User Guide

CHAPTER 4
156
Managing Layers
The VU meter in the Audio palette displays the volume range for the audio as it plays. The
red blocks at the top of the meter represent the limit of what your system can handle.
When the audio volume extends past the top of the meter, After Effects makes the speaker
icons red as a warning that audio is clipping. If you don’t lower the level, the audio
playback may be distorted when rendered. Reset the warning signal to black by clicking
the red speaker icon.
Adjust the audio level and set level keyframes by dragging the level sliders as you preview
an audio layer.
To set the volume level of an audio layer in the Audio palette:
1 Select the layer in the Composition window or Timeline window.
2 If the Audio palette is not visible, choose Window > Show Audio. For greater precision
in setting levels, drag the resize icon in the lower right corner of the Audio palette to
increase its size.
3 In the Audio palette, adjust volume in one of the following ways:
• To set the level of the left and right channels together, drag the center slider up or down.
• To set the level of the left channel, drag the left slider up or down, or type a new value in
the levels box at the bottom of the left slider.
• To set the level of the right channel, drag the right slider up or down, or type a new value
in the levels box at the bottom of the right slider.
Including and excluding audio
You can include or exclude audio in the preview or rendered version, applying this option
at either the composition or layer level. By default, audio is included.
To include or exclude an audio track from a composition:
Choose Layer > Switches > Audio to remove or add the checkmark by the Audio
command.
By default, a check mark appears by the Audio command to indicate that audio is included
for previews and rendering of the selected composition or layer. Audio icons ( ) in the
Features switches in the Timeline window also indicate whether or not audio is included.
UG.book Page 156 Wednesday, February 21, 2001 12:05 PM