Normalize Compresses Clipped Audio?

jrazz wrote on 10/31/2007, 10:53 AM
Maybe I missed something in the past but I was pretty sure that if I clicked normalize and the peaks already were clipped nothing would happen and the audio would stay the same. However, I noticed today that when I selected Normalize on some audio that was definitely clipped it "shrunk" the peaks to bring them down below the clipped level. Anyone else notice this? I am using 8a.

j razz

Comments

TGS wrote on 10/31/2007, 11:59 AM
Yes. It depends on what you have your Normalize set to. For instance, most people set it to 0.0 dB, to maximize the volume. I have set mine to -3 dB. So, if a clip has peaks that reach 0.0, on my setting of Normalization, it will lower the peaks to -3 db. However, if you have it set to 0.0, you won't see any change.
To set level, go to Preferences, the Audio tab.
That doesn't mean you'll lower the distortion though. Once distortion is recorded, it usually can't be removed. But, it may help if it's border line.
mark-woollard wrote on 10/31/2007, 3:20 PM
Izotope's new RX software can greatly reduce the distortion of clipped audio. I have just started using it so can't say from experience whether it will work well with all forms of sound.