Topic: Need Normalizing Help

[cgresq192]

Ok, I'm looking for the best way to normalize a show, I've already normalized in SF, highlighting the entire wav, using the peak setting 0db, but the levels in some of the songs are still too low, is there a way to make the levels constant throughout?  In the quiter songs, the meter sometimes only goes to -21. Any ideas or help is appreciated, attached is a picture. Which is the normalized wav at 0db.   I'm using an SPSB6 w/bass rolloff and and the Jb3 Set at 0db. I can also attach a pic of the raw wav, unaltered.

[jeromejello]

normalizing is not going to solve the problem.

boost the volume... i say start at +3dB and see how that works.

i just tracked out my pull of trey from 5-6-06.  i was using my spsb-7 so i needed to bump the wav +4dB for set 1 and +6dB for set 2 to make it more enjoyable.

[Brian Skalinder]

normalizing is not going to solve the problem.

boost the volume... i say start at +3dB and see how that works.

Normalization boosts the volume, so I don't understand how boosting the volume say, +3dB, will help.  Boosting the levels by greater than the amount required to normalize at ~0dB will simply result in clipping.

It sounds like the original poster wants to reduce the dynamic range.  Personally, I like a broad dynamic range.  But if you want to reduce the dynamic range, i.e. reduce the differences in volume between the loudest and quietest sections, then you want to apply compression.  Play around with different thresholds (the point above which the compression kicks in) and ratios (how much to compress the signal above the threshold) until you find something you like.

[jeromejello]

normalizing is not going to solve the problem.

boost the volume... i say start at +3dB and see how that works.

Normalization boosts the volume, so I don't understand how boosting the volume say, +3dB, will help.  Boosting the levels by greater than the amount required to normalize at ~0dB will simply result in clipping.

It sounds like the original poster wants to reduce the dynamic range.  Personally, I like a broad dynamic range.  But if you want to reduce the dynamic range, i.e. reduce the differences in volume between the loudest and quietest sections, then you want to apply compression.  Play around with different thresholds (the point above which the compression kicks in) and ratios (how much to compress the signal above the threshold) until you find something you like.

i assumed from the posters original comment that his levels were too low.  i suggested using volume in sf to add dB.  when you use the normalize function, it doesnt really add a shit ton of gain (that i assumed he is looking for) but rather, adjusts the the highs and lows so they tend to be more even (and you can kinda set a limit function in there too).

maybe i am not using the words correctly, i only know the technology from my use in sound forge... in fact i am sure there has been a thread about this exact miscommunication of terms before.

 

[Brian Skalinder]

i assumed from the posters original comment that his levels were too low.

Yup, levels too low - that's what I got out of it, too.  But he indicated he already normalized, so normalizing further won't do anything.

i suggested using volume in sf to add dB.  when you use the normalize function, it doesnt really add a shit ton of gain (that i assumed he is looking for) but rather, adjusts the the highs and lows so they tend to be more even (and you can kinda set a limit function in there too).

Normalizing basically does the following:  find the highest peak, determine how much amplification is required to boost that peak to ~0dB (or whatever threshold you pick), then apply that same amount of amplification to the entire file.  It amplifies the loud and quiet parts the same amount and doesn't change the dynamic range.  It doesn't adjust the lows and highs so they're more even - that's reducing dynamic range, i.e. compression.

in fact i am sure there has been a thread about this exact miscommunication of terms before.

Oh, yes, we've had several threads on this exact subject!

[jmz93]

Ok, I'm looking for the best way to normalize a show, I've already normalized in SF, highlighting the entire

As you describe it, it sounds like you want to reduce the dynamic range, so try applying compression.  Personally, I like the 2:1 preset, that's under Dynamics then Graphic.  Or, even though it isn't the right use of the term normalize, many of the normalization presets in Sound Forge do use compression. Try the "Normalize Music to -16DB" preset. That will compress things quite a bit.  Overall, use less compression than you initially think you will need.  That goes for most effects. Adjust to where you initially think "Oh wow, that's great!" then back it off a bit.