Final Cut Pro 6 - Adjusting Audio Levels in the Timeline

112

Part I

Audio Mixing

To display clip overlays in the Timeline:

1

Open a sequence in the Timeline, then choose Sequence > Settings.

2

Click the Timeline Options tab, then select the Show Keyframe Overlays checkbox.

You can also select the Clip Overlays control in the Timeline.

To display audio waveforms in the Timeline:

1

Open a sequence in the Timeline, then choose Sequence > Settings.

2

Click the Timeline Options tab, then select the Show Audio Waveforms checkbox.

∏

Tip: To avoid opening the Sequence Settings window, you can also press
Command-Option-W while the Timeline is active.

To adjust the audio level of a single clip with no keyframes:

1

Select the Clip Overlays control at the bottom of the Timeline to display overlays.

2

Drag the audio level overlay up or down to adjust the audio level. The overlay is a pink
line if the clip is not selected, and a green line if it is.

The pointer changes to an Adjust Line Segment pointer when it’s directly over the
audio level overlay, and a box displays the change in levels as you drag.

Audio level overlay

Change in audio level

Clip Overlays
control

Chapter 6

Mixing Audio in the Timeline and Viewer

113

I

To add a keyframe to the audio level overlay of a clip in the Timeline:

1

Do one of the following:

 Select the Pen tool in the Tool palette (or press the P key).
 If you’re using the Selection tool, press and hold down the Option key.

2

Move the Pen tool to the point in your sequence where you want to set a keyframe,
then click the overlay to set the keyframe.

To adjust keyframes in the Timeline:

m

Place the Selection tool directly over a keyframe, so that it turns into a crosshair pointer.
You can now adjust a single keyframe by dragging it up or down to change its level, or
from side to side to move it forward and backward in time.

The keyframe appears as
a small diamond at the
point where you clicked.

114

Part I

Audio Mixing

To adjust a section of a clip’s overlay in the middle of four keyframes:

m

Drag just that section up or down, as if you were dragging the entire overlay.

To delete audio level keyframes in the Timeline, do one of the following:

m

Control-click the keyframe you want to delete, then choose Clear from the
shortcut menu.

m

Select the Delete Point tool in the Tool palette (or press the P key twice). Place the Delete
Point tool on the keyframe you want to delete, then click to delete the keyframe.

m

With the Selection tool selected, press and hold down the Option key, then move the
pointer to the keyframe you want to delete. When the pointer turns into the Delete
Point tool, click to delete the keyframe.

To select a range of keyframes to modify:

m

Use the Range Selection tool to select a group of keyframes. You can now move, delete,
or change the level of just those keyframes.

To adjust the audio level of a group of clips simultaneously:

1

In the Timeline, select a group of audio clips whose levels you want to adjust.

2

Choose Modify > Levels.

3

Use the slider to adjust the audio level and choose Relative or Absolute from the
pop-up menu, then click OK.

 Relative: Adjusts each track’s audio level relative to the current level.
 Absolute: Changes all selected tracks to the value indicated in the number field next

to the slider.