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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: detroit lightning on October 31, 2018, 10:14:50 AM

Title: Balancing channels question (one -10db lower)
Post by: detroit lightning on October 31, 2018, 10:14:50 AM

Mornin'

Took out my new-to-me R44 for a spin last night, and in making sure I had the settings all straight on that, I flipped the -10db switch on one of my berliner cm33 mics. Could see that the levels were lower in one channel, but got in a bit late due to security, and figured I had a setting on the deck wrong (nope!)

Did a quick listen last night & overall things sounded good, though my left channel was pretty light.

I use audacity - is my best bet to just normalize? I need to amplify the other channel by a few db anyway - but just want to reduce as much noise as I can...

Thx!

Title: Re: Balancing channels question (one -10db lower)
Post by: capnhook on October 31, 2018, 02:04:18 PM

Click the pull down on the track name

Select split stereo track

Amplify the one channel

Click the pull down on the track name

Select make stereo track

save

Title: Re: Balancing channels question (one -10db lower)
Post by: morst on October 31, 2018, 02:18:53 PM

You don't even have to process it. Just split the track into separate left & right, and raise the gain sliders on the left side of each one, raising the low channel more.


Track as usual and when you export, you should have proper levels.


That said, it might be easier to process it as one file to make a clean file to work on. But you don't have to.

Title: Re: Balancing channels question (one -10db lower)
Post by: Sloan Simpson on October 31, 2018, 02:43:16 PM

I don't use Audacity (I run REAPER), but it looks like it has no problem running VST plugins. I use Sonalksis FreeG (https://www.sonalksis.com/freeg.html) (it's free, as the name implies). I use its pan knob and adjust by ear, then refer to the meter as a check. The reason I use FreeG in particular is because the red line in the center is an RMS meter, which is more useful for channel balancing than peak metering IMO.

Title: Re: Balancing channels question (one -10db lower)
Post by: noahbickart on October 31, 2018, 05:15:06 PM

I’d use klanghelm’s VUMT deluxe plugin. Just bump up the lower channel by 10db

Title: Re: Balancing channels question (one -10db lower)
Post by: detroit lightning on October 31, 2018, 07:50:28 PM

Thanks for all the good advice!

Title: Re: Balancing channels question (one -10db lower)
Post by: capnhook on October 31, 2018, 08:07:53 PM

Quote from: Sloan Simpson on October 31, 2018, 02:43:16 PM

I don't use Audacity (I run REAPER), but it looks like it has no problem running VST plugins. I use Sonalksis FreeG (https://www.sonalksis.com/freeg.html) (it's free, as the name implies). I use its pan knob and adjust by ear, then refer to the meter as a check. The reason I use FreeG in particular is because the red line in the center is an RMS meter, which is more useful for channel balancing than peak metering IMO.

Thanks, works great.  That red RMS line is really helpful.