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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: gmm6797 on July 13, 2008, 06:46:48 PM

Title: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: gmm6797 on July 13, 2008, 06:46:48 PM

I have a show that I recorded last week where there is a good bit of noise and wind (darn lawn recordings).

Playing around in SoundForge, I added about 5db of volume to the recording.

Giving it a listen, there are some areas where the peak is now 5gb above 0db (or 5db "over").

Is it OK to leave this?  As the sound does not clip, brickwall or anything... even when listening in CDwav.

I would think that if you listen to it and the sound is OK, than it is OK to convert/share it this way?

Just looking for any thoughts or opinions (good, bad, nice, mean :) )

Thanks in advance.

Title: Re: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: Scooter on July 13, 2008, 07:12:50 PM

it is impossible to have a digital recording go above "0"dbfs.  The metering on your program may say over "0" when you are monitoring while playing with plugins or something.  but when you render it, it will be at digi "0" and be distorted.  you may not necessarily hear the distortion, but it will square off the wave nonetheless.  I'd use a limiter plugin such as the Waves L2 or L3 if you want to gain a bit of volume without suffering clipping.  Or you can use the "Normalize" function to raise the overall level up to "0"(although some "normalization" schemes are to be avoided, i'm not familiar with SF's).

Title: Re: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: gmm6797 on July 13, 2008, 07:17:05 PM

yes, the wav flattens out at the 0 marker, but there no audiological (is this a word?) change to my ears

The max (I think) was 5.2 over, so it is not like I am adding 20db or anything.

"it is impossible to have a digital recording go above "0"dbf"
SoundForge shows it as over with the red numbers in the level meters and put a 5.2 in one of the channels.... so I assume that is an over clip of 5.2

Title: Re: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: Scooter on July 13, 2008, 07:19:25 PM

most likely that red number is the number of times the program material reached digital "0" and theorectically went "over".  which is kinda confusing I know, but take my word that you can't have a digi file go over "0" in normal situations. ;)  Wavelab uses this red numbering on some of it's metering.

Title: Re: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: gmm6797 on July 13, 2008, 07:23:23 PM

If I dont hear any clipping or distortion, than would you download it to listen/burn it?

Title: Re: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: Scooter on July 13, 2008, 07:26:21 PM

if it were me, I'd be very suspect.  if you post some screenshots of the zoomed in waveform and the meters, someone more familiar with Soundforge might be able to help you out.

Title: Re: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: Scooter on July 13, 2008, 07:29:46 PM

Quote from: gmm6797 on July 13, 2008, 07:17:05 PM

yes, the wav flattens out at the 0 marker, but there no audiological (is this a word?) change to my ears

That is a squared off waveform. bad news.

Title: Re: Post work - OK to add volume over 0 (zero)?
Post by: eric.B on July 13, 2008, 09:06:13 PM

Quote from: Scooter on July 13, 2008, 07:29:46 PM

Quote from: gmm6797 on July 13, 2008, 07:17:05 PM

yes, the wav flattens out at the 0 marker, but there no audiological (is this a word?) change to my ears

That is a squared off waveform. bad news.

proper to use the word   "audible"..