PrP - Working with Audio - Audio Monitoring & Fundamentals

Owned by
Joachim Strand (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Feb 15, 2019 by
Adam Barrett
4 min read



Mono (monoaural): A sound source/audio signal on a single channel with the intent of reproducing it from a single source. 

When listening to music in mono all the speakers sound the same.
 

Stereo (stereophonic): Stereo comes from the Greek word that means solid.
Stereo is defined as being two or more separate sound sources/audio signals through two channels/tracks. The Left and Right speakers have different sounds at different times, giving a more complete sound.

Summary:

Mono uses only a single sound source on one channel - One microphone is a mono source; many microphones mixed to one channel is a mono mix.

Stereo uses two or more sources spread across two or more channels - many microphones panned left and right is a stereo mix of mono sources.


Audio effects and basic tools can be found in the Source Panel under the Effect Controls tab

Panning is an important function that will take a simple mono sound and add depth to any project, which in turn creates a stereo output.

In Premiere this function is called Panner


‘-100’ pans the output of the audio to the left speaker/channel.

'100’ pans the output of the audio to the right speaker/channel.

‘0.0’ means the audio is panned equally to both the left and right speakers/channels (aka: dual mono).

All audio should be adjusted to average at -12db. This is industry standard.


This means that the viewer, at home, does not have to raise and lower the volume on their remote every time a different show or advertisement comes on, by having an industry standard all shows have an equal output level.

Distortion is when the audio levels are too high.


The red bars at the top of the audio monitoring tool will light up when your audio levels are distorting. 


It is extremely important that you record your audio levels correctly when filming. 

Distorted audio cannot be fixed!

Level (gain) should not to be confused with volume. Level (gain) is the increase/decrease of the amplitude of a given audio signal (sound source).


An increase in level (in this this case +6dB) directly translates as an increase in gain.

A decrease in level (in this this case -20dB) directly translates as a decrease in gain.

Volume is the loudness of the sound/speakers - the Volume Control!


Raising and/or lower the volume has no affect on the level (gain) of an audio signal.


When volume is alternated, the level/gain is not affected – ONLY the apparent loudness of what you are listen to is.


Setting Speaker Volume

Adjust the level/gain of spoken word (dialogue) to average ‘-12dB’ with the volume muted.





With your spoken word (dialogue) averaging ‘-12dB’ by using levels, raise the volume to a comfortable listening level.



Once you have raised the volume to a comfortable listening level, DO NOT DO ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE VOLUME. 

When a sound source/audio signal appears to sound too low and/or too high, ADJUST THE LEVEL/GAIN, so that the sound source averages ‘-12dB’ and it’s apparent loudness should be OK, that is, the listening volume of the speakers.

Soundscape Workshop Exercise #1

Log into Isilon.

Open Premiere Pro (PrP).

Create and save a new project called "yymmdd_Soundscape_Exercise".

Import the image "SoundscapeImage.jpg" into your new PrP project (Navigate to: STUDENT_RESOURCES/Soundscape Exercise/).

Place the image onto video track 1.


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