6 min read
Clip gain vs track volume vs automation: what beginner editors should know
Three different volume controls, three different jobs. Here is when to use clip gain, track volume, and automation in your video edit.
Every video editor has stared at a clip and wondered whether to move the yellow line, the clip gain, or the track fader. The confusion is normal because the three controls look similar. They each solve a different problem and the best editors use them in combination.
Clip gain fixes the source
Clip gain changes the level of the audio clip itself. It is the first place to fix a clip that is too loud or too quiet. Think of it as setting the correct input level for each recording. In Premiere, clip gain is in the clip menu. In Resolve, use the Inspector panel. In Fairlight, use the clip gain overlay on the waveform.
Track volume shapes the mix
Track volume controls the overall level of the whole track. It is useful when you want one source type, like music or ambience, to sit at a consistent level under everything else. Use track volume for broad balance, not for fixing individual clips. If you change a clip gain, you should not need to fight with the track fader.
Automation draws the story
Automation writes level changes over time. It is what you use when the music needs to dip under a line of dialogue, then come back up. It is also what makes a car door slam loud and then the room tone settle. Automation is the last stage of mixing, after clip gain and track volume are roughly correct.
The right order
- Set clip gain first so every clip is roughly the right level.
- Set track volume so each type of source sits in the right group balance.
- Add automation last to smooth moments and emphasize the story.