Apple Final Cut Pro 5 - Manual (Page 844)

Chapter 4 Audio Levels, Meters, and Output Channels 57
I
Floating Audio Meters
The floating audio meters display the output levels of the Viewer or Timeline with a
simplified stereo display. If you’ve set up more than two audio outputs in the Audio
Outputs tab of your Sequence Settings, the floating audio meters display the highest
levels of any audio outputs in either the right or left channel. The highest level of any
odd-numbered audio channel is displayed in the left meter, and the highest level of
any even-numbered audio channel is displayed in the right meter.
Unlike the track and Master meters, the floating audio meters do not show levels
above 0 dBFS.
Audio Peak Detection
When you capture audio, clipping occurs if any part of the audio signal goes over 0
decibels (dBFS). Because 0 dBFS is the maximum digital level possible, all levels that
would have been above 0 dBFS are set (clipped) at 0 dB. Because of the nature of digital
audio recording, such clipped audio typically results in a crackly, brittle-sounding clip that
is unsuitable for use in most projects. All occurrences of clipped audio appear as 0 dBFS
peaks. Excessive peaks indicate that your audio was recorded at unsuitable levels.
If your program has peaks in the audio, you can either recapture the audio at a better
level, or edit the audio appropriately to avoid them. Use the Mark Audio Peaks
command (in the Tools menu) to automatically identify audio peaks in clips or
sequences. It’s then up to you to decide what to do—not use those sections of audio
or rerecord them. For more information on this command, see Volume IV, Chapter 9,
“Diagnostic Tools for Clips.”
0 dBFS
Floating audio meter
Levels above 0 dBFS
Master meter