Welcome to another in a series of video tutorials from San Diego video production company, BizVid Communications. Today I am going to show you how to separate a stereo audio channel into two mono channels. You may ask “why do that?” Well, in in the clip I’m going to use today, I have a stereo track that in actuality, is made up of two different microphones….one for each of the subjects.

You can see in the video what I am talking about. And since each of these gentlemen speak at different levels; I need to split their audio tracks out so that I can control the volume of each, separately.  As you will see, this is a very easy process. The first thing you have to know is that you cannot begin by having the clip already in the timeline.  It won’t work.  So, in the Project window, position your mouse on the clip and right click.  Next, scroll to “Modify” then over to “Audio Channels” and click.

This brings up a window that gives me some choices…so let’s take them one at a time:

First I am asked what format I want.  As you see it defaults to “Stereo.”  I want “Mono” so I click the drop-down and select “Mono.”  Next, it wants to know how many audio channels I want to work with.  In this case I want two channels.  And finally, it wants to know how to separate the stereo track and in my case, I want to build an audio track from the left channel and an audio track from the right channel.  Once I’m satisfied with the configuration, I click “okay.”

Now, in the “Project” panel, it does not appear that any change has taken place.  Fact is, you won’t notice it until the clip is clicked and dragged into the Timeline.  When I do, you can see that there are now two separate audio tracks giving me much more control over the manipulation of each.  For example, I need to increase the volume of this clip here, so I will right click, then position my mouse on “Audio Gain” and click.  Next I will increase the track volume by 8 decibels and click. As you can see, it only effected audio track two.

And there you have it: an easy way to separate a stereo track into two or more different tracks.  I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and that it has been helpful. To see the kind of work we do, be sure to visit our website, www.BizVidCommunications.com or our YouTube channel for other video tutorials on a variety of subjects.  Thanks for watching.

Welcome to another BizVid Communications video tutorial.  Today I’m going to show you how to remove background noise like generators, hums or room noise from your video audio track.  The video clip I have selected to use today was recorded with my personal camcorder.  The subject is my granddaughter who is sitting a few feet away but, because of the ineffective microphone pick –up of the camcorder; the sound has a lot of background noise.  Maybe you can hear it.  If not, you will visually see it in just a few moments.  I have blurred the face of my granddaughter to protect her innocence.  By the way, you can learn how to blur a face by watching this tutorial on the subject.

For this tutorial, you need to have Adobe Audition.  That’s the software we are going to use to accomplish our mission.  So let’s begin.  The first item of business is to position your mouse on the audio track you want to repair then right click.  Next, in the drop down menu position your mouse on “Edit in Adobe Audition” and click.  This will launch Audition and this is where you will do your work.

Now, as you can see, the audio track that was imported is in stereo.  In another tutorial, I’ll show you how to convert a stereo voice track to mono then re-import it back into your video timeline…but for now, we’ll clean up this stereo track.  Okay let me play this track and listen very carefully to hear the background noise.  This noise can be problematic especially if you want to increase the volume in parts of your audio track.  That’s because, if you don’t remove the background noise it will increase in volume along with the voice….like this.  So let’s remove it.

The first thing to do is find a section of the audio track with no voice, just the noise.  Position your mouse at one point then click and drag it to another point.  Doing this isolates only the sound frequencies that you want to eliminate.  Look here on the VU meter, you can see it clearly. Next, position your mouse on the word “Effects” on the menu bar and click.  Then, scroll to “Noise Reduction / Restoration” and then over to “Capture Noise Point” and click.  You have now told Adobe Audition that this is the frequency you want removed from the audio track.

Now, since you want that noise removed from the entire track, on a PC select “Control A” to select the entire track.  Next, position your mouse on “Effects” then down to “Noise Reduction / Restoration” but this time position your mouse on “Noise Reduction (Process).”  This is the selection that will take the noise out of your track based upon the “Noise Capture” selection that you made earlier.  When I click a new screen will appear and this screen will allow you to control the degree at which the noise will be removed.  If, for example, some of the frequency you were removing fell within the range of a voice frequency, you can adjust the reduction of the background noise to the point where it will not affect the voice.  But, since our noise does not fall within voice frequency range, I am going to put both to 100% then click “Apply.”  Look at the voice track now.  It is clean and I can go adjust levels without worry of increased background noise. 

Next, click “file” then “save” and close the program.  Your clean audio track was automatically put back  into your video timeline and you are good to go.   Some sounds are more difficult than others to clean up but this will give you a good start on the process.  We have more tutorials on our BizVid Communicaitons YouTube channel or on our blog at BizVidCommunications.com/blog.  Thanks for joining me.

San Diego video production company, Bizvid Communications knows very well that Audio is an important component which separates a professional video from an amateur one .

How many times have you watched a home video where the sound is poor and words are barely discernible? That’s often because the camera microphone is being used at a distance further than intended. At best, most camera microphones will properly record a voice from about 3 or 4 feet.  Any further away and the sound will come across tinny or echoey. And, if you’re mixing further away shots of your subject, with close ups… the sound may be inconsistent when editing from one shot to the other. It will serve you better to go ahead and invest in a lapel or handheld microphone. If you keep the camera mounted microphone a foot or so in front of the subject, you’ll like the sound consistency much better.

When having more than one person speak at a time, it’s okay to mount a microphone between them and keep them from moving around. Otherwise, some cameras may allow for two audio ports so you can feed two audio sources at once and mix the sound separately in post production, but more likely, you may have to invest in or rent a little sound mixer to blend the microphones, before sending them into your camera. By the way, when adjusting the microphone setting, shy away from over cranking the sound levels. It’s easier to increase and balance the audio a little in post production than it is to fix an over-driven distorted sound track. Here’s one more thing. If your production works just as well using a voice over, you can circumvent most of these problems by bringing in the separate voice over into your edit.

While we craft professional videos for clients, BizVid Communications knows there are times when you want to star in your own self-produced, simple video, using your own consumer-grade equipment. As such, here are a few tips on improving your video’s audio. Sound is one of the main aspects that separates a professional video from an amateur production.

How many times have you watched a home video or YouTube video where the sound is poor and words are barely discernible? That’s often because the camera microphone is being used at a distance further than intended.

At best, most camera microphones will properly record a voice from about 3 or 4 feet. Any further away and the sound will come across tinny or echoey. And, if you’re mixing further away shots of your subject, with close ups… the sound may be inconsistent when editing from one shot to the other.

It will serve you better to go ahead and invest in a lapel or hand held microphone, either a cordless remote or one with a cord. Make sure you have the adapters to plug it directly into the camera.

If you keep the camera mounted microphone a foot or so in front of the subject, you’ll like the sound consistency much better.

If you are having more than one person speak at a time, it’s okay to mount a microphone between them and keep them from moving around. better. Otherwise, some cameras may allow for two audio ports so you can feed two audio sources at once and mix the sound separately in post production, but more likely, you may have to invest in or rent a little sound mixer to blend the microphones, before sending them into your camera. I was in GuitarCenter recently and found some small Behringer mixers well under $100.

By the way, when adjusting the microphone setting, shy away from over cranking the sound. It’s easier to increase and balance the audio a little in post production than it is to fix an over-driven distorted sound track. Here’s one more thing. If your production works just as well using a voice over, you can circumvent most of these problems by bringing in the separate voice over into your edit.

BizVid is producing a series of “Do it yourself” instructional articles and videos. Keep a lookout in our blogs for more in this series.