Normalizing in Sound Forge at DVinfo.net

Josh Bass · November 25th, 2002, 02:34 AM

This guy was telling me that when using a normalize function in audio, the better way to go is to use the RMS average, rather than the peaks, to normalize. How do you do this in Sound Forge? I looked at the help file, and it tells me to click all these buttons that don't exist. The default for the normalize function is to use peaks. Anybody know how to do this? Thanks.

Robert Knecht Schmidt · November 25th, 2002, 03:09 AM

Under Process > Normalize, there are radio buttons for "Peak Level" and "Average RMS power (loudness)" at the top of the plugin dialog box. RMS is not necessarily "better." Experiment and see which setting is more useful for your application. Also you may actually be seeking compression/expansion of your signal achievable with the Wave Hammer tool.

Josh Bass · November 25th, 2002, 10:49 AM

This guy told me normalizing by that method was the way to go, since if you have peaks that vary greatly from the rest of your file, it will bring those up, and the rest of your file would be about the same level. I'm trying to bring a bunch of sound files to the same level, and therefore it seems averaging is the way to go.

I just found out that I don't have the fancy full version of Sound Forge, and that's why I couldn't find those buttons. Does anyone know which method Sound Forge XP Studio uses to normalize, peak or RMS average?

Mark Austin · November 25th, 2002, 05:35 PM

I have found the best way to explain normalizing is as such.. if you have a quite file with loud peaks & and a loud file with quiet peaks: when you normailze with "peak" the quiet files peaks will be brought down to a pre-determined level, the loud files peaks will be brought up to a higher (pre-determined) level also, thereby doing the opposite of what you really need. Normalizing to "average" with the same scenario brings the average of the quiet file up while bringing the average of the loud file down therby making the files "sound" more similar. I do however concur with Robert Knecht Schmidt, try it both ways and let your ears be the judge, they'll let you know what works.

Josh, I'm shooting in Baltimore again this week, but I'll be back in town the first of December. You are welcome to come by the recording studio (the Abbey) and use my system there, it's a full blown Sound Forge system in a Dual CPU machine so it can crank the stuff out pretty fast. I've been using Sound Forge since V2.0 so I'm (almost) 1/2 decent with it. I also have Vegas there if you need to preview stuff. Let me know if you need it, it's there for the asking. Ditto to others in the Houston area.
Mark
p.s. I'd like to find a process to "normalize" myself. If anyone knows how please let me know :-)

Paul Sedillo · November 25th, 2002, 05:38 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Mark Austin :
p.s. I'd like to find a process to "normalize" myself. If anyone knows how please let me know :-) -->>>

When you discover this process, would you please pass them my way! I could also use some "normalizing."

Josh Bass · November 26th, 2002, 12:56 AM

Yes yes. .. thank you. I still wish I had the $250 to buy the full version so I could FINISH MY DAMN FOUR MINUTE CLAYMATION MOVIE ALREADY! Anyone know some free software or something that has a RMS averaging normalization?

November 25th, 2002, 02:34 AM	#1
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Normalizing in Sound Forge This guy was telling me that when using a normalize function in audio, the better way to go is to use the RMS average, rather than the peaks, to normalize. How do you do this in Sound Forge? I looked at the help file, and it tells me to click all these buttons that don't exist. The default for the normalize function is to use peaks. Anybody know how to do this? Thanks. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

November 25th, 2002, 03:09 AM	#2
Robert Knecht Schmidt Wrangler Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,933	Under Process > Normalize, there are radio buttons for "Peak Level" and "Average RMS power (loudness)" at the top of the plugin dialog box. RMS is not necessarily "better." Experiment and see which setting is more useful for your application. Also you may actually be seeking compression/expansion of your signal achievable with the Wave Hammer tool. __________________ All the best, Robert K S Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| The best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

November 25th, 2002, 10:49 AM	#3
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	This guy told me normalizing by that method was the way to go, since if you have peaks that vary greatly from the rest of your file, it will bring those up, and the rest of your file would be about the same level. I'm trying to bring a bunch of sound files to the same level, and therefore it seems averaging is the way to go. I just found out that I don't have the fancy full version of Sound Forge, and that's why I couldn't find those buttons. Does anyone know which method Sound Forge XP Studio uses to normalize, peak or RMS average? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

November 25th, 2002, 05:35 PM	#4
Mark Austin Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 188	Sound Forge & Normalizing ... I have found the best way to explain normalizing is as such.. if you have a quite file with loud peaks & and a loud file with quiet peaks: when you normailze with "peak" the quiet files peaks will be brought down to a pre-determined level, the loud files peaks will be brought up to a higher (pre-determined) level also, thereby doing the opposite of what you really need. Normalizing to "average" with the same scenario brings the average of the quiet file up while bringing the average of the loud file down therby making the files "sound" more similar. I do however concur with Robert Knecht Schmidt, try it both ways and let your ears be the judge, they'll let you know what works. Josh, I'm shooting in Baltimore again this week, but I'll be back in town the first of December. You are welcome to come by the recording studio (the Abbey) and use my system there, it's a full blown Sound Forge system in a Dual CPU machine so it can crank the stuff out pretty fast. I've been using Sound Forge since V2.0 so I'm (almost) 1/2 decent with it. I also have Vegas there if you need to preview stuff. Let me know if you need it, it's there for the asking. Ditto to others in the Houston area. Mark p.s. I'd like to find a process to "normalize" myself. If anyone knows how please let me know :-) __________________ I'm humbled by the greatness that surrounds me.

November 25th, 2002, 05:38 PM	#5
Paul Sedillo Major Player Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 607	Re: Sound Forge & Normalizing ... <<<-- Originally posted by Mark Austin : p.s. I'd like to find a process to "normalize" myself. If anyone knows how please let me know :-) -->>> When you discover this process, would you please pass them my way! I could also use some "normalizing." __________________ Paul Sedillo Image::Studio http://www.image-studio.com Houston, Texas

November 26th, 2002, 12:56 AM	#6
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Yes yes. .. thank you. I still wish I had the $250 to buy the full version so I could FINISH MY DAMN FOUR MINUTE CLAYMATION MOVIE ALREADY! Anyone know some free software or something that has a RMS averaging normalization? __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB