You can lower the volume of audio in After Effects primarily by adjusting the "Audio Levels" property of your audio layer. Here's a breakdown of how to do it:
Adjusting Audio Levels
The most straightforward way to reduce audio volume is through the "Audio Levels" property.
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Select the Audio Layer: In your After Effects timeline, click on the layer containing the audio you want to adjust.
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Reveal Audio Properties: Press the "L" key twice quickly ("LL") on your keyboard. This shortcut reveals the "Audio Levels" property for the selected layer. You can also find it by expanding the layer's properties: Layer > Audio > Audio Levels.
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Adjust the Levels:
- Dragging the Slider: Click and drag the Audio Levels slider to the left to decrease the volume (negative dB values). Drag it to the right to increase the volume (positive dB values). The values are measured in decibels (dB).
- Typing a Value: You can also click on the numerical value next to the slider and manually type in a desired dB level. Negative values reduce the volume, while positive values increase it. A value of 0 dB represents the original volume.
Keyframing Audio Levels for Dynamic Adjustments
After Effects allows you to keyframe audio levels, meaning you can create changes in volume over time.
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Set Initial Level: Adjust the "Audio Levels" to your starting volume.
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Enable Keyframing: Click the stopwatch icon next to "Audio Levels" at the point in time where you want the volume change to begin. This creates your first keyframe.
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Move to a New Time: Move the current-time indicator (the blue playhead) to a different point in your timeline where you want the volume to change.
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Adjust and Set New Keyframe: Adjust the "Audio Levels" again. After Effects automatically creates a new keyframe at the current-time indicator with the new volume level.
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Repeat: Repeat steps 3 and 4 to create more keyframes and shape your audio volume over time.
Other Considerations:
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Audio Effects: After Effects also has audio effects that can control volume, such as "Amplify" and "Compressor." These are located under Effect > Audio. These offer more sophisticated control. The "Amplify" effect is a more precise method for boosting or lowering volume, while "Compressor" reduces the dynamic range (difference between the loudest and quietest parts) of the audio.
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Audio Mixer: While not directly for lowering volume for specific clips, the Audio Mixer (Window > Audio Mixer) can be used to monitor and adjust the overall output level of your composition.
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Clipping: Be mindful of clipping. If your audio levels are too high (especially positive dB values), the audio may distort and sound unpleasant. Watch the audio meters to ensure they aren't consistently peaking at the top.
By using these methods, you can effectively lower the volume of audio in After Effects and achieve the desired sound for your video projects.
