Essential Plugins and Workflows for Re-Recording Mixers, Part 1 - Dialogue Editing, Repair and Perfecting

Start with Gain Staging

Gain staging is the foundation of any successful dialogue editing workflow. It ensures your audio levels are balanced throughout the signal chain, preventing distortion or noise buildup. Start by adjusting input levels on your dialogue clips to maintain a healthy signal-to-noise ratio while leaving enough headroom for processing. I pull the Waves L1 Limiter plugin onto my Vocal Aux Sub and disable it, using it just for reference. I try to aim my Dialogue to sit around -8 db. Remember, proper gain staging sets the stage for clean and professional mixes and helps you avoid issues later. Check out Avid’s Resource Center Guide for more detailed information on Gain Staging in Audio Production, navigate to the section: Gain staging during mixing.

Render Friend, Macros, and Shortcuts Considerations

Efficiency is key when working on dialogue-heavy projects. Use macros and keyboard shortcuts to speed up repetitive tasks like rendering noise reduction or applying fades. Tools like Jack Meadows’ "Render Friend" can help streamline your workflow by automating common processes, saving time for creative decisions. Other tools like SoundFlow paired with a Stream Deck can help you program specific Macros in Pro Tools, for example: Suspending and Writing EQ Automation.

Noise Reduction: Hush, Clear, DxRevive Pro, RX Vocal Noise Reduction

Clean dialogue is the most important aspect of any re-recording mix for film or television. It’s important to invest in a variety of plugins, for different use cases. Re-Recording Mixing, particularly perfecting Dialogue is an art and a trade. It’s not just about the plugins, it’s about learning when and how to use them as well as when NOT to use them. Many NLE’s have their own AI voice reduction built in these days. I tell Editors, there are use cases for these, but when it comes to achieving a professional mix, I want to have A LOT more control. I don’t want to completely strip my dialogue of it’s natural characteristics. Blanketed AI Noise reduction processes often end up sounding very weird and unnatural. That’s why, as a professional Re-Recording Mixer, I have many tools with the knowledge and listening environment to perfect my dialogue while maintaining the integrity of the original recording.

iZotope RX Advanced’s Vocal Noise Reduction module is probably the most transparent, in that it reduces overall noise levels without completely stripping background ambiences. Accentize DxRevive Pro excels at removing background noise and restoring distorted and missing frequencies in dialogue recordings while preserving natural vocal tones. Depending on how heavy you use DxRevive will likely dictate how much you will need to add back in ambiences or room tone to your mix. If you’re working on a film or television series — you probably don’t want all of your dialogue sounding like it’s been recorded in a vocal booth. That being said, this plugin can absolutely save unusable recordings and help you avoid ADR. Two of my most reached for plugins for cleaning dialogue are Hush Pro and Supertone Clear. These tools are invaluable for reducing hiss, hum, or ambient distractions without compromising clarity.

RX De-click, De-crackle, and De-clip

iZotope RX Advanced’s De-click, De-crackle, and De-clip modules are indispensable for repairing damaged audio. Use these tools to eliminate mouth clicks, crackling sounds, and digital clipping artifacts that can distract from the performance.

RX Ambience Match

After I’ve gain staged all of my dialogue and while I’m doing a pass of noise reduction and cleaning, I often pull up RX Ambience Match to extend sections of room tone where Dialogue edits are short and potentially choppy. This can help the Dialogue sound more natural. Matching ambient noise between takes is another step for seamless dialogue transitions. Cutting in Room Tone is definitely one way to do this, and often times we don’t have Room Tone! iZotope RX Advanced’s Ambience Match is a great tool as it allows you to extract and apply consistent room tone across clips, ensuring a natural flow in your mix.

Volume Automation: Refining Levels with Waves L1

After initial gain stage leveling while watching my Waves L1 meter, I use volume automation to fine-tune dialogue dynamics. This step allows you to emphasize emotional moments or ensure clarity in quieter passages while maintaining overall consistency. This is a time consuming process that you get faster at with time. To flip between clips and volume automation in Pro Tools, use the keyboard shortcut “-” (Track View Toggle) or option + “-” to toggle all of your lanes to volume automation. With this stage, I’m watching my Waves L1 Meter (-8 db target) paying attention to my room tone levels and following the natural dynamics of the voice while avoiding clipping or sections that dip to low. Headphones are great for this stage and help you hear if any spectral noise repair is necessary.

EQ’ing with FabFilter Pro Q4 (or Pro Q3)

FabFilter Pro Q4 (or its predecessor Pro Q3) is a go-to EQ for dialogue editing. Its precision allows you to remove problematic frequencies like low-end rumble or harsh sibilance without coloring the sound unnaturally. Dynamic EQ capabilities can be particularly useful for addressing issues that vary over time. You’ll want to switch between headphones and Studio Monitors for this stage. Be careful not to cut too much low frequency in your dialogue. Boosting high frequencies often help bring clarity (especially to Lav Mics), but it also can increase harshness. If the film will be playing in theaters, remember that theater speakers will be especially sensitive to boosts or cuts in frequencies. Make sure you’re bringing nuance and care with your EQ tool. For more on this, check out Ian Vargo’s blog post: Plugins for Audio Post-Production.

RX Connect - Spectral Repair

For more advanced repairs, RX Connect's Spectral Repair module is a lifesaver. It enables you to visually isolate and fix specific audio issues (e.g., coughs or chair squeaks) directly within your DAW. This tool is perfect for tackling problems that traditional plugins can’t address. It takes time and practice to learn this specific stand-alone audio software.

VCAs: Streamlining Your Workflow

Once I’ve got my Dialogue sitting perfectly where I want it to, I often flip on any Mastering plugins that I’ve got on my Vocal Aux Sub and my Master Fader to check my levels. I typically use a very simple mastering chain with a Pro C2 on my Vocal AUX Sub and Pro MB, Waves L1, and WLM Plus Loudness Meter on my Master. I often pull in my VCAs at this stage to start balancing the overall mix. Using VCAs (Voltage-Controlled Amplifiers) in your DAW helps manage multiple dialogue tracks efficiently. Group similar tracks under a VCA fader to control their overall level without affecting individual track automation.

Next Step: Move to Balancing Music and Dialogue

Once your dialogue is clean and polished, the next step is balancing it with music and other elements of your mix. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series, where we’ll dive into workflows and plugins tailored for music balancing.

This blog post outlines essential tools and techniques for re-recording mixers focused on dialogue editing and repair. By combining industry-standard plugins like iZotope RX and Waves L1 with efficient workflows, you can achieve truly professional results. Having your Dialogue absolutely DIALED will set the stage for an amazing overall mix. The Editor, Director and the whole team will be wow’d at what is possible to achieve in audio post and psyched to premiere the project!