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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Find the Lowpass effect
Select the audio clip you want to push into the background on your timeline. Then open the Effects panel (Window > Effects) and type Lowpass into the search field. You will find it under Audio Effects > Filter and EQ.
Why Lowpass? In real life, distance and walls soak up the high frequencies first, so far-away sounds lose their sparkle and feel dull and muffled. A lowpass filter does the same thing: it lets low frequencies through and cuts the highs.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Lowpass and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 2: Add it to your audio clip
Drag Lowpass onto the audio clip on your timeline, or double-click the effect while the clip is selected. Now open the Effect Controls panel. Under Audio you will see Lowpass listed next to the built-in Volume, Channel Volume and Panner effects. Expand it to reveal the Bypass checkbox and the Cutoff value.
Step 3: Lower the Cutoff value
The Cutoff value is the only setting you need. Click and drag the number, or double-click it and type a new one, while you listen to the clip. The rule from the video is simple: the lower the frequency, the more distant the audio source sounds.
The video drags the value down from roughly the 1500 Hz range to a few hundred hertz. Start high and go lower until the sound feels like it is coming from far away. Tick Bypass on and off to compare with the original sound.
Step 4: Match the sound to the shot
Sound should follow the picture. In the example, the clip of a car driving toward the camera uses a Cutoff of around 409 Hz, so the engine sounds far off. Then the video cuts to a close shot of a man lying in bed, and that clip gets its own value of around 327 Hz, which gives it a dull, enclosed, room-like feel.
Because the effect sits on each clip separately, you can give every shot its own setting. Check the result by playing across the cut and listening to how the sound changes from one shot to the next.
Step 5: Check the result on your timeline
Every audio clip with the effect shows a small purple fx badge on the timeline. Play the sequence from the start and make sure the distant sounds sit naturally under the rest of your mix. If a clip feels too muffled, raise the Cutoff a little. If it still sounds too close, lower it.
Tips
- Use your ears, not the number. The right Cutoff depends on the recording, so judge it by how the sound feels in the scene.
- Lower the volume too. A distant sound is also quieter. Pull the clip's Volume down a little for a more convincing effect.
- Add reverb for rooms. For sounds that come from another room, combine the Lowpass with a touch of reverb. See how to add reverb and echo for a starting point.
FAQ
Where is the Lowpass effect in Premiere Pro?
Open the Effects panel and search for Lowpass. It is located under Audio Effects > Filter and EQ.
Does a lower Cutoff make audio sound further away?
Yes. A lower Cutoff removes more of the high frequencies, so the sound becomes duller and feels more distant.
Can I use this effect on only part of a clip?
Yes. Cut the clip where you want the change to start, then apply Lowpass to just that section. You can also keyframe the Cutoff to change the sound over time.
Applying lots of effects by name all day? BetterFX lets you search and apply any effect with the keyboard.
