Learning by doing: Audio levels

I'm setting the audio levels on my video project and trying a new approach. The Final Cut manual says the average level for digital audio should be -12dB. So while I'm listening to the sound as I go through the video, and adjusting the levels of the tracks, I'm also keeping an eye on the volume meter. It turns out that what sounds high enough, or too high, sometimes isn't. It's great to have an objective measure to work against.

Interestingly, some passages in the video can't reach an average of -12dB no matter how much I bump up the levels with keyframes. But at least I know where I'm going and can get them closer. The process is going faster than before, I feel more confident about it, and it's almost as if I set the levels without even hearing the audio. Now I just hope the end product sounds right.