is to buy a quieter radio mic - I'm presuming that the additional noise is coming from this, because in today's sound devices, recording at -12dB is the norm and doesn't cause any issues. Any signal level increase doesn't invoke any serious additional noise from the sound device you are using; what you are increasing is the noise floor of the device with the lowest dynamic range in the recording chain - almost invariably the transmitter-reciever combination.

But if you go with what you've got, then what I would do for the crossfades will work way better than attempting to draw them by hand, which is amazingly inefficient.

You have both tracks available and synchronised in Multitrack view. When you get to a bit you want to swap, just put a couple of split points around it on both tracks. That's the 'split all clips under playhead' option (Ctrl+Alt+Shift+K, although if I was going to use it a lot, I'd alter that for an easier shortcut!). Now you can delete the overloaded clip and drag the quieter version up into its place, and just alter the clip level to where you want it to be*. Then just use the clip drag handles to put a short crossfade at each end. Takes less time to do than it does to describe, and works a treat. You have everything you want on one track, and all you have to do is a mixdown with the -12dB track muted. Job done.

(* The easiest way to do this is to keep the Properties window open with Basic Settings showing - the clip gain for just the clip you've highlighted is there.)

[James5F93]

Thank you so much, super helpful in more than 1 way!