Topic: Experiences in adding audio tracks in iMovie HD (05) / iDVD

[Massive Dynamic]

Just thought I'd post a bit of my experiences in adding audio to miniDV video recordings. I'm not sure I have a question, though I am a bit perplexed by the details in #4. Any explanation would be appreciated.

Here are the 4 scenarios I've used in iMovie for making soundtracks to concert recordings.
iMovie HD (05)
1. Use camera audio only (16-bit)
The sound from the on-camera mics of my Sony PC-110 is generally pretty thin. Only use when no other audio is available.

2. Use only audio from rig, with volume from 100-150% (on-camera audio muted)
Volume, like most non-compressed audience recordings, isn't nearly as loud as the on-camera audio.

3. Use mix of on-camera audio (18-24%) and rig audio (150%)
Adding a bit of on-camera audio can add back a bit of crispness to an otherwise too-warm recording. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but the recordings I've made with the FR-2le have had no drift when combined with on-camera audio. No stretching needed.

4. Use of identical rig audio tracks in both the 2nd and 3rd positions at 100% each, either with on-camera audio muted or at reduced level
While playing around in iMovie, I added the same audio track to both the 2nd and 3rd positions on the timeline, but at 150% the audio was noticeably distorted on playback. I had to back both tracks down to 100%.

Interestingly, the resulting iDVD disk image was identical in size (2.79 GB) to a previous disk image with only one track, even though the additional audio track was 850 MB.

Also, when measuring the SPLs produced by my playback with a ratshack meter, a disc made with dual tracks @ 100% was 2db louder than one made with a single track at 150%.

[willndmb]

1 - yeah i agree its better to dubb when you can
2 - the camcorder will 99% of the time be MUCH louder then aud recordings
BUT that doesn't mean you need to jack the aud recording above 100%
your tv has a volume control
3 - i personally wouldn't waste my time with mixing the camcorder and aud sources
i would ONLY do that if it was sbd and camcorder
to me the aud source should grab the crowd and whatnot that the camcorder would add
4 - there is no point to having the same audio in 2nd and 3rd lines
ALL 3 lines mix into 1 when you export
thus the same disc size when made in iDVD

my fr2le is balls on with my canon minidv too, i can get it lined up and go for over 70 minutes without a problem (knock on wood)