Final Cut audio levels

[ergalthema]

I've posted this in other forums, but no one else seems to have this problem:

When I import an audio file into Final Cut Pro, it plays back a few dB louder than the original file - to the point of clipping.

Any ideas why this is happening?

It was ripped from an audio CD - 16-bit, 48k. It's fine until imported into Final Cut. When I lower the volume -6dB or so, the clipping goes away. So, the problem isn't too disrupting. My background is in audio software, and I'm just not used to inconsistency like this.

The track is louder by itself without other audio tracks, so it's not an additive thing from other tracks. Same goes when the clip is opened in the viewer and no gain or audio processing is applied.

[originalscottyg]

Maybe try checking your panning.
If both sides of the stereo file are panned center, that could be the problem.
IHTH

[Eilam Hoffman]

Can you hear the audio clipping or is it just your level meters?

[minister]

Originally Posted by originalscottyg

Maybe try checking your panning.
If both sides of the stereo file are panned center, that could be the problem.
IHTH

Quoted for emphasis.

[seanmccoy]

I've received a number of clipped audio files in OMF exports from Final Cut and Avid users. Many have also been pushed to the limit with obvious and terrible sounding limiting. Do these programs have some sort of funky auto-normalizing function?

[minister]

you don't think it is possible that the production mixer, i mean, camera operator could have over-modulated the input? happens all the time.

you don't think it is possible that they passed the audio through a board that was not set up right? happens all the time.

[ergalthema]

Originally Posted by originalscottyg

Maybe try checking your panning.
If both sides of the stereo file are panned center, that could be the problem.
IHTH

It is a ripped from a pro music library CD. Interleaved stereo imported as stereo already panned.

[seanmccoy]

Originally Posted by minister

you don't think it is possible that the production mixer, i mean, camera operator could have over-modulated the input? happens all the time.

you don't think it is possible that they passed the audio through a board that was not set up right? happens all the time.

But of course, anything is possible in the wrong hands! But it's usually pretty easy to tell the difference between analog overmodulation and audio that was digitally mangled, and I would guess that these NLE's might have "features" to "fix" stuff that the editors are a little too quick to use.

[kk@jamsync.com]

It's probably the pans. There should be a sticky at the top of the forum.

[Jazzpunk]

Originally Posted by bradhebert

It was ripped from an audio CD - 16-bit, 48k. It's fine until imported into Final Cut. When I lower the volume -6dB or so, the clipping goes away. So, the problem isn't too disrupting. My background is in audio software, and I'm just not used to inconsistency like this.

I just did a test by ripping a music track off of an audio CD. The track peaks at zero in Pro Tools. When imported into FCP the track does visually clip the meters though no audible clipping can be heard. Lowering the track level by -1 db got rid of the clipping on the FCP meters.

I then exported the audio track back out of FCP without lowering the levels (ie the track level was back to zero and it still appeared to be clipping the FCP meters). I imported the track back into Pro Tools and the track once again peaked at zero confirming that no level changes had been caused by FCP.

I tried this same test with music tracks from several different CD's and each time the results were exactly the same. Not sure why you are experiencing clipping by 6db.

[Jazzpunk]

So...what's the verdict?

[soundslikejoe]

you don't think it is possible that the production mixer, i mean, camera operator could have over-modulated the input? happens all the time.

That's tragically funny for me. Over-modulated is a kind description. Almost as if it was a rare accident.