Bright Spark, Tech Tip Writer
Unlike video, audio is always captured uncompressed (unless your source is HDV!). This means there is no need to reconform your audio for the sound dub, so great care should be taken during the offline capture process to ensure audio levels are captured correctly.
If coming from a digital source, capture it digitally, either via Firewire, AES or embedded SDI / SIF connectors. When capturing analogue audio via a mixer, make sure EQs are set to neutral, and levels are recorded at a decent level. Keep the audio tool open at all times and watch it when digitising. Digital clipping sounds very bad, can damage speakers and other audio equipment and renders audio irrecoverable, even in the most sophisticated dub. Audio levels in the audio tool should not exceed -10dB. This corresponds to maximum permissible broadcast level. Very short, sporadic peaks may exceed this in extreme circumstances, but the meters should never reach the orange levels.