Normalization

wikkidperson wrote on 1/16/2004, 5:31 PM
I use Vegas to record and mix songs with as many as 50 tracks (individual, mono wav files). I've just started noticing mention of normalization in various discussions of recording. Would it be a good idea for me to normalize my tracks? Would normalization reduce the quality of each one, or would it just make it easier to mix?

Comments

familysauce wrote on 1/16/2004, 8:23 PM
basically, normalization is a process wherein the wave is analyzed and the level is increased so that the loudest part of the wave is at (or just under) peak. The reason that it can sometimes make things sound bad is because people compress the signal too much before normalizing so that they can get the track to be loud.
wikkidperson wrote on 1/16/2004, 8:39 PM
So normalization applied (either destructively or nondestructively) to a track with no compression on it at all will not degrade sound quality through digital jiggery pokery? (as we professionals call it)
Chienworks wrote on 1/16/2004, 10:02 PM
It is an extra calculation to be included when rendering. However, if you apply it non-destructively (right-mouse-click the event / Switches / Normalize) then it will be calculated with 32 bit floating point precision without any intermediate results so it won't really be any more of a quality hit than mixing is anyway. If you were to apply it destructively then it would introduce another calculation leading to an intermediate result and then to another calculation and this would degrade the quality faster. It's not likely you would notice the difference until going through quite a few generations though.
PeterWright wrote on 1/17/2004, 1:19 AM
The main thing to watch when normalising is, if level is low and anywhere near the noise floor, then noise will be brought up along with the audio, so you may create a situation requiring noise reduction.
Chienworks wrote on 1/17/2004, 7:18 AM
Of course, this is also the case with any quiet track that needs a volume increase whether normalization is involved or not.
wobblyboy wrote on 1/17/2004, 12:04 PM
I usually don't normalize until I have finished mixing and am mastering final two track. If I have a track that was recorded at too low of a level I might normalize that track before mixing. I usually normalize final two track after applying compression, equalization, and/or effects to the tracks. For music I usually normalize to -.01 DB.