normalization help - Mixing & FX forums

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Subject: normalization help

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Original Message 1/25 04-Dec-02 @ 10:12 PM - normalization help

a.d.d.

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o.k. so i got this new track up and it seems really quiet. but i boosted the levels as hot as i could w/o clipping when i transferred it from minidisk to the harddisk. then i raised the amplitude to just below clipping in my wave manipulation program(nero waveburner. but now when i play back in winamp the frequency levels look super hot but the volume seems 2-3dB's lower than what i want. how can i get this without overloading something somewhere along the way?

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Message 2/25 04-Dec-02 @ 10:23 PM - RE: normalization help

milan

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compression or limiting. i noticed you are a 100% hardware kinda guy, but think about getting software like wavelab or something where you can do some postproduction. with waves L1 (orL2) you could easily raise the level on a tune like that by 5-6db probably, without changing the overall ballance too much. you could actually use any relatively decent compressor with a very low ratio (like 1.3) and a very low threshold to take off 2-3db and then normalise.

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Message 3/25 04-Dec-02 @ 10:34 PM - RE: normalization help

a.d.d.

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milan, you're just a helpful guy today aren't you?
well i compressed most of the tracks on the way into the minidisk recorder and the minidisk seems to have some inherent compression by whatever codec they use, but i never thought about compressing the mix on the way into the computer. the levels for all of the frequencies seem really hot though. how can i boost the levels anymore without nasty digital distortion?

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Message 4/25 04-Dec-02 @ 11:01 PM - RE: normalization help

nomad

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equivocation.... minidisk compression is not the same thing as what milan is talking about.

minidisk 'compression' = reduction in file size.
audio 'compression' = reduction in dynamic range of the signal. they have nothing in common (though i suppose part of reduction in file size could include a reduction in dynamic range).

you don't need anything complicated. try the cool edit 2000 demo (http://www.syntrillium.com , i think you can use the basic compressor and save in the demo... amplitude, dynamics processing, start with the "4:1 above -20db" preset and go from there. don't forget the makeup gain.

there are of course much better compressors, but it might give you an idea, and then you can go from there.

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Message 5/25 04-Dec-02 @ 11:07 PM - RE: normalization help

milan

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a.d.d., yes i am. actually, its more of a case of being bored after finishing a mixdown really

anyway... if you compress your mix (either on the way into the computer, or later on) you are changing loudness relative to the peaks (logical), so your peaks dont have to get hotter than they are- you are jut bringing the rest up. alternative to that is to use a s/w brickwall limiter to squash only the peaks, which then allows you to bring the rest up (also logical, yes?). only reason i said s/w is because the h/w ones are usually bloody expensive. i�d suggest doing all of this after recording the signal so you can undo if you are not happy with the results. like verything else, it takes some practice.

ok, nuff being helpfull for today. off to bed...

cheers, m.

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Message 6/25 04-Dec-02 @ 11:09 PM - RE: normalization help

milan

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and what nomad said: ATRAC (compression used by minidisc) relates to throwing away bits of data, pretty much like mp3. it has very little or no noticable effect on dynamics in your case.

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Message 7/25 04-Dec-02 @ 11:50 PM - RE: normalization help

a.d.d.

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oh so that's why it sounds so bad...

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Message 8/25 06-Dec-02 @ 01:26 PM - RE: normalization help

a.d.d.

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well i have an alesis 3630 compressor already which i used to compress the individual tracks on their way into the minidisc, and i also used the admitedly limited compressor in wave burner on the whole mix. but what im trying to say is this: as far as i understand it, when a compressor is used on a mix it makes the quiet and loud parts the same volume. when i look at the graphic eq leds on winamp while my track is playing they are all just below peaking and there is not alot of variability, i.e. they are pretty squashed already. i think i used a 4:1 ratio. should i have gone higher? 10:1? inf:1? whenever i do that on the 3630 things sound so lifeless. what i'm asking is basically, with everything so squashed already will adding more compression and gain really fix this?

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Message 9/25 06-Dec-02 @ 01:59 PM - RE: normalization help

nomad

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4:1 is pretty serious compression to use on every track, probably unnecessary (if you're only really using 2-3db of gain reduction, it might be OK I guess). one thing that overcompressing can do is remove high end as well, this might also be heard as lower volume. and normally, 4:1 (or above) is considering limiting, not compression.

that said, the 3630 is rumored to not sound that great anyways... not sure i'd want to put everything through it... never used that one but i have used a couple other cheapish ones (behringer autocom...yuck... ruined anything that went through it, even when no gain reduction was done...). for cheap compressors, my 522s are OK (especially after my upgrades) but i still wouldn't use them on every track...

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Message 10/25 06-Dec-02 @ 03:39 PM - RE: normalization help

bedwyr

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4:1 limiting? nah, surely some mistake?

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