Topic: Amplify Volume

[rasta]

When editing, does anybody amplify the volume to positive dB levels?  Does this negatively affect the recording? I record in 24 bit if that matters.
Thanks

[Gordon]

not to positive numbers (as in not over 0).  when running 16 bit I run the v3 hot as hell so I don't have to raise the gain at all.  just started running 24 bit and love the head room.  I then raise the gain to about -1 or -2 db in wavelab.

[Corbin]

This thread might help..

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,88075.0.html

[rasta]

I checked the link but I'm still not sure I understand.  I record in 24 bit on a 722 so I let it go to between -6 to -3 dB.  I read on here that if recording in 24 bit you don't have to run it so hot.  Well when I don't, the recording is so quiet I have to crank my stereo to hear it.  So how do I fix that?  It sounds like everybody says to just leave it alone.  By the way, I use soundstudio to edit.

[rasta]

This thread might help..

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,88075.0.html

What is your workflow for SS?

[vanark]

I checked the link but I'm still not sure I understand.  I record in 24 bit on a 722 so I let it go to between -6 to -3 dB.  I read on here that if recording in 24 bit you don't have to run it so hot.  Well when I don't, the recording is so quiet I have to crank my stereo to hear it.  So how do I fix that?  It sounds like everybody says to just leave it alone.  By the way, I use soundstudio to edit.

People aren't saying to leave it alone.  They are saying to amplify it in post production to a comfortable level.  Someone above suggests -2 to -1 dB.  I use -3 dB usually.  Anywhere around there is a comfortable listening volume in my opinion.

[rasta]

I checked the link but I'm still not sure I understand.  I record in 24 bit on a 722 so I let it go to between -6 to -3 dB.  I read on here that if recording in 24 bit you don't have to run it so hot.  Well when I don't, the recording is so quiet I have to crank my stereo to hear it.  So how do I fix that?  It sounds like everybody says to just leave it alone.  By the way, I use soundstudio to edit.

People aren't saying to leave it alone.  They are saying to amplify it in post production to a comfortable level.  Someone above suggests -2 to -1 dB.  I use -3 dB usually.  Anywhere around there is a comfortable listening volume in my opinion.

Thanks
+T everyone

[boojum]

Normalize to -1 or 0.

[rasta]

Normalize to -1 or 0.

What would be the reasoning not to normalize to 0?

[boojum]

As loud as it can be without clipping.  When it gets to the plus numbers you will introduce digital clipping.

[easy jim]

I try and stick to the standard used by the commercial live download sites: -0.2 dBFS

[bgalizio]

I try and stick to the standard used by the commercial live download sites: -0.2 dBFS

Same, but I didn't realize that the commercial live download sites do the same.

[rasta]

I try and stick to the standard used by the commercial live download sites: -0.2 dBFS

Same, but I didn't realize that the commercial live download sites do the same.

So do you normalize and then amplify?

[easy jim]

I never 'normalize' per se.  I add 'make up gain' to bring the maximum peak to -0.2dBFS. 

I do, however, generally use some light compression when mixing more than a stereo AUD feed.  Light compression + 'make up gain' is the same thing that 'normalization' does, with the main difference being that 'normalization' uses an algorithm to compute the dynamics processing and I prefer the specifc control of dialing in the compression the way I like it.

For a stereo AUD feed, I only add 'make up gain' and preserve the dynamic range as it is.

[Brian Skalinder]

Light compression + 'make up gain' is the same thing that 'normalization' does, with the main difference being that 'normalization' uses an algorithm to compute the dynamics processing and I prefer the specifc control of dialing in the compression the way I like it.

Just a quick note to say this isn't necessarily the case, generally - it depends on how the specific software one uses performs normalization.  I believe RMS normalization does something like the above, while peak normalization simply adds what you call "make up gain".  Some software provides an option for both methods, others perform just one (or the other) option (and often don't indicate which).