Enhancing Listening Experience: Steps for Standardizing Audio Amplitude in VLC

How To Normalize Volume in VLC

How to normalize volume, why should we do it, and what is it after all? – these are the questions when it comes to editing our audio files, as well as the video clips we tend to change the sound of. So, first of all, the volume normalization is pretty much explained as follows: The process when a constant amount of gain is applied to the audio recording, bringing the amplitude to a desirable level, which is “the norm” for the project. If it is a little bit difficult to understand, we have to highlight that when this tool is applied to our volume, the whole recording has the same amount of gain across it, every piece affected the same way. Accordingly, when we normalize volume, the relative dynamics are not changed.

But, why bother at all and why not leave it the way it is? Well, the answer to this is almost the same as on why editing exists in general, right? Things are not perfect! This is the fact that prompts us to make our video clips and audio better, improve it at least on the level which can get us the right amount of viewers and listeners. Everyone have had some pain listening to several podcasts, when the volume was too high or too low, or there were so much background noise that the whole recording was hurting the ears of a person! People will not convert to being loyal subscribers, viewers and listeners if their user experience is not favored. So, it is in our best interest to serve their best interest, with a little bit of editing.

When it comes to normalizing audio, there are two reasons we refer to this tool. First is when we feel we need to get the maximum volume, and the second is when we need to match different volumes.

In the first case, you might have somewhat quite voice recording, and would like to make it better without changing its dynamic range, while making it as loud as possible. And when it comes to matching volumes, it is logical that you need to manipulate your editing this way in case you have a group of audio files, each or some of them are at different volumes, so, understandably, if not necessarily, you would like to make them come closer to the same volume.

So, until we give you the step-by step guide on how to normalize your volume in VLC player, we also need to inform you about audio normalization types. Here, generally, we come across three of them: a so-called peak normalization, helping adjust the recording based on the highest signal level present in the recording; another is called loudness normalization and it adjusts the recording based on perceived loudness. Last but not least, RMS (Root-Mean-Square), changes the value of all the samples, where their average electrical volume overall is a specified level.

Using any of this, making it better to listen to your voice, without people being annoyed and their ears becoming exhausting with what you have to offer, you will be making it enjoyable for them and easy to come back to your content, as they will not be obliged to change the volume on their own audio players. Instead, their experience with you will be calm and effortless, which you are aiming to achieve.

So, not, what about VLC? – this is a very popular media player, favorite for a lot of people all around the world, so you should already be quite familiar with what it is, at least by having streamed videos and movies there. Speaking more of what it represents, it is a free-to-use, robust, and feature-packed software that plays a wide range of audio, image, and video files. It is worth noting that it can also play multimedia files directly from extractable devices or the PC and additionally, the program can stream from popular websites such as Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, and so on.

As if it was not enough, you can do simple video and audio editing in VLC Media Player, which a lot of people are unaware of! For example, you can easily trim and cut videos. So, as it happens, we can also normalize volume in VLC Media Player. It is a very handy feature and it works on Windows as well as on Mac. Sooo… How to do that? Because, actually, it is so simple that you might be surprised you didn’t know about this earlier. To learn how to normalize volume in VLC, follow this simple guideline:

First, of course, as every time working with any software, you need to have VLC Media Player installed on your device. Once you have it installed, open VLC. Go to the Tools and Preferences and there, you will need to check the single box which is next to Normalize volume in Effects. Now, set the level to the one that works best for you. Then, when you are happy with the result, you can Save.

This is not something perfect, because it’s so simple to do and actually what it does is just help adjust the general volume, so it leaves the specifics alone.

But, it might be the case that you are not so satisfied with the simple editing and want a little more to get from the editing process on VLC. So, you can do more with the Audio Effects menu there. And the steps are as follows:

First, on your VLC player, find Tools and then, in the menu, go to Preferences. The window will open, and there you need to select All in Show settings – actually it is a little bit hard to find because this is in the bottom left corner of the window. From there, you will need to navigate to Audio, and then, a little below, click on Filters and highlight it. The checkbox next to the Dynamic range compressor will probably be unchecked – so, check in it.

Next, see where Compressor is in the left panel? Select it. And now, you are free to make the changes to the levels as you see fit.

Here, if you are a little bit overwhelmed with the wide range of options to work on, you can just concentrate the most on Makeup gain, Threshold, and Ratio. The first one is by which you adjust in quiet sequences to raise the volume, the second will help you reduce louder sequences to even things out, and ratio is the maximum level of all audio within a movie, let’s say.

Don’t underestimate Attack time and release time, either. They graduate the changes to ramp them up at first, then down again, rather than initiating them immediately. So, if you set them to your liking as well, this will ensure that you have a more fluid transition in and out of the scene and there are less sudden, sometimes scary volume changes.

Therefore, you are now equipped with the most information you will need to normalize volume in VLC Player – so free to give it a go, play around with the different settings and carry out the best result imaginable for you!

How to normalize audio in Wondershare Filmora?

Now, even though we already know how to normalize audio in VLC in the simplest, as well as in the more advanced way, it might be even better if we know some more about normalizing audios in different programs. Something worth discussing is a software called Wondershare Filmora , which carries out the same task wonderfully. Although, unlike VLC Media Player, it is a real video editor , but don’t panic if you have never laid your hand on editing – it is one of the easiest to use ini the word, operating also both on Mac and Windows, and its interface is utterly understandable for beginners right away. And, actually, it is a qhile that Wondershare Filmora X introduced the feature to normalize the audio for the first time. What to say more - you might want to stop now and download the latest version of Filmora because now we are about to learn how to normalize audio from the video there – so, tune in!

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

When it is done installing, open the software. Now, click and drag the video of which the audio you want to normalize. Now you can select the clip you have chosen – if there are multiple, select all of them, then right-click and choose Detach Audio.

Now if you have this kind of graphic before your eyes, you can be pretty sure without even listening, that the noises are really, really different from each other, which highlights once again how useful audio normalization can be:

Select these files, right-click and choose Adjust Audio. New panel will be opened on left top and there, you will see Audio Normalization – check the box there.

After you have clicked on it, wait until the normalization completes.

Soon, all audio will be normalized, and you will already be able to see on the graphics that the volumes are almost on the same level and when you listen to it, you will make sure that there is no longer apparent difference between how they sound. And from there on, you can save the file you just normalized!

So, in this article, we learned a lot about normalizing volumes, why and how it is done, and, more specifically, how to get this task completed in VLC Media Player as well as in Wondershare Filmora X. you can proceed to putting this new information into a good use and come back to learn more about video and audio editing here!

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Select these files, right-click and choose Adjust Audio. New panel will be opened on left top and there, you will see Audio Normalization – check the box there.

After you have clicked on it, wait until the normalization completes.

“Mastering Final Cut Pro: Visualizing Sound with Audio Waveforms & Dynamic Animation Effects”

The amplitude and duration of an audio waveform vary with the duration and volume of the underlying sound. Finding specific edit locations when editing footage or keyframing effects is made simpler by these characteristics. Audio waveforms in Final Cut Pro alter based on the volume of a clip or any applied effects. When the volume is high, the waveform is larger; when the volume is low, it is smaller. But when using FCP to edit video, people frequently experience issues with audio waveform disappearing. Or you do want to add some dynamic effects for audio waves? Continue reading!

Part 1. How to show Audio Waveform on clips in FCP?

When working with audio waveforms on the timeline, you can zoom in or out, or change the appearance of the clip to make the waveform taller or shorter.

There are numerous methods to examine and interact with the audio and video contained within clips in Final Cut Pro. You can:

Expand a clip to see and modify audio elements at the channel level
Expand a clip to view separate audio and video
Separate audio from video clip to work with audio and video as separate, independent clips
Change the appearance of the clipped background to display reference waveforms that make it easier to view audio waveforms when the volume is reduced

The reference curve shows the maximum visual resolution possible for the current sound curve. By accounting for changes in volume, the reference waveforms allow you to see the details of the sound more clearly.

Choose Final Cut Pro > Preferences, then click Edit.
Check the “Show reference waveforms” box.

When the actual curve changes shape (for example, when it shrinks because the clip’s volume level is low), its full reference curve is still visible for easy reference when editing.

Tips: You can click the shortcut “Control+Option+1” to adjust the clip appearance setting to display clips on the timeline with large audio waveforms only.

Part 2. How to add audio waveform animation in FCP? (2 ways)

1. Use Pixel Film Studios Audio Visualizer

With FCPX Audio Visualizer Volume 2 from Pixel Film Studios, users now have the ability to see up to 48 audio frequencies with full control over their left and right audio output, all within Final Cut Pro. Users have full control over smoothness, base scale, radius, angular offset, camera position, and animation, all with a single click of the mouse, all in Final Cut Pro X.

FCPX Audio Visualizer Volume 2 has been professionally designed to work seamlessly inside Final Cut Pro X. As a title effect, FCPX Audio Visualizer Volume 2 can be dragged onto media and previewed in real-time. With the published parameters found in the FCPX inspector, users have the ability to make further adjustments with just a few clicks of the mouse.

With the FCPX Audio Visualizer Volume 2 preset pack, users have the ability to compose multiple presets and create their own visualizer every time. Users can choose from template layouts ranging from circles, lines, rectangles, and individual shapes to even an animatable drag zone. Then, within Final Cut Pro, users have total control over spread, color, location, rotation, angle, angle offset, and much more.

2. Use audio waveform animation templates

It could be more convenient to select a few relevant templates directly than using other plugins. You get a full set of 21 templates, including titles, fonts, media streaming logos, sound effects, and colors, with this set of Waveform Audio Visualization by Motion Array themes. You only need to pick the style you prefer, add your music, and post it with ease on your social media sites. This template is best suited for audiobooks, podcasts, and music videos. Of course, you must subscribe to the platform to download it.

Part 3. The best alternative to add audio waveform animation to video?

Create Audio WaveformVideo in Filmora Audio Visualizer

To add audio waveform animation to video, there is a wide variety of applications. However, Filmora video editor is one of the greatest programs we suggest because you can alter any sound effects on this platform with only one touch. With audio keyframing and an integrated equalization, Filmora can produce unusual sound effects that enhance the audio recording.

Under “Effects” tab, you can find 25 types of audio animation in Audio Visualizer.

Or you can directly open “Elements > Recommended”, and type “audio visualizer” or “music pack” to choose preset waveform animation elements.

Click the Play button in the Preview window and when you feel good about the results, click Export to download the video and your library and successfully share it on various social media platforms.

Conclusion

Social media content creators, musicians, and VJs can produce stunning videos with any of the music visualizers we’ve listed in this article. As a professional video editing software, although Final Cut Pro can provide powerful editing features, the operation is more cumbersome and not easy to get started. So, I will recommend using Wondershare Filmora for the best experience.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

2. Use audio waveform animation templates

Part 3. The best alternative to add audio waveform animation to video?

Create Audio WaveformVideo in Filmora Audio Visualizer

Under “Effects” tab, you can find 25 types of audio animation in Audio Visualizer.

Or you can directly open “Elements > Recommended”, and type “audio visualizer” or “music pack” to choose preset waveform animation elements.

Click the Play button in the Preview window and when you feel good about the results, click Export to download the video and your library and successfully share it on various social media platforms.

Conclusion

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

MultilocAudioLink: Seamless Sound Alignment for Multiple Projects with Premiere Pro [Updated 2023]

PluralEyes: The Best Plug in to Sync Audio in Premiere Pro

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Have you ever found the situation stressful when you need to sync audio in Premiere Pro? Well you are not merely one who find this task challenging. However, with the help of PluralEyes , this task can be simplified. PluralEyes is an outstanding third-party plug-in helpful in syncing audio. If you have started pondering over how to use it in Premiere Pro, we shall help you learn the same. The article today will be discussing about making your work easier by using PluralEyes. Let us begin without further ado.

Click here

Part 1: What is PluralEyes

PluraEyes is a plug-in from Red Giant that aims to ease the task of audio/video synchronization. With its user-friendly interface, it easily imports, syncs and edits the clips in a matter of minutes. Being helpful for all operating systems and supportive to all host apps, PlularEyes can be counted as the most appropriate tool when it comes to fast audio syncing. It has the ability to carefully scrutinize the clip and then make use of the best syncing options. There are various scenarios when you can work with PluralEyes like events including weddings , conference, music videos etc. It just maximizes the workflow and has faster setup with less complications and more efficiency.

Part 2: How to Use PluralEyes in Premiere Pro

Step 1: Import Video and Audio Files

To begin with, all you need is adding your video clip to the computer. Simply import the footage on your PC followed by opening Premiere Pro. Past it, customize the sequence settings as per your needs. Now, drag the footage and the preferred audio into the timeline. Next, you need to make sure of arranging the multiple cameras to their own level and keep the audio at bottom level. Also, keep the footage in back to back format.

Step 2: Click Open using PluralEyes

In order to open PluralEyes, head to “Window” and pick out the “Extensions” option. Now, select “PluralEyes”. By doing this, you will receive a small PluralEyes window in Premiere Pro. In case there are multiple timelines opened please ensure to select the one to be worked with.

Step 3: Start Syncing Audio

Subsequently, PluralEyes will begin to scan the footage and audio file you imported. Prior to syncing, you are supposed to wait till PluralEyes scans the files. After the scanning gets completed, get start with syncing. Now, the files will begin to get arranged and matched simultaneously. Followed by this, hit on “export” and you will see the fresh timeline that is synced, opened in Premiere Pro.

Conclusion

Using PluralEyes is the best choice if you want to get your audio/video synced in an accurate way. We have demonstrated how this tool works and how you can sync audio in Premiere Pro via PluaralEyes. Now, by the end of the topic, we hope that you are well acquainted with the know-how of PluralEyes and the steps involved in audio syncing. You can now work on your clips without any complications. Thank you for reading this and do share your views with us.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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