Automatically clean and boost your audio with Auphonic and DaVinci Resolve

Curtis Judd
10 Mar 202409:52

TLDRThis tutorial demonstrates how to automate audio post-production using Auphonic with DaVinci Resolve. It covers audio issues like plosives, dialogue and music balance, and breaths, and guides through exporting audio, setting up Auphonic, and importing the processed audio back into DaVinci Resolve.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Auphonic is a service that can automate the post-production of audio for videos, offering both free and paid plans.
  • 🎥 The free plan allows for processing up to two hours of audio per month, which is sufficient for a weekly YouTube video.
  • 🔊 DaVinci Resolve's Fairlight tab is used to identify audio issues such as unbalanced music and dialogue, and prominent breaths.
  • 📍 Shotgun microphones are typically used at a distance of 18 inches or 45 centimeters, and a foam cover is recommended for close-up podcasting to avoid plosive issues.
  • 🔧 Auphonic can automatically balance dialogue and music levels, and reduce unwanted breaths and noise in the audio.
  • 📑 To use Auphonic, export the audio from DaVinci Resolve as a WAV file, ensuring to mute the original tracks to avoid playback conflicts.
  • 📡 Auphonic processes the audio by uploading it to their servers, where it undergoes adaptive leveling, compression, filtering, and noise reduction.
  • 🔊 The adaptive leveler in Auphonic helps to even out the music and dialogue and allows for boosting the audio without distortion.
  • 🔍 Noise reduction settings should be adjusted to avoid sounding too robotic; a moderate level like 12 dB is recommended.
  • 🎶 Loudness normalization is crucial for YouTube, with -16 LUFS being a typical target for spoken word content.
  • 👍 The final processed audio can be downloaded as a WAV file and imported back into DaVinci Resolve to sync with the video, ensuring the audio is in perfect harmony with the visuals.

Q & A

  • What is Auphonic and how can it be used for post-production of audio?

    -Auphonic is a service that automates the post-production process of audio. It can be used to balance audio levels, reduce noise, and enhance the overall quality of audio for video content. It offers a free tier for processing up to two hours of audio per month, with paid plans available for higher volumes.

  • How much audio can be processed for free with Auphonic per month?

    -Auphonic allows users to process up to two hours of audio for free each month.

  • What are some common audio issues that Auphonic can help resolve?

    -Auphonic can help resolve issues such as unbalanced music and dialogue levels, prominent breaths, and background noise in the audio.

  • How can one export audio from DaVinci Resolve for processing in Auphonic?

    -To export audio from DaVinci Resolve, one can go to the timeline menu and choose 'Bounce Mix to Track', then select the desired audio mix and save it to a new track. Afterward, use the 'Export Audio Files' option, choosing the appropriate settings and saving the file for upload to Auphonic.

  • What is the purpose of the adaptive leveling feature in Auphonic?

    -The adaptive leveling feature in Auphonic is used to even out the music and dialogue levels, as well as to apply compression, which helps to reduce the dynamic range of the audio so that it can be boosted to the desired loudness without distortion.

  • Why is it important to choose the correct loudness normalization settings in Auphonic for YouTube videos?

    -Correct loudness normalization settings ensure that the audio is at an optimal level for YouTube, which typically involves setting the target loudness to -16 LUFS and the maximum peak level to -1.5 dB true peak, enhancing the listening experience for viewers.

  • What is the role of the noise reduction feature in Auphonic and how should it be set?

    -The noise reduction feature in Auphonic helps to remove unwanted noise from the audio while preserving speech and music. It should be set to a moderate level, such as 12 dB, to avoid overly aggressive noise reduction that can make the audio sound robotic.

  • How can one avoid plosive issues when using a shotgun microphone for podcasting?

    -To avoid plosive issues, one should use a foam cover on the microphone when getting very close to it for podcasting. Positioning the microphone off to the side but still aimed at the corner of the mouth can also help prevent plosives by not directing the puff of air from words like 'P' or 'B' directly into the microphone.

  • What is the recommended audio format for exporting processed audio from Auphonic?

    -The recommended audio format for exporting processed audio from Auphonic is WAV 24-bit PCM, as it provides higher quality and fewer artifacts compared to formats like MP3.

  • How does Auphonic handle audio processing for videos with both music and dialogue?

    -Auphonic handles audio processing for videos with both music and dialogue by using features like adaptive leveling and loudness normalization set to 'program loudness'. This ensures that both elements are balanced and that the overall audio is optimized for listening.

  • Why is it not recommended to use the automatic cutting feature in Auphonic when processing audio for video?

    -The automatic cutting feature in Auphonic should not be used when processing audio for video because it removes silent portions of the audio. This can change the length of the audio, which must match the video, potentially causing synchronization issues.

Outlines

00:00

🎙️ Automating Audio Post-Production with Auphonic

This paragraph introduces a method for automating the audio post-production process for video content using Auphonic, a service that offers free processing for up to two hours of audio per month. It's particularly useful for YouTubers who publish weekly videos of 10 to 15 minutes, as the free tier is sufficient for their needs. The speaker demonstrates the process in DaVinci Resolve's Fairlight tab, showcasing the audio issues that Auphonic can resolve, such as unbalanced music and dialogue, prominent breaths, and background noise. The paragraph also explains how to export audio from DaVinci Resolve and import it into Auphonic for processing, including muting the original tracks and choosing the appropriate export settings.

05:03

🔊 Enhancing Audio Quality with Auphonic's Features

The second paragraph delves into the specific features of Auphonic that enhance audio quality. It discusses setting up a production in Auphonic, including uploading the exported audio file, choosing output file preferences, and skipping speech recognition and publishing to external services. The speaker outlines the importance of adaptive leveling to balance music and dialogue and the use of a compressor to reduce dynamic range for desired loudness without distortion. Filtering options, such as voice auto EQ, are also discussed to clean up the audio. The paragraph emphasizes the customization of noise reduction and breathing removal settings to avoid sounding robotic or unnatural. It concludes with the process of starting the production in Auphonic, monitoring the progress, and downloading the processed audio file in WAV format for better quality, followed by re-importing it into DaVinci Resolve to synchronize with the video and ensuring the audio levels meet the desired standards.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Auphonic

Auphonic is a service that automates audio post-production. It is used to process audio files, enhancing their quality by balancing levels, reducing noise, and improving overall clarity. In the video, Auphonic is shown being used to clean and boost the audio of a video, making it suitable for platforms like YouTube. The script mentions that Auphonic can handle tasks such as adaptive leveling, noise reduction, and loudness normalization, which are crucial for professional-sounding audio.

💡DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing software that also includes advanced audio editing features. In the context of the video, DaVinci Resolve is used to initially handle the audio mix before exporting it for further processing in Auphonic. The script demonstrates how to bounce the audio mix to a new track and then export it for processing, highlighting the software's role in the initial stages of audio post-production.

💡Post-production

Post-production refers to the process of editing and refining a video or audio project after the initial recording or filming is complete. In the video, the focus is on automating the post-production of the audio portion, which involves using Auphonic to clean and enhance the audio quality. The script explains how Auphonic can automate tasks such as leveling, compression, and noise reduction, which are typically part of the post-production process.

💡Plosives

Plosives are a type of speech sound produced by a complete closure of the oral cavity followed by a release of air, often resulting in a burst of sound. In the script, plosives are mentioned as a common issue when using a microphone close to the mouth, such as in podcasting. The video suggests using a foam cover to mitigate plosive problems, illustrating the importance of microphone technique in audio production.

💡Adaptive Leveling

Adaptive leveling is a process that automatically adjusts the volume levels of different parts of an audio track to achieve a consistent and balanced sound. In the video, Auphonic's adaptive leveling feature is used to even out the music and dialogue, ensuring that neither is too loud or too quiet. This is crucial for maintaining a professional sound in the final audio mix.

💡Compression

Compression in audio production is the process of reducing the dynamic range of an audio signal, making the loud parts quieter and the quiet parts louder. In the script, Auphonic's compression feature is set to auto, which helps in achieving a balanced audio level without clipping or distortion. This is essential for ensuring that the audio is loud enough to be heard clearly but not so loud that it becomes distorted.

💡Loudness Normalization

Loudness normalization is the process of adjusting the overall volume of an audio track to meet specific loudness standards, such as the -16 LUFS standard mentioned in the video. This ensures that the audio is consistent in volume across different platforms, like YouTube. The script explains how Auphonic can automatically normalize the loudness of the audio to meet these standards, which is important for professional audio production.

💡Noise Reduction

Noise reduction is the process of removing unwanted background noise from an audio recording. In the video, Auphonic's noise reduction feature is used to clean up the audio by removing any noise while preserving the speech and music. The script discusses the importance of setting the reduction amount to avoid making the audio sound robotic, highlighting the delicate balance needed in noise reduction.

💡Breath Reduction

Breath reduction involves reducing the prominence of breath sounds in an audio recording. In the script, the video explains how Auphonic can be used to remove or reduce breath sounds, but cautions against setting the reduction too high, as it can make the audio sound unnatural. This illustrates the importance of maintaining a natural sound in audio production while still improving clarity.

💡LUFS

LUFS stands for Loudness Units relative to Full Scale, and it is a unit used to measure the perceived loudness of an audio signal. In the video, the script mentions setting the loudness normalization to -16 LUFS, which is a standard for broadcast audio. This ensures that the audio is loud enough to be clear but not so loud that it overwhelms the listener, which is crucial for maintaining a professional audio mix.

Highlights

Auphonic is a service that can automate post-production of audio for videos.

Free tier allows processing up to two hours of audio per month.

Paid plans are available for more audio processing needs.

Suitable for YouTube channels with weekly video uploads of 10-15 minutes.

DaVinci Resolve's Fairlight tab is used to identify initial audio issues.

Plosives are less of an issue at typical microphone distances.

Foam cover is recommended for close-up podcasting to avoid plosive issues.

Auphonic can balance music and dialogue levels.

Breaths and noise in the audio can be reduced by Auphonic.

Exporting audio from DaVinci Resolve involves using 'Bounce Mix to Track'.

Muting original tracks is necessary before exporting new audio.

Exporting audio files should be done with specific settings like Broadcast Wave.

Auphonic allows users to upload files and manage productions.

Adaptive leveling in Auphonic helps balance audio levels.

Compression in Auphonic reduces dynamic range for consistent loudness.

Voice auto EQ in Auphonic cleans up the audio.

Loudness normalization for YouTube is set at -16 LUFS.

Noise reduction can be adjusted to avoid sounding robotic.

Removing breaths should be done subtly to maintain natural sound.

Auphonic processing can take time depending on the length of the audio.

Finalized audio should be synced with the video in DaVinci Resolve.

Exporting the video with the processed audio completes the process.