So I have a recorded interview where the interviewer is hugely louder than the interviewee. In Cubase I would just draw a volume curve to drop the loud parts and then compress/limit and bring up the level. I then also want to de-noise and use a few Wavelab tools.
So how do I draw in a volume curve in Wavelab so I can do all the files in Wavelab. It seems like it should be obvious but either I’m searching for the wrong term or it doesn’t exist.
I have tried heavy limiting but that doesn’t sound as good as just dropping the level.
It is actually fairly obvious (and it’s all in the manual). Just do a search for ‘volume curve’.
To use an envelope curve in Wavelab 12, create a montage containing the interview and you’ll find a volume curve in every clip. You can add volume nodes/events by double-clicking on the curve and you can drag existing nodes as required.
Best to look in the manual for precise editing procedures of volume curves. There’s a lot to learn if you’re not familiar.
The only thing I don’t like is you can’t audition it until you apply it. I like to loop and edit while I listen or at least move back and forward to see how it actually sounds. With this I would have to apply then roll back. Change again, apply and roll back. Is there nothing I can draw to directly like in Cubase?
No not at all if you’re using the montage. You didn’t say if you are using the Audio editor or the Audio Montage. My advice. Use the Audio Montage. You can use loop and edit in there.
No. Wavelab is not Cubase. But TBH once you get used to the WL way of doing things it is more than adequate. Don’t forget to read the manual!!! If you are using the Audio Montage don’t forget the ‘Lower Selection’ and ‘Raise Selection’ functions in the Envelope ribbon.
P.S. Don’t forget to read the manual.
I am reading the manual but it’s not always obvious. If I open in montage then the envelope isn’t even there. I have to then go into edit where it does appear. That is not the same place as it is in the wave edit screen. I’m used to reading the Cubase manual but the fine detail of exactly what to do is lacking. I’ve found me scratching my head a few times while doing this. By the way I only ever do single files so don’t particularly need to use montage. I would expect a simple feature like this to work just as well in wave edit,
I’ll keep at it and I definitely read the manual. That was the first place I went but the terminology was not what I expected. That’s why I asked the question. So please don’t push the read the manual narrative as I do read the manual and always have done. I’m just not finding it very intuitive
I can understand you not finding the manual intuitive. But you may be looking in the wrong place.
Please do ignore what follows if you have no intention of using the Audio montage for this. The following is only relevant to using the Audio Montage.
Unfortunately I don’t see any better option than recommending you read the manual. The section about montage envelopes is pretty clear and well written. Rather than me attempting to re-write here what is already written in the manual I thought it best for you to go there instead, and as you might imagine I (and probably others too) don’t always have the time to re-iterate all the details in a topic like this - there are a LOT of details and an inevitable learning curve.
Other than that I have no further suggestions, except maybe looking for videos about envelopes for clips on the internet - you may be able to find some video tutorials.
Of course, if you don’t want to use the montage that’s up to you. For explanations / tips / help on how to use the Envelope function in the Audio editor I’ll leave that to others on this forum.
I don’t have much experience with dialogue editing, but I would also suggest the Montage, as you can always easily undo or adjust your edits, and you can hear (and see) them immediately.
The envelope for Volume/Fades should always be visible and active for every clip by default, although it might not be immediately obvious if you work with stereo files and have not used the Montage before (as the Envelope is drawn right between the two channels, there are only 2 visible nodes at each end of a clip).
I think this is a pretty good video to demonstrate how to work with envelops in a Montage and where you have to look at, regardless of volume, panorama or effect automation.
I also agree to check the manual for some more information, here a link to the online manual for the topic Clip Envelops, especially the sub-topics Adding Envelope Curve Points and Editing Envelope Curve.
Mind that you can only set a volume gain of max +6dB but down to -∞ (silence) via the Volume/Fades envelope. This is also true for the Envelope tool in the Editor, but there you could just apply it again, if for example you need a higher gain.
Another approach I could think of, is to split the dialogue clip onto 2 tracks in a Montage - one with the interviewer, the other one with the interviewee. This way you might be able to just set a specific gain on the whole track instead of dealing with individual envelopes, and you could also use different effects/effect settings for each track.
The difficult/tedious part would be to separate both speakers, as at least I am not aware of a function that can easily split and move a selection of a clip onto another track in one go.
If you really don’t want to work with a Montage, there is yet another option to just use the Gain tool in the Editor instead of the Envelope tool. The tool offers a crossfade option to prevent hard cuts and clicks in the audio (using the Default Fades/Crossfades settings from your Global Preferences). With a preset and a shortcut you might be able to work pretty quickly. Still, there is no way to “preview” what you are doing, so you will probably have to try things out a bit before you edit the whole file.
Thanks for all the answers. A few different methods between wave edit and montage. I’ve got it working in montage now. I didn’t realise the middle line was the volume line and yes I don’t have to apply to audition
The work I was doing is finished (I did the level in Cubase) so I’m now just trying to learn a bit so I can use Wavelab for my editing and use montage which looks very powerful. I’m usually good at guessing how to do stuff but that hasn’t worked so the manual is on my iPad and I’m reading it all! Well at least that way I will know if something exists, what it’s called and where to find it. The next thing is where to render the effects as there is no render button as in the wave edit. I saved a new version with the volume changes successfully but it said no effects applied. I did have effects on the clip. Anyway that’s what I’m looking at next when I get back home later.
Interesting thing here. If you make the envelope/volume changes and click ‘Apply’, there is no way (within the Envelope window to undo the changes). You can remove the envelope line by clicking on the UNDO arrow in the Envelope window, yes, but the volume changes remain.
As far as I can see, to completely remove the changes you made, you need to press the UNDO arrow in the WL AUDIOEDITOR header line. Is this a bug?
Also, there is no AUDIO AUDITION here which would be helpful. The wave changes visually, yes, but the audio remains unchanged until you hit ‘Apply’. To me, the Envelope feature is needing some help to be truly useful.
