Game Trailer Editor

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How to Quickly Mix Sound While Editing

When editing, you're constantly adjusting and re-adjusting the audio levels of dialogue, music and sound effects. But while the mixing windows and rubber bands are good for final mixes, they're far too slow and cumbersome for the initial edit because you have to manually click keyframes and move them.

Here’s how I do my quick and dirty sound mixes while I’m editing.

Here’s an example of how a timeline might start before anything is adjusted.

Here’s an example of how a timeline might start before anything is adjusted.


STEP 1: Add edits (Cmd+K) to the music at the beginning and end of the dialogue

STEP 1: Add edits (Cmd+K) to the music at the beginning and end of the dialogue


STEP 2: Select the new clip, use the shortcut for “Audio Gain”, and lower the dB of the music

STEP 2: Select the new clip, use the shortcut for “Audio Gain”, and lower the dB of the music


STEP 3: Add transitions to smooth out the change in volume

STEP 3: Add transitions to smooth out the change in volume

I put very short fades at the beginning directly when the dialogue starts, and a longer transition at the end so it gradually returns to full volume. Experiment with what sounds good to you.

This method is great because instead of using the mouse to move keyframes, you can use all the trimming keyboard shortcuts at your disposal in order to move the transition points if the dialogue should be moved or even deleted!