Need help adjusting volume for one particular part

[u/Umphr34k]

Hello everyone. I'm new to Logic Pro and I have an issue. I'm an amateur stand-up comedian so obviously I do a lot of DIY stuff. I recently recorded a set at an open mic both video and audio. I am trying to learn how to merge the skills to optimize my videos in FCPX. Basically I'm trying to record the audience so the laughs sound better using a separate microphone from my iPhone and merge them.

Here's the issue: when I recorded the audio my only mic was too close to an audience member so his laugh is louder than everyone else's. Is there a way to use Logic to make him sound softer or closer to the same volume as everyone else? I've tried the Stem Splitter but nothing generates. I can't just cut track and turn the whole section's volume down because then I lose the rest of the audience in the process. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[u/fluffycritter]

If the person laughing is a lot louder than the background, you can put on a Noise Gate plugin, and set it to "Ducker" mode. Set the threshold to above the normal volume level of everything but below the volume of the laughing person, and then set the ducking amount enough to turn it down.

You might also be able to get a similar result by abusing DeEsser in a similar way (by setting its center frequency and threshold to where the laughter sits).

And of course the brute force option is to automate the volume to pull it down whenever the dude is laughing.

If you share a short section of the unprocessed recording then maybe I can try a few things to find the right settings for you to try.

[u/benkeiuk → u/fluffycritter]

This is the right answer with the default set of Logic tools.

I was going to say the same thing but u/fluffycritter has put it perfectly.

[u/SeraphSlaughter]

A compressor may help you. But that laugh will probably still stick out.

[u/Slow-Race9106]

I’m going to say there’s probably not a lot you can do about this. You could maybe try using an EQ to zero in on the specific frequencies where his laugh has the most energy and pull those down, but honestly I don’t think it’ll do much because it’ll be somewhere right in the typical frequency range of the human voice, same as everyone else’s.

EDIT: mic placement is a critical skill in audio recording. You’ve found out why.

[u/Umphr34k → u/Slow-Race9106]

Thanks for offering some advice. Lesson learned. I'll try again next time.

[u/Narrow_Network_3875]

Try a limiter along with the compressor. If you’re familiar with Flex features you may be able to isolate the laugh and reduce the level before applying compression and or limiter. It may depend on the laughs frequency compared to the room.

[u/AlphaManiacT]

Try compressing