Sound level automatization

[Anita Puchała]

Is there any way to automate audio leveling in Adobe Premiere? I used the Auto-match option in the Loudness panel in Essential Sound, but it doesn't work. I want the entire audio waveform of the files on the audio tracks to have a specific loudness range, for example, between -6 and -1 decibels. Right now, I have to cut parts of the file where I see the waveform being too high and manually lower it. It's tedious and repetitive. How can I automate this process?

[R Neil Haugen]

Are you familiar with setting say the Dynamic processing effect or some of the others, where you have gates, compression, and limiters built in?

Most audio workers have a set 'stack' of two-three of the major audio effects that they apply to everything. Then go through the sequence and trim-in as needed.

@PaulMurphy has pretty amazing skills there.

[PaulMurphy]

The Automatch button in the Essential Sound panel automatically adjusts the overall gain of each clip to a specific loudness level, i.e. -23 LUFS. This is useful for balancing overall levels but does not automate the leveling of peaks.

If you need to control peaks and automate levels, I recommend using the Dynamics effect:

• Compressor: This allows you to reduce peaks that exceed a certain level (Threshold) by a specific amount (Ratio). You can also adjust the overall level using the Makeup dial.
• Limiter: This ensures that the audio does not exceed a defined maximum level (Threshold).

One question to consider: Why are you targeting a range of -6 to -1 dB? That is a relatively high and narrow target for dialogue, which is typically mixed at lower levels for broadcast or online content.