Topic: boosting levels after a recording?

[Cooker]

what we're talking about is an audience recording where the peaks are X number of dB below zero.  normalizing then compressing would kill the dynamics of the recording

in wavelab, the change gain dialog has a "get peak level" button. if the peak level comes up at 0 dB then normalizing is the only option. if your peak levels are at -4 dB, then adding 4 dB of gain would boost levels without changing the dynamics of the recording.

[Rat6666]

OK, that sounds a lot more logical to me now. I was looking at it from a studio audio production point of view where there's not such a delicate dynamic going on (loudness race, anyone?).

[Brian Skalinder]

Why would it be better to add gain rather than normalizing/compressing? In most mastering circles the former would be frowned upon, as far as I can assume.

Adding gain generally crushes peaks (clipping = bad). Normalizing to 0dB and then compressing adds overall volume without clipping.

Serious question!

Adding gain only crushes peaks if you add gain to bring your peaks up above 0dB.  Normalizing to 0dB and then compressing will still leave you with levels below 0dB - how far will depend on the amount of compression you use.

At any rate, if you're compressing, you should compress first and then add gain/normalize to 0dB.

Uh, yeah...what Cooker said - he beat me to it.  I will add, though, that I sometimes compress recordings with a very broad dynamic range because for most people's playback systems the narrower dynamic range sounds better.  Of course, I always maintain the original copy and send the original WAVs to anyone who wants them (usually those with higher end playback systems).

[timP]

thanks for some info guys..
trying to take your words and appying them...
I have high-lighted the file, then gone into the Process Tab, then choose Normalize, and raise the levels...
is this correct?
and will this be saved?
how much is of a boost is considered OK?
danka

[Brian Skalinder]

and will this be saved?
how much is of a boost is considered OK?

If you save the WAV file, yes.  I'd recommend saving the normalized WAV as a *new* file, that way you have the original if you want to go back to it.

How much is OK - as long as your levels don't go above 0dB, you're fine, so add however much gain you need to get right up to 0dB.

[timP]

thanks Brian..
when I raise the levels on the MASTERING window it doesn't seem to save/ it isn't on the track when I replay it........

gonna try and work on some tapes I did with my SP mics and see if I can boost the vocal end some...
those mics are great for the music, just sometimes not the vocals.....

[Brian Skalinder]

when I raise the levels on the MASTERING window it doesn't seem to save/ it isn't on the track when I replay it........

Gotta plead ignorance on this one, I'm only familiar with Cool Edit for this sorta thing.  Someone'll chime in shortly, I'm sure...

[MattD]

thanks Brian..
when I raise the levels on the MASTERING window it doesn't seem to save/ it isn't on the track when I replay it........

When you change something in that window (plugins, mastering, dither), you need to RENDER and save to a new file, not just "save." Render applies the processing before it's saved. This is because such processing is intended to be the last step in mastering a recording. After you do any of this stuff, you should not do any more editing on the file, other than splitting.

[timP]

cool, will look into the rendering function...

I figured it would save it as is one the screen...

[Cooker]

what software are you using Tim? Wavelab? My version doesn't have a separate mastering window - just the active WAV window...

[timP]

4.0
it is a sort of floating window that you can't really close..has-
Effects
Mastering
Dithering  
options listed like that
  when I raise the master button, there levels seem to rise.........

[mhibbs]

How does normalizing differ than adjusting gain if you don't go past the peak?  If your peak is -4 and you normalize to 0, are you not just bringing the peak up to 0 and everything else up proportionally?  That was always my understanding.


mitch