Topic: when you put a show into soundforge...

[kidrocklive]

do you normally "normalize" the audio or is that a no no basically?

[ilduclo]

I normailize to peaks at about 99%, that amps the entire show up to just under clipping. Don't normalize individual files from one show

other opinions?
Underline

[kidrocklive]

i'm probably just missing something really silly but here's what i'm doing and it doesn't seem to do anything lol.

I open the show in soundforge 8

highlight the entire show

click on processes and then normalize

normalize using peak level is selected

I set the slider thing at -0.08dB (99.08%)

then click ok and it 'normalizes it' except when it's done the show doesn't sound any louder nor does the thing that shows the peaks and stuff look any different.

any idea what I could be doing wrong?

[JasonSobel]

i'm probably just missing something really silly but here's what i'm doing and it doesn't seem to do anything lol.

I open the show in soundforge 8

highlight the entire show

click on processes and then normalize

normalize using peak level is selected

I set the slider thing at -0.08dB (99.08%)

then click ok and it 'normalizes it' except when it's done the show doesn't sound any louder nor does the thing that shows the peaks and stuff look any different.

any idea what I could be doing wrong?

what is your highest peak to begin with?  if you clippped, even just once, normalizing isn't going to change anything, because the highest peak in the file is already at 0dB.

[kidrocklive]

i'm probably just missing something really silly but here's what i'm doing and it doesn't seem to do anything lol.

I open the show in soundforge 8

highlight the entire show

click on processes and then normalize

normalize using peak level is selected

I set the slider thing at -0.08dB (99.08%)

then click ok and it 'normalizes it' except when it's done the show doesn't sound any louder nor does the thing that shows the peaks and stuff look any different.

any idea what I could be doing wrong?

what is your highest peak to begin with?  if you clippped, even just once, normalizing isn't going to change anything, because the highest peak in the file is already at 0dB.

there's no way to raise everything else up to 99% and then if something else reaches 99% while it's doing that it just stops raising just that part but continues with the other until it's all at 99% ?

I'm not sure what it is at atm, I can check a bit later i'm about to go to bed lol. I'm beyond tired right now.

[JasonSobel]

there's no way to raise everything else up to 99% and then if something else reaches 99% while it's doing that it just stops raising just that part but continues with the other until it's all at 99% ?

I'm not sure what it is at atm, I can check a bit later i'm about to go to bed lol. I'm beyond tired right now.

well, you can do that, but it's more than just normalization.  if you want to do something like that, you need to compress the recording a bit, and then raise levels.  but you should be careful, because you'll now be changing the dynamics of the recording.

[itook2much]

If you have a high peak but overall you're unhappy with the levels & feel they're too low, you can compress just the highest peak(s) & then normalize.  It's a compromise that'll allow you to bump up the levels and still retain most of the dynamic range.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

i'm probably just missing something really silly but here's what i'm doing and it doesn't seem to do anything lol.

I open the show in soundforge 8

highlight the entire show

click on processes and then normalize

normalize using peak level is selected

I set the slider thing at -0.08dB (99.08%)

then click ok and it 'normalizes it' except when it's done the show doesn't sound any louder nor does the thing that shows the peaks and stuff look any different.

any idea what I could be doing wrong?

I use SF5.0, I'm guessing functionality is about the same.

I select the entire WAV file and scan for average RMS.  Once this is determined, I raise this to -16db, which is a good music listening level.  I also use dynamic compression for anything that would clip. 

Or, I select the entire WAV and scan for highest peak.  Once this is determined, I raise this to -0.05db. 

I pick whichever I think "sounds" better, but I always keep my untouched source WAV for future use. 

However, I try to make my recording levels correct at the show so I don't have to do any of this. 

Terry

[kidrocklive]

I was messing around with it earlier and somehow did it so it increased all the levels and just topped them all off at the peak without clipping it. I forget how the hell I did it because from what you all are saying that's impossible to do unless I lower teh high points of the recording so they're all about equal first.

What exactly do you all mean by the 'dynamics' of the show/recording ?

I scanned the levels and it says that the peak is 0.0dB and the average RMS is -96

[momule]

If you have a high peak but overall you're unhappy with the levels & feel they're too low, you can compress just the highest peak(s) & then normalize.  It's a compromise that'll allow you to bump up the levels and still retain most of the dynamic range.

thats the craziest thing I have ever seen posted here yet.

[kidrocklive]

If you have a high peak but overall you're unhappy with the levels & feel they're too low, you can compress just the highest peak(s) & then normalize.  It's a compromise that'll allow you to bump up the levels and still retain most of the dynamic range.

thats the craziest thing I have ever seen posted here yet.

why is that?

[momule]

I scanned the levels and it says that the peak is 0.0dB and the average RMS is -96

I would suggest next time rasing your levels alot from where you were at as thats VERY low.   
For instance the tracks Im working with right now has a peak level of 0 (because I used compression) and a RMS of -11.1
see below for what they will appear like

[momule]

thats the craziest thing I have ever seen posted here yet.

why is that?

That’s just uneducated mastering is what that is.
You don’t need to compress the track and then normalize it.  thats just nuts
Either learn how to use compression or don’t use it and just stick to normalizing. 

Again I make the suggestion.
Start at your local library and check out a few books on mastering or compression and so forth and if your really interested in learning more about it sign up for a class at your local community college.  They usually offer a class for a little of nothing.  If your gonna blow the change on a decent rig and Software IMO you should learn to use it properly. 

this is a couple you can prolly find at your local library and is very good
http://www.digido.com/portal/pmodule_id=11/pmdmode=fullscreen/pageadder_page_id=66/
http://books.google.com/books?id=VZw6z9a03ikC&printsec=frontcover&dq=audio+mastering+books

Not trying to be an ass or point the finger at anyone in general but half the stuff I read on the forum about mixing and mastering is far from accurate

[kidrocklive]

I scanned the levels and it says that the peak is 0.0dB and the average RMS is -96

I would suggest next time rasing your levels alot from where you were at as thats VERY low.   
For instance the tracks Im working with right now has a peak level of 0 (because I used compression) and a RMS of -11.1
see below for what they will appear like

I tend to try and have it so when i'm recording the MD shows it as recording at the middle most of the time allowing it for when it gets louder to go up to the top without clipping. Maybe there is something else I can do differently idk. When I use line in i'm normally using like 27 - 30 for that and mic in is normallya between 9 or 14 depending on where I am. Maybe i'm missing something that I could be doing it make it better when recording?

[momule]

I assume your stealthing ?

what all are ya running?

how about a sample track of what ya got for a master recording
you can use http://www.yousendit.com/

just send the link to yourself and then use that link to post to others