Topic: Normalizing in Audacity

[drewski1986]

When I try to normalize in Audacity, it only gives me the option to normalize to -3db.  Is there anyway to Normalize to say -1db?  I can't seem to find any way to change the number.  Sorry if this has been covered before, but I couldn't find it.  Thanks for any help.

[Brian Skalinder]

AFAIK, there's no way to change the -3 peak in the Normalize faeture.  Just use the Amplify function, instead.

[drewski1986]

Thanks Brian,  I've read about Normalizing vs. Amplifying and wanted to try normalizing, but I'd rather get closer to 0db so I guess I'll just Amp it up.

[Brian Skalinder]

Thanks Brian,  I've read about Normalizing vs. Amplifying and wanted to try normalizing, but I'd rather get closer to 0db so I guess I'll just Amp it up.

In Audacity, if the peaks are set to the same level in both functions, AFAIK Normalize and Amplify do the same thing.  For example, if you Amplify to -3 in Audacity, the results should be the same as Normalizing to -3.  (This would be easy to test, but I no longer have Audacity installed on my desktop.)  Might as well Amplify to the level you want instead of relying on the fixed -3 peak in the Normalize function.

[drewski1986]

Thanks again Brian.  I would really like to try some other editing software but the $$ seems so high on all of the available programs.  Do you know of anything good for under $100 or so?

[Brian Skalinder]

Just a couple options.  I'm sure there are others.

Windows

Reaper (not really familiar with it)
Samplitude SE (steeper learning curve, but an effective tool)

Mac

http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,62294.msg918816.html#msg918816