How To: Automatically lower instances of loud noises?

[lukem93455533]

I edit FPS video game gameplay which has a lot of volatile sound levels (low db footsteps and interactions mixed with high db gunfire and explosions). I end up manually lowering all the loud parts slightly so it's not as volatile, but this is a very tedious process. I was wondering what the best way is (if at all) to automatically lower these peaks so I don't have to manually do this every time.

[Ann Bens]

Try the Ess sound panel: loudness

[R Neil Haugen]

Both Ann's suggestion and the Dynamics Processing effect can do this ... as well as a couple others that offer gain limiting options. They all work just a bit differently, so you need to try them out.

@PaulMurphy on his The Premiere Pro Youtube channel has a number of vids helping with this, as does 

@Mike Russell on his.

[PaulMurphy · Accepted solution]

What you're describing is called compression.

Try this:

• Add the Tube Modeled Compressor effect to your clip or track.
• Set the Threshold to the point where sounds start getting too loud.
• Increase the Ratio—the higher the ratio, the more it turns down sounds that exceed the threshold.

This should help smooth out sudden loud noises.

[lukem93455533]

The threshold maxes out at 0db, am I missing something? 😅

[PaulMurphy]

In digital audio, levels are measured in dBFS (decibels relative to full scale), where 0 dB is the absolute ceiling—anything louder than that will clip and distort. That’s why a compressor’s threshold doesn’t go above 0 dBFS, there’s simply no higher level to work with.

To set a good threshold, find a quieter part of your recording and check its peak level on the Audio Meters. Try setting your compressor’s threshold around this level—everything louder than that will be reduced based on the Ratio setting (3x1 is a good starting point).