How To Quickly Balance Audio Levels In Final Cut Pro - Audio Limiter Effect Tutorial

Admit it... sometimes, you get a little loud. It happens to the best of us. In this video, I will show you how I use Final Cut's Audio Limiter Effect to QUICKLY make dialogue audio CONSISTENT throughout an entire video.
My Social Media
Twitter: bit.ly/SamWalterTwitter
Instagram: bit.ly/SamWalterInsta
Apple Support Page Links
Limiter: bit.ly/AudioLimiter
Compressor: bit.ly/AudioCompressor
Gear Used
Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
Lenses: XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 R LM OIS // XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR
Microphone: Rode Wireless GO // Rode SmartLav+ w/ TRS Adapter
Tripod: Manfrotto MT055XPRO3 Aluminum Tripod w/ 502HD Fluid Head
Editing Software: Final Cut Pro X // Adobe After Effects
Camera Man: My friend Joe

[@TesLatino]

You know... this is why I don't think I will ever stop going back to basics. After a long time I found myself just feeling good about the audio levels of my content again and this video (which I am sure I saw a couple of years ago also) brought me back to the basics. We adopt bad practices without noticing sometimes. Some people think only big channels can help, but this clearly shows we are all in this together. Thank you Sam. I don't know why you don't have more content. This was and still is great.

[@YakNZakFishing]

Brotha this was an absolute joy to watch! Your delivery, cadence, and pace was perfect. I learned something and you’ve gained a new subscriber! Win Win!!! You certainly deserve more subs!!!

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks so much! Hoping to serve up some more content soon!

[@kurisutofusan]

I watched many videos about this and you had the best explanation of a limiter so far! Most videos focus on the compressor and then they just mention "just add a limiter on top of that" without much explanation.

[@jenluv]

Two years later, this was so helpful! I'm having mic issues that are super annoying. Thank you!

[@ensingleton]

3 years later, this video is STILL providing value! Thanks Sam!

[@thefilmalliance]

Love the production value of this video. Amazing work- even with all that background noise, you demonstrated the limiter perfectly. Subscribed

[@samueljwalter]

Much appreciated!

[@software-sage]

Excellent video, very clear instructions with high quality content. This has saved me hours from adjusting each clips gain knob manually.

[@nickconnors8515]

Thank you for the amazing tutorial! Definitely helped a lot with the audio processing I needed! This is the first video of yours I've seen and all I have to say is keep up the great work!

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks so much! Really glad it helped. Im still trying to figure out this whole consistency thing, but I've got another one in the works right now!

[@ngonzale3]

Great tutorial. Channel EQ paired with this limiter is a big improvement in my audio. I still need to learn more about compression to see what I'm missing vs your techniques. Thank you very much for this video!

[@IkerUnzu]

Thank you soooo much !

[@MsTessG]

You have no idea how much I appreciated this video. It helped me quickly add some great audio to a video presentation. Thank you!

[@patriciapaints]

This was so much help, I had a whole online course that I had recorded throughout different days and some parts of the voice overs where much louder than others. This fixed my problem completely Thank you very much! ☺️ subscribed.

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad I could help!

[@clemensalud]

This sounds so great, was testing everything but this is wonderful, you are awesome! Thanks so much!

[@pinacolada2386]

this is the best video on the topic! the technique can not only be applied to video processing, but also music production

[@ImaginetMedia]

Excellent info. Very clear, concise and exactly what I was looking for Subscribed.

[@henriklarsson8809]

Awesome! Thank you. Very well explained and helpful. Makes a huge difference in my audio. 🙏

[@sagesmr5430]

Thank you!

[@elhippiegypsie1313]

loved it man! thanks for sharing your experience!

[@aidanjanes2293]

watched this in 2021 lost the video and finally found it again still one of the moat helpful videos ive ever found!

[@DeliRevv]

You, sir, are a life saver! Last night, I was conducting a video deposition over Zoom and unfortunately the doctor’s audio was lower than the attorneys. Since this is going to trial in 5 days, I was having a small panic attack until I tried your method which has worked a charm. Thank you so much!

[@RazShifrin]

SUBBED! great video and it's only a matter of short time till this channel blow up.

[@samueljwalter]

Hey thanks! I should probably get to making videos again so that can happen!

[@georgianageorgie8719]

Love your videos!!

[@TheThrustGuy]

Thank you! Worked out great!

[@IAmDavidWhipple]

Wow this is great. I've avoided the limiter because I didn't understand how to use it. Now I do and like the results.

[@bobrosberg55]

Great help, great tutorial, thanks much!

[@TravelAddictsLife]

Thank you Sam, great tutorial

[@bencorwin]

Awesome stuff! Thanks!

[@BrandonMenancio]

Great vid! Thanks!

[@keokiyuen5458]

Gold! Thank you my dude.

[@colzey]

Such a great video, thank you!! Easy to understand, concise and informative!

[@WillFly]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@trinitywave]

This is helpful! Thank you!!

[@JohnDennery]

I am shocked at your sub count. Super good video, love the content and quality. Thank you for sharing!

[@BangkokExplorer]

This advice saved me big time this afternoon! Many, many thanks!

[@XIIIBeatoSensei]

Great video, super helpful, great explanation, and this is the first time I see an outdoors FC tutorial XD. I liked that a lot!

[@brandcrumbs]

where have you been all my life - this is amazing

[@tpadn]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@mgunner69]

Good stuff mate. Appreciate it.

[@SparkinHeart]

BRO! You got some real skill creating videos. Much respect from a fellow creator.

[@johndoeble]

yo i keep coming back to this video cause it's to the point, informational, and i need not spend money on some expensive plug in. Thumbs up from me! 👍😌

[@lemontreeworldwide]

Great video thank you

[@sha3698]

Nice one, thanks a lot!

[@CityPlannerPlays]

This was an excellent video! You should keep at this - you're really good!!

[@samueljwalter]

Thank you! Will do another soon I promise!

[@gomogulist]

Wow, this helped me a lot. I was able to enhance audio quality.

[@AllenTyson]

Probably the coolest video intro on KZbin I have ever seen.

[@CarolineElizabethMartin]

appreciate this video☺️

[@idaelrey26]

Hey Sam, this is super helpful thank you so much for sharing it! Great work!!

[@samueljwalter]

Glad it could help! Thanks for watching!

[@Soratui]

New Final Cut Pro user like me try to find many tutorial to make my audio louder but none of them help. This one save me😭 Thank you so much !

[@guzjungjiraa]

very good and useful. thank u so much!!!

[@samueljwalter]

You are so welcome, glad it helped!

[@andrewkline_]

Really helpful stuff my man. I appreciate the content✊🏼

[@samueljwalter]

Appreciate it!

[@scotthibbard5746]

Thank you!!

[@ifedde]

Bro you should have like a gazillion subs, your videos are incredible! Thank you for this!!

[@samueljwalter]

hey thanks so much, more on the way hopefully!

[@southforkdancemoves]

I'm in WS too! Great video.

[@TAMAGNATV]

You saved my life ! THANK YOU SO MUCH... So easy and clear

[@samueljwalter]

Glad it helped!

[@enesay7]

THANK YOU FRİEND , IT HELPS ME A LOT

[@efetack]

Thank you. That was quick and a real good help. I like the quality of your video content. First time here. Subbed. I am at the beginning of my channel now after a long pause. Preparing my first clips now in Final Cut. Starting up a channel we don't want to get Audio Professionals I guess so, well, me not, haha. Thus this was an excellent QUICK help. Keep it up. Thx again.

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks so much! Glad you found it useful!

[@jawn6955]

hey man thanks for the excellent clear tutorial :) !

[@Playboyd72]

Thank you so much

[@Photobyashutosh]

well explained, i was searching for more

[@IagoAlmeidaI]

awesome tutorial

[@loamtroopers]

Great video my dude! Solid, to the point info. 👏👏

[@samueljwalter]

Appreciate it!

[@faheyjamestravel.]

Awesome! I learned soemthing very useful today! Thanks!

[@theyumee]

thank you so much for making this video😭 you're the best!!!

[@samueljwalter]

You are so welcome!

[@annabrickstock]

wow thanks os much!!!

[@romeo5970]

And he's back 🔥 🤜

[@samueljwalter]

Romeo Goodvibes glad to be back. Already working on another one!

[@romeo5970]

@@samueljwalter great!! am looking forward for it

[@MikeyJunior]

Thank you! This helped a ton!

[@samueljwalter]

Mikey Junior's KZbin Adventures glad I could help!

[@RemboUSMC]

Excellent explanation and excellent post production. I believe the 1.04k subscribers will have a lot more zeros in the future if all of your content is as high quality as this.

[@worldwidewallace]

This is a great tutorial. Still seeing FCPX videos where the audio in the actual video is not that great... this is 3 years old but still much better than all the other recommendations and plugins

[@JoeCastellon]

I subbed hoping you will continue to upload videos soon! This was an amazing tutorial!

[@hairdustry]

after & years my podcast listeners will love you

[@mitchellkilpatrick1647]

Great video! This is a great quick and dirty way of getting a good level. I would say the best approach would be to have a compressor set at 3:1 or 4:1 with a very fast attack and fast release right before the limiter. This is called "sharing the load" which typically gives a more natural result when it comes to gain reduction, as a limiter can easily distort when pushed too hard. That said, you will inevitably use more processing power. For this instance I think you are taking the most efficient approach. Thanks for the tutorial bro!

[@samueljwalter]

Yeah great advice! I actually use a compressor for all my dialogue, but you are right that this is more of a quick method to get passable results. I debated even making this since I feel like taking shortcuts is not really a great way to go about things. Better to do it the right way. But this comment was very encouraging that this method might still have some purpose. Thanks!

[@nichols9156]

Great video!

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks, I appreciate it!

[@theothqueenofengland]

Thanks for the help! And nicely edited video.

[@samueljwalter]

Thank you, glad it helped!

[@pimplethefrenchbulldog8870]

thank you for the tutorial. very helpful!

[@samueljwalter]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@EstudioInnovacionKansasCity]

wow, you've changed my audio life for the better. So quickly fixed my highs and lows that I used to keyframe before, now it's so easy. Thank you a million.

[@JasonParkerMagic]

Same for me... I was key-framing to fix them manually before!

[@speakenglishwithjohn8244]

Thanks a million

[@deadchannel2837]

beautiful video

[@Peteristic]

Great content, keep up the good work man

[@samueljwalter]

Appreciate it!

[@Birrdd]

Thanks my g

[@PhotowalksTV]

Subscribed! Love the video.

[@samueljwalter]

Hey thanks so much!

[@richlo5963]

i hope you do this for a living because youre awesome!

[@shouldigetit]

This was really solid. Surprised you aren't at 10k + subs

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks! Maybe one day!

[@micheltheodorou1110]

Thanks bro I use your technique since you uploaded, 2 years now

[@PSVisualss]

Really helpful! don't stop making videos.

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks, more to come!

[@phil.vision]

Great video

[@IrishTenorBanjo]

Brilliant this is a fantastic video

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks, appreciate it! More on the way!

[@chaank1069]

You have great content quality. I wish you’d continue making videos.

[@samueljwalter]

Thank you! Working on it!

[@ChrisGen]

Great content, you are a natural. You should keep making more videos

[@samueljwalter]

Hey, thanks! I definitely want to again soon.

[@ibefoolin18]

I’m On my way To give you a hug.. where are you right now! This just saved me hours of time…. Thank you!!

[@ksyutang]

Well explained. You earned yourself a subscriber. Thanks for this

[@samueljwalter]

Hey thanks! I’m actually on the middle of transitioning to a new full time job that will give me more personal time to make videos. More on the way!

[@ksyutang]

Looking forward to it. I can see you being one of my go to channels for FCP tutorials and your production is so good. Good luck with your new job

[@J-WolfOG]

Great job on the editing bro 👍

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks my guy!

[@LincolnLohan77]

Too good bro!

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks so much!

[@HISSHOU-7]

me re ayudó gracias

[@JoshuaMayo]

Yooo I live in Winston too! Awesome video brother

[@samueljwalter]

Oh sick! Always enjoy knowing about creatives in the 336! I’ll have to sub 👀

[@mauservstheworld8446]

Perfect video ✅💯

[@samueljwalter]

Thanks so much!

[@jonatansecka]

ouu thanks. btw nice video. i like to do some tutorial work inside of nature. it is really nice. continue making those videos

[@samueljwalter]

Thank you, I will!

[@streakingmastery4523]

Nice explanation and overall video. I liked your idea to go on location to describe the tool…more please!

[@samueljwalter]

Working on a script now!

[@pixienix]

was super concerned for your laptop balancing on your lap near water the whole time 😂 ty for the explanation!

[@samueljwalter]

well, you are smarter than me because I actually fried it after this shoot! haha

[@358studios]

Great video Sam. Sub! Me and audio don't get along... at all!! :) This really helped me understand the limiter much better. FYI - I get hammered on my channel for not getting into it quickly. That's just not me. Like your vid, I like building context at the beginning of the video, but it drives some of my subs nuts. In an effort to keep everyone happy I've started (like 3 videos ago) creating chapter markers for my vids. Seems to have quieted the haters. :) Just a thought. Keep at it man! Your content is tight and your channel is definitely going through the roof!

[@samueljwalter]

I probably a bit of a hypocrite as I personally get frustrated when tutorials don't get to the point, but idk man, its just feels so boring to make a video that strictly info based, got to have some fun with it! Don't let the haters get ya down, keep doing you! Great idea about the chapter markers. I think I made this video before that was a supported feature, I'll add them in soon.

[@CheekyCultured]

Hey mate, I just came across your channel and I find it really helpful. Of course, I've subscribed immediately! I am also a KZbinr myself, creating car content. I waste so much time on FCPX trying to adjust the sound level of different clips to the same level, one by one. It really bugs me cos the match volume function doesn't seem to do much and I want all my clips to sound as professional as possible, given my budget setup! Any thoughts? Do let me know! Keep up with your good work man!