Editing multiple Audio interview for video

[Andy B. Turner]

Most of my work is with single interview situations but I have recently shot a training type video that required the use of two microphones (Tram TR-50 lapels) on talent sitting in close proximity to each other. I have started editing this and it sounds ok, but I am having to bring the audio of one mic completely down while the other one is talking in order to not get a "roomy" feel to the audio. Is there a better way to handle this? Is there a better way to have shot it? Is is a little tediously to edit the entire video this way and is especially difficult when they are talking over each other. Any help would be appreciated.

[Perrone Ford]

Can you apply a noise gate so that the mic only becomes "hot" when the signal is above the threshold of the "other" speaker?

In other words if Speaker A has an average volume of 9 when they speak and Speaker B as heard through Speaker A's mic averages a 3, then set the gate to 6 and the only time you should hear that mic is when Speaker A is speaking.

[Gary Nattrass]

A better option is to use an expander, it will be more subtle than a noise gate and will allow you to just dip the mic that isnt being used.

[Andy B. Turner]

Gary could you explain a little more for me? I dont know what an expander is? Audio newbie here

Thanks

Originally Posted by Gary Nattrass

A better option is to use an expander, it will be more subtle than a noise gate and will allow you to just dip the mic that isnt being used.

EDIT: I just did a little toying with the expander/limiter filter in FCP and I think that is what I was looking for. That seems to help. Is this the best option for this type of work? It would seem that putting this filter on both channels would be the easy/quick fix?