White Rabbit Audio Pack
1. Introduction
These presets have been designed to allow filmmakers without prior knowledge to mould audio in
a visual way using as little jargon as possible. A preset may consist of combinations of
compression, multi band processing, equalisation and special effects, all tailor made to a specific
goal or aim.
White Rabbit Audio Presets takes into account how our ears hear certain frequencies, the amount
of space available in a digital playback system (namely headroom) and how much this affects the
dynamics (differences between loud and quiet), which in turn affect how natural a piece of audio
feels.
The building blocks of audio treatment (Equalisation, Compression and Level) partner naturally
with our sensation of distance, width and frequency (such as tone). It’s true that frequencies, in
much the same was as certain visual elements, irk the senses. The frequencies that naturally
sound boomy, muddy, harsh and sharp to our ears have a relative centre frequency and can be
treated in a general way to appeal to a wide range of audio sources.
Effects and Presets
The Scene Specific Effects look to hone in on elements that should be in focus, push back
unwanted background hiss or noise, and immediately improve the intelligibility of very rawly
recorded source audio.
The Special Effects are effects for documentary and short films which can be combinations of
reverb, widening and compression of certain frequencies, panorama and extreme equalisation.
The Audio Correction Tools, can be applied on top of other effects. In their design, specifics are
avoided (such as sharp cuts at certain frequency points) so as to be able to layer with other
frequency bands, using your ears a guide. Experiment, drag and drop and follow your intuition.
2. How to Use
For initial installation instructions, please see the separate PDF document included with this
download.
Usage within the NLE is as follows -
In Adobe Premiere CC, the White
Rabbit Audio Pack is located in the
Effects panel under Presets. When
using for the first time, flip open the
folders to see the individual effects.
To apply the effect, simply drag and
drop it to your clip on the Timeline, or
into the active Effects pane for the
selected clip.
In Final Cut Pro X, the audio presets
are located in the Effects panel under
Audio. Click one of the preset groups
such as White Rabbit Audio Effects
and the individual presets will appear
on the right-hand side.
Drag and drop the effect to your clip
on the timeline to apply it. Please
note that once applied to a clip, Final
Cut Pro X does not display the preset
name in the Effects pane for the
selected clip, but the individual Apple
plugins (such as Channel EQ) used
within the preset. This is a limitation
of FCPX.
3. Effects
Cinematic Crowd
About
The cinematic crowd controls the mid and low frequencies using multi-band compression set to
high ratios with fast attacks. This means the compressor reacts to loud bangs and crashes,
rumbles and pops in the frequencies abruptly, pulling their levels down quickly whilst leaving other
frequencies alone. Simultaneously the compressor compensates by boosting the very low
frequencies to give the audio a more controlled body that doesn’t change erratically. The
soundstage is widened using pseudo stereo effects and a medium length reverb is applied at low
levels to give a sense of distance.
Where to use
The cinematic crowd has applications on busy, chaotic source audio which suffers from being too
boomy, bassy in the low frequencies and lacks intelligibility in the mid and high frequencies.
Large crowds, festivals, protests, very dynamic scenes with a variety of sounds all competing for
space. This preset can be used to give source audio a more grandiose, longer and deeper
panorama and detailed and intelligible mids and high frequencies. With scenes that lack warmth
and depth and are too dynamic (too loud in some parts and too quiet in others) the Cinematic
Crowd preset works best.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Cinematic Crowd’ preset onto your active
clip’s effects panel.
Control Loud Sources
About
The control loud sources preset is self explanatory in that it effectively processes very loud and/or
very dynamic source audio with hard knee brickwall limiting and multi band compression at high
thresholds and ratios.
Where to use
The Control Loud Sources preset is best used on source audio that is full, loud and overly
dynamic. Scenes that contain multiple sound sources, poorly gained recordings that require
energy but are too out of control and chaotic. Low frequencies can be particularly boomy and
erratic on loud source audio. Compression can give source audio energy and punch whilst
controlling audio levels and preventing sound sources from distorting or clipping.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Control Loud Sources’ preset onto your
active clip’s effects panel.
Immersive Widener
About
The Immersive Widener preset is a psychoacoustic stereo effect that combines parametric EQ
with enhanced stereo imaging to create a more immersive sound stage
Where to use
The Immersive Widener excels on mono sources that lack width and a sense of natural space. It’s
best put to use in combination with other effects such as Wamth and Brightness to master source
audio in subtle ways. A lifeless monophonic recording can benefit from perceived width
enhancement improving clarity and bringing out high frequency detail.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Immersive Widener’ preset onto your active
clip’s effects panel.
Live Music Inside
About
The Live Music Inside preset primary aim is to enhance poor quality live music recordings which
were captured inside a room. It looks to predict the roominess of a number of amplified
instruments, the frequencies that voices sound most coherent and the changing dynamics of live
performances.
Where to use
The Live Music Inside primer can be used on recordings of live concerts, monophonic or
stereophonic captures of instruments, voices, choirs, bands, rehearsals and musicals. The room
acoustics differ depending on it’s size and shape, as well as how many people are in the
audience. Drop this primer onto clips that need more separation in instruments, more control of
the loud and quiet parts of the recording, more clarity in the high frequencies ‘air’ and ‘brightness’
and less muddy, boominess in the low mid frequencies. Live music recordings can often suffer
from being too thin and weightless due to the excessive compression of built in camera mic
dealing with very loud sources.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Live Music Inside’ preset onto your active
clip’s effects panel.
Live Music Outside
About
The Live Music Outside preset can enhance recordings from a range of capture devices that
contain multiple instruments performed outside without walls or boundaries. Combining
parametric EQ with widening and a mastering tool set to gentle treat frequencies that often pile up
and converge in performances with many instruments and uses no compression to preserve the
natural dynamics of source audio.
Where to use
The Live Music Outside primer can be used on recordings of live outdoor concerts, monophonic
or stereophonic captures of instruments, voices, choirs, bands, rehearsals and other outdoor
performances. Similarly to the use of Live Music Indoor you can being by dropping this primer
onto clips that need more separation in instruments, and more body and weight. A reduction in
the boominess in the low mid frequencies, depending on the source audio, can be achieved with
the primer in combination with Audio Presets such as Less Boom and Less Bass.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Live Music Outside’ preset onto your active
clip’s effects panel.
Loudness Energy
About
The Loudness Energy preset utilises a loudness maximiser to intelligently increase the levels of
source audio which in turn hits a hard knee brickwall limiter which prevents levels going beyond a
certain threshold.
Where to use
Loudness Energy is most effective on quiet sources that lack energy and need more gain as well
as source audio that could be more compressed and squashed. Special effect for dialogue,
chaotic but poorly recorded street scenes, action sequences and special sound effects or foley
can benefit from loudness maximisation when the source audio feels weak and timid.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Loudness Energy’ preset onto your active
clip’s effects panel.
Mono to Stereo Warm Sound Stage
About
Mono to Stereo Warm Sound Stage combines pseudo stereo reverb and precise Equalisation,
excitation and gain to place narrow monophonic source audio onto a warmer, fuller stereo
perceived sound stage
Where to use
Mono to Stereo Warm Sound Stage can be applied to any monophonic recording, or narrow
stereo image. Churches, stadiums, factory halls, outdoor events and other source audio can be
enhanced and given a new lease of life. Place Mono to Stereo Warm Sound Stage on scenes
which have a sense of depth and size, and which require a more cinematic soundscape
accompaniment.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Mono to Stereo Warm Sound Stage’ preset
onto your active clip’s effects panel.
Natural Air
About
Natural air lifts frequencies above 10kHz which feel airy and breathy. Combining this with an aural
exciter, high-mid frequencies are enhanced.
Where to use
Natural Air excels at lifting dull recordings that sound underwater and lack brightness. Lo-fi
recordings, distance voices, scenes captured on built in camera mics, and even location
recordings that require a more airy, breathy feel. For something more subtle use the ‘Headphones’
Natural Air primer in this case.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Natural Air’ preset onto your active clip’s
effects panel.
Street Noise Reduction
About
The Street Noise Reduction preset looks to enhance frequencies around low mid and mid
frequencies dominated by busy streets, cars, noises and machines.
Where to use
Street Noise Reduction can be used in combination with other presets to soften muddy boomy
frequencies and life high mid frequencies such as those taken up by voices, as well as emphasise
high tops to lift more detail out of the messy high mids and low mids of hectic street noise
scenes. Noisy places, street scenes, messy recordings, source audio lacking clarity, muddy and
boomy source audio with a confused soundscape.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Street Noise Reduction’ preset onto your
active clip’s effects panel.
Vocal Focus
About
The Vocal Focus preset combines vocal specific equalisation, air and breath. This is combined
with multi band compression, high mid frequency excitation and width reduction.
Where to use
Vocal Focus can be used on all source audio that requires more emphasis on voices, dialogue
and speech. It’s aim is to lift dialogue from poorly recorded material, subtly improve recordings
from built in camera mics, and master dialogue recorded with room noise problems.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Vocal Focus’ preset onto your active clip’s
effects panel.
Warm Natural Analogue
About
Warm Natural Analogue combines high and low pass equalisation and tube-modelled
compression to mimic the smooth highs and warm low frequencies of analogue equipment.
Where to use
Warm Natural Analogue can be used on particularly thin, weightless and lifeless source audio
including dialogue, scenes outside, foley, effects and music. It’s analogue compression modelling,
emphasised low mids and lows as well as frequencies being rolled off and removed above
16,000Hz make it sound more aged and naturally dull, without digital high frequencies and crispy
tops.
How to use
To apply the preset simply drag the ‘Audio Effects - Warm Natural Analogue’ preset onto your
active clip’s effects panel.