Improving the Audio

[psmerdon]

Hi experts,

I find the audio "sweetening" capabilities of VideoStudio Ultimate too limited for my needs.
The only audio capabilities I've found are "Normalize" and "Volume".
Are there other functions I haven't found?

I am looking for a compressor to even out the audio levels across the project (a software-based Compellor would be perfect ).
An equalizer would be nice on occasions too.

I don't want to split the audio out, and post-process it in an audio DAW, because:
a) that's too time consuming, especially with no picture reference.
b) I can never seem to get the audio back in sync when I re-import it (and my videos are about 90% talking heads - so lip sync is critical).
No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to master this skill.

Is there some kind of audio toolbox plugin (or whatever) out there? Paid is OK.
Or is it already in VS Ultimate, and I just haven't found it (I'm currently on 2020 version)?

Thanks,
Peter Smerdon.

[Davidk]

Select the video+audio clip, or just the audio clip (depends on which track you want to 'improve'), then choose the options panel and select "audio filter". The panel that opens allows you to choose from a range of audio filters to improve the audio clip (like hiss removal or low freq pass).
You can have more than one filter applied.

But a better way may be to use the facility in Audacity, which is a superior and free audio editor. If using this method, once you are satisfied with the "improvement", save the file under a unique name, and import that file into VS.

[psmerdon]

Thanks for the response.

The VS audio "filters" are a bit rudimentary for me.
I was hoping for something a bit more powerful with 3rd party vendor support (like VST plugins for an audio DAW).

I have been avoiding exporting the audio, processing it, then reimporting it because I'm concerned about disturbing the audio/video sync.

Regards,
Peter Smerdon.

[rwernyei]

Peter,

As a long time Ulead/Corel user audio has always been the "Achilles' heel" to this software. As Davidk suggested free audio editor Audacity would better fit your needs. I use Audacity for Noise Reduction, Compressor and Amplify in that order regularly with talking head footage. Two software I use are: TMPGEnc & FFMPEG. TMPGEnc MPEG Tools as Demultiplexer/Multiplexer when dealing with MPEG-1/2 formats (still receive DVDs and have been using this software since early 2000s. Old habits never die!). All others I use FFMPEG command line tool for it's muxing features and for simple no loss cuts/trims at lightning fast speed. Never had any problems with audio/video drifting out of sync.

[tletter]

I'm concerned about disturbing the audio/video sync.

I've not seen an "audio/video sync" problem when exporting audio to Audacity for editing and then importing it back into VS. However, you can easily check that for yourself.

WRT Audacity, you might be interested to know that since Audacity was acquired by MuseGroup earlier this year, there are plans to add telemetry to Audacity, specifically the following data is or may be collected by Audacity:

• OS version
• User country based on IP address
• OS name and version
• CPU
• Non-fatal error codes and messages
• Data necessary for law enforcement, litigation and authorities’ requests

The last item raises some interesting possibilities as it is open-ended.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[psmerdon]

Thanks to all who responded.
Yes, tletter, I am aware of the data gathering plans of the new owners of Audacity.
I have been a long time Audacity user, but now I'm considering my options.

As for processing the audio externally, and reimporting it, it does make the workflow more complex, but I guess I'll have to try it one day.
I may not be able to avoid it forever.

Cheers,
Peter Smerdon.

[asik1]

I recommended ocenaudio
** In VMS there is a feature to use external audio editor and when done the wav is replaced automatically.

[cybernick]

I generally export the audio as wav and edit the audio in audacity.
After that I add as separate audio track in video.