chapter 23 Cutting Sound and Working with Multiple tracks 511 in practice of traffic outside the window. For this reason, all filter effects have the ability to toggle instantly on and off. To really hear what effect an audio filter is having on your sound, you need to compare it regularly to the reference of the original track. Without toggling back to your reference, your ear can get lost as you apply effect after effect, straying further from the parameters of acceptable audio manipulation (Figure 23-29). Summary Clean dialogue edits and consistent levels are essential for the maintenance of continuity in dialogue-driven films. Here is a summary of techniques we use to keep an edited sequence feeling like it's unfolding seamlessly and continuously: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Stay in sync. Use split audio edits. Maintain consistent room tone. Use cross-fades for hard cuts. Never let audio peak above 0 dB. Maintain consistent and appropriate audio levels from clip to clip and scene to scene Figure 23-29 The audio filter toggle icon (arrows) enables you to easily switch a filter effect on and off, allowing you to compare the effect to your original audio for reference.