Topic: Normalizing a WAV file - Best Practice and Procedure?

[adrianf74]

I used to Normalize my audience recordings in the past, however, it's been so long since I have that I've totally forgotten how to do it PROPERLY.

There are a lot of instructions floating around but I'm trying to find absolute, definitive and best accepted procedure for doing this.  I've recorded a few shows (with permission) and my levels are a little low (probably around -4 to -5dB.  There are a few areas where it peaks higher than the "average" recording level of the file so I don't mind if I have to dabble in MILD COMPRESSION/LIMITING if need be (some will swear not to do this) as the average level is a little lower than the existing peaks.

This said, can anybody point in me the right direction?

Thanks.

[boojum]

Normalizing will examine the entire audio file, find the loudest part and then adjust up, or down, that part until it is as far below the 0 dB ceiling as you have set.  This can be done manually.  But this is also what we have computers for.     

[Brian Skalinder]

Boojum -- I'd edit slightly to say that what you describe is how peak normalization works.  Some software also offers RMS normalization, which works differently.  I know there's a description around here somewhere, so I'm not going to re-type it.

[boojum]

Thanks for that, Brian.   

[Chilly Brioschi]

Just to tag onto what Brian said:

RMS normalization keeps the peaks from clipping by applying a limiting algorithm, so:
RMS Normalization = signal level (volume) compression
Peak Normalization = level adjustment