Auition altering audio levels after render 5.1

[pwoblem]

Hey,

So i'm comparing the sound levels of a feature from my project file to the rendered file, and its pretty clear audition somehow is altering the audio levels? The center channel is about 2db louder after rendering, left right is about 3 db lower, so all of a sudden the film is really center heavy. Does anyone have experience with this and if there are any information about what exactly is happening here?

I have searched the web but cannot find anything regarding this. I can only find information on what level adjustments are applied during the stereo mixdown, but nothing on this topic. Either I would need to gain-compensate befor rendering, or how to turn this "feature" off.

Why the heck is random problems like this keep happening with audition.... 

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

What do you have the Multitrack Default panning mode set to?

[pwoblem]

-3db Center, but thought the panning law was only applied to Stereo project files?

Ps. impressive to see how fast you answer my rather complicated topics Steve, thanks for this!

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

I wouldn't be too sure about that... (although I haven't tried it). Unfortunately you can't just change the pan law to find out - you have to start a new session with the different settings (or get Suitespot to come up with an alternative). The whole situation regarding surround panning is a bit muddled. I have it on good authority (one of the developers) that the panning laws in Audition and Premiere are different and not compatible, and that panning information between them is - basically, screwed.

Going back to when you did your export to a rendered file, have you checked all of the individual rendered track levels compared to the same tracks in Multitrack view? Are the level differences similar?

[pwoblem]

Yeah I hear you. And to make matters worse, i do actually import the rendered track into a empty multitrack project and listen to it there. Perhaps the panning law does apply once again after importing? Why do adobe do these kind of things. I will make a experiment using pink noise now. I will update you with the results in a bit!

[pwoblem]

I did a small test, looks like it was my spotting-session which threw all the levels after reimporting the rendered track to another multitrack timeline. See below.

First measurement, in the main project file with static pink noise:

After rendering and re-importing it to adobe audition multitrack. Gain from C speaker has been adjusted +2db. Gain for L/R has been lowered -2db. However...

Checking the same file in waveform view and just playing it from there (which prevents me to sync it to picture) does actually nothing with the levels. It seems that audition, upon importing the files to the timeline in multitrack view does in fact apply the panning law in this matter. +2db center and -2db left right (aswell as Ls Rs).

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

That is what I feared...

[pwoblem]

I'm back again with yet another rendering question. I'm working on the fold down stereo mix now, and whenever i do render as a stereo fold audition does probably apply the dolby fold down standard values:

L + (–3 dB × C) + (–3 dB × Ls)

R + (–3 dB × C) + (–3 dB × Rs)

However, this time i'm manually folding down all sounds (actually removing Ls Rs ambiences etc), but i will still be within a 5.1 project file. How do i get around Audition applying these level adjustments if there are no levels from Ls Rs and C to even mixdown? Steve? 😉

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Have you tried setting the panning law to L/R Cut (logarithmic)? There isn't anything else you can alter.

The usual thing to do if you want tracks to end up at a fixed level is to record some tone on the start of the track at the level you want. When you've finished doing whatever you're doing, then you look at how the tone level has altered, and adjust the track level accordingly.

[pwoblem]

Hey Steve!

I did this, and i used a 2pop at -10db, after rendering in "Stereo" setting, the beep ended up measuring -19,7db(!!). There is no way I can compensate the master fader with +9,7db without distorting (or crunching against my brickwall) during alot of scenes. perhaps i will have to boost up the level of the exported 5.1 track instead..