TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Soundforge - Normalizing a mix

Soundforge - Normalizing a mix

What is the method u use to normalize a mix you've just recorded in 'wav' format on soundforge??

I normally normalize using Peak levels first, then do it again using the Avg RMS power one.

sometimes i normalize it using peak level again afterward.

Am i doing it right?

And what rate do u set the decibels (dB) when using the Avg RMS power way?

the Help file said it would be best below 6.00, but sometimes i get it better when i use 10.00 or 12.00.



Note: This is all done after recording a mix with the levels regularly at the '0 dB' mark on the mixer, and occasionally going above it by one notch.

Re: Soundforge - Normalizing a mix

quote:

Originally posted by rafale the Help file said it would be best below 6.00, but sometimes i get it better when i use 10.00 or 12.00.

i dont know whats the best method, but if i'm right those dB levels are minus. so -10.00 and -12.00 are below -6.00.
but please correct me if im wrong

normalizing is not the way to go! you should use a compressor instead...

agreed, almost all electronic music works best with some form of overall compression rather than normalisation.

With sound forge, the best tool is the wave hammer - it's a poor man's maximiser, but when chained with the standard dynamic compressor, some eq and whatever fx you need, it's a pretty powerful tool! Try it on it's own to start with...you'll be amazed at how much louder your song can go without sounding weird.

yup i meant -10.00 and -12.00 ...

any step by step thingies i can follow for compression using the wave hammer?

recommended settings etc?

are you saying i should use the wave hammer in place of the 'normalizer' or should i use both in conjunction with each other?

well, this thread has definitely gotten a hold of me, as well, since this is something i could use on a very consistent basis... i've found that simply normalizing sometimes doesn't achieve the full effect that i'd like it too, and at times, it has caused the recording to sound muddy.

so, anyone with further knowledge, please help us out!!

by the way, i love the gif of the pumping crowd!

Short answer: Don't do either of them.

Long answer: Generally, you never want to use a straight normalisation process on a final mix at all. Instead, use a compressor followed by a limiter, as has already been mentioned. The only time I use a normalisation process is to quickly and temporarily raise the volume of a quiet sound so that it more closely matches other, louder sounds.

Secondly, don't use a RMS normalisation process either. As has also been said already, this is just a poor man's maximiser, indicating that you're much better off just using a dedicated limiter.

Just for the extra information though, if you did normalise using the average RMS level, generally don't set the value higher (i.e. closer to 0 dB) than around -12 dB. A value of around -14 dB can be considered nominal, though you can usually get away with a final RMS of around -12 dB at the loudest (the closer to 0 dB, the louder the volume becomes), though this does depend on the overall makeup of your track. If you have a really loud section for 30 seconds, followed by 3 minutes of low volume material, then picking an average RMS of -12 dB is obviously not going to work very well. In that case, you could attempt to normalise to an RMS value closer to 0 dB, though take care not to degrade the loud section too much.

Probably a better way of checking the average volume is set optimally is by using a VU meter. Enable the VU meter in Sound Forge and set the scale to Extended VU. Then go Options-Preferences->Other, and select -14 (EBU) in the 0 VU (+4 dBU) level box. Now, when playing your material through, ensure the loudest portion of your track peaks at around +4 dB. If you find it still isn't quite as loud as you like, type -12 where you entered -14 before and aim for a maximum of around +4 dB on the VU meter.

quote:

Originally posted by rafale yup i meant -10.00 and -12.00 ... any step by step thingies i can follow for compression using the wave hammer? recommended settings etc? are you saying i should use the wave hammer in place of the 'normalizer' or should i use both in conjunction with each other?

I'd say start by exploring the presets of the Wave Hammer, then reading some tutorials, and taking it from there.

If you do use the Wave Hammer, don't follow it with a normalisation process at all. Just apply the process and save.

EDIT: Oh, and you might want to go to the Volume Maximizer tab of the Wave Hammer window and dragging the Threshold down a bit so that you get no more than 6.0 dB of attenuation displayed in the right-most meter (2.5 dB might even be fine). Also make sure you set the output level to -0.3 dB, right beside the threshold meter.

Re: Soundforge - Normalizing a mix

quote:

Originally posted by rafale Am i doing it right?

If it sounds right... Why not?

Re: Re: Soundforge - Normalizing a mix

Atlantis-AR, thanks so much for that. I'll try that out.

quote:

Originally posted by Traiden If it sounds right... Why not?

no it sounded amateurish

Normalize = Ruing the Compression
if u normalize Samples for examples ull notice they will sound diffrent IN A MIX ... i never normalize , its really screwing things up sometimes

quote:

Originally posted by thecYrus normalizing is not the way to go! you should use a compressor instead...

I agree totally with you. Normalizing process is the worst way to use in a mix!

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.