I (and many other editors) asked Avid for it, and we got it. Here's a couple of additions in version 3.5 that will save you some time and aggravation. Both of these additions affect the level of audio, but they do it at different times. Method One allows you to adjust the level after importing, while Method Two makes the level adjustment during the import.

 
METHOD ONE: Attenuation/Gain Adjustment After Import
 

When audio is imported off of CD, it comes into Avid very loud (about 14dB too loud!). In the past, this meant that each individual song or sound effects clip had to be loaded into the Source Window individually. Then you'd have to use your Audio Mix Tool to set the level to something that wouldn't blast you later when you went to actually use it. Now, this was not that big of a deal when you had only one or two clips to deal with. The frustration came when you had many songs or sound effects to contend with. Here's method number one to easily deal with this after you've already imported the clips:

1. Import all your sound effects or music off of CD into a bin.
       
2. Select all of the clips in the bin which you want to affect.
    * A fast way to select all clips in a bin is to type Command (Mac) or Control (PC) plus the letter "A."
         
3. From the CLIP MENU, select APPLY GAIN as in the picture below:
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
       
      
        
4. A dialog window will open as pictured below:
    
     
     
       
        
5. To lower the level, just type in a negative value such as –14.
         
6. The adjustment is not permanent. It is not affecting the actual media file. At any time in the Source window or in the Timeline/Sequence the level can be lowered further or returned to the level at which it was imported by using the Audio Mix Tool or applying audio keyframes.
       
          

METHOD TWO: Attenuation/Gain Adjustment During Import
     

Like the method above, this also affects the level of your audio (though only audio which is imported). The example I'll use here, as I did above, will again be music or sound effects imported off of CD. Usually, audio imported off of CD comes in about 14dB or so too loud {NOTE: This is only a rough example value. Do a test import with one clip to determine your specific needs before importing many clips simultaneously}. This method allows you to set a level adjustment that will be applied during the import.

1. In your Project Window, click the Settings tab.
2. In your Settings, open the IMPORT SETTINGS
3. In the Import Settings, reveal the AUDIO TAB as pictured below:

   

     
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
     
     
     
    
         
         
      
           
        

4. Enable (check) the box for "Apply attenuation / gain effect on import."
5. Enter a negative value (e.g. –14) or a positive value (e.g. +3), depending on your needs.
6. If you only want this setting to affect audio imported off of CD, then enable (check) the "CD Only" box.
7. Click the OK button.
8. Now, any time you import audio this adjustment will be applied.
   
9. The adjustment is not permanent. It is not affecting the actual media file. At any time in the Source window or in the Timeline/Sequence the level can be lowered further or returned to the level at which it was imported by using the Audio Mix Tool or applying audio keyframes.