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Question about Normalization
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| sr126 |
Is normalization just normalization, or will some programs do it better than others?
For example, will I be able to expect better results using Kontakt4 or a DAW to normalize files instead of Nero?
I've been doing a lot of vinly ripping, and recording lately. I have avoided normalizing any of the recordings. I've been cranking/setting the gain to have a couple of dB's of space so I won't have any overs. I've been doing everything at 24bits, but I still want to try to squeeze a little more volume. I don't want to mess up any of the recordings, but I want the stuff to be a little louder so it's easier to hear them in the car when i'm barreling down the highway at 115mphs. ;p |
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| alanzo |
| Some audio dorks will tell you that normalization changes the audio and that it's terrible. That's just ing stupid. Give me an audio file and I'll write an algorithm to normalize the given audio, it's VERY simple. Normalization isn't the problem, perhaps it's compression that you're thinking of. |
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| sr126 |
I was not refering to compression... tho, i can use it, apply no compression, and use the make up gain to increase the volume...
Not just some, quite a few say that normalization introduces artifacts, and stuff like that. I never understood how something like that can happen, but it also influenced me to lay off and leave well enough alone. That's why i'm asking... but I will start experimenting, and see what I like. I have had hardware and software w/a normalize feature for years, and I never really used it... and the couple times that I did, I remember scratching my head because it still sounded the same volume wise. Maybe I will compress afterall... |
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| Falck |
In the digital world: If just one peak of the original source is close to 0dB you won't be able to hear much effect of the normalization. Because what normalization does is raise the volume of the track so that the loudest part is very close (or equal) to 0dB.
Normalization introduces just as much artifacts as the volume fader, and as alanzo said, it's a very simple process, so I wouldn't concider that a problem.
However starting to compressing the rip will for sure change the sound.
Cheers |
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| Robbanito |
| When the audio gets normalized you bring everything up to the level right before distorsion. At the same time the noise will also be leveled up. It isn't any problem though, because the relation between the desired audio material and noise will still be the same as it was before the normalizing process. |
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| DJ RANN |
Exactly. Normalization is just a gain change, based on the peak(s) of a waveform. When you raise the gain, the inherant noise floor is increased proportionately.
The reason some audiophiles say don't normalize is misrepresented and in most cases outdated - it really has to do with the old days of recording your master to tape, where you had less headroom than you do in digital audio systems now. You would have to go as loud as possible to tape in an effort to increase the difference between your noise floor and your peaks.
Modern DAW's, have more headroom than we can actually use so it's become a dead issue.
In the digital realm, if you mix various tracks together, and do it right, you mix to the point your master is just below 0dbfs (or -3dbfs or -6dbfs - whatever your preference). So if you come short to you chosen point, it can be a bad thing to just unilareally raise the overall master gain to get up to your chosen point as you are increasing the noisefloor with that gain change; essentially the argument against it that you should get there by mixing so your not increasing the noise, that you should be able to avoid.
In this case (of ripping vinyl), normalization should not be needed - if you have your gain staging right (through your mixer to your interface) you should have more than enough dynamic range to rip loud enough to surpass the dynamic range of vinyl.
If you're saying you want them louder still, then it's a case of accepting your going to hear more noise.
My suggestion is to get your gain staging perfect then rip as close to 0dbfs as you can. |
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| Sonic_c |
| quote: | Originally posted by Falck
In the digital world: If just one peak of the original source is close to 0dB you won't be able to hear much effect of the normalization. Because what normalization does is raise the volume of the track so that the loudest part is very close (or equal) to 0dB.
Normalization introduces just as much artifacts as the volume fader, and as alanzo said, it's a very simple process, so I wouldn't concider that a problem.
However starting to compressing the rip will for sure change the sound.
Cheers |
unless you use an RMS normalizer |
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| Falck |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sonic_c
unless you use an RMS normalizer |
True, I was refering to peak normalization only |
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| sr126 |
| Thanks a lot for clearing things up for me. |
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