Apple Final Cut Pro 5 - Manual (Page 294)

Chapter 20 Capturing Audio 293
IV
To adjust the audio gain levels before capturing analog audio:
1 In the Log and Capture window, click the Clip Settings tab.
2 Do one of the following:
 Cue your tape to the reference tone recorded at the beginning of the tape, if you’re
recording from a premixed tape that includes a reference tone.
 Cue your tape to the clip with the loudest audio signal of all the clips you want to
capture on that tape.
3 Play back your tape.
4 Verify that the levels coming from your deck match the audio input meters on your
audio interface.
5 In the Clip Settings tabs of the Log and Capture window, enable the audio channels
that you want to capture audio from.
6 Adjust the gain on each audio input of your audio interface so that the Final Cut Pro
audio meters are equivalent to the meters on your deck.
Tone on analog media formats is usually set to 0 dB (analog). You need to choose an
equivalent digital level on the Final Cut Pro audio meters. The level you choose is
dependent on the bit depth you are using to capture your audio, as well as how much
dynamic range your audio has:
 16-bit audio: Typically, you should set a 0 dB analog tone to equal -12 dBFS digital.
 20- or 24-bit audio: You should set a 0 dB analog tone to equal -18 or -20 dBFS.
For more information about bit depth, see Volume III, Chapter 3, “Audio Fundamentals.”
Important: To avoid distortion, do not allow audio levels to go higher than 0 dBFS on
the Final Cut Pro audio meters.
Generic
VU meter
Final Cut Pro
audio meters
-30
-20
-10
-7
-4
-2
0
+2
+4
+7
- ∞
-66
-36
-24
-18
-12
-6
0
Relating 0 dB analog to –12 dB digital
-48