Normalize Audio

Graham Bernard · September 26th, 2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Bloom

. . sorry for causing anymore grey hairs for you ;-)Don

Grey hairs? I'll take 'em anytime!! - At least one can colour-up hair, grey or any colour!

Don, no problem.

Grazie

Jim Andrada · September 26th, 2008, 01:11 AM

I guess I'm not sure what the OP (David) meant by adjusting the sound so it was the same all the way through.

Once we know that we could make more appropriate recommendations - although I agree that normalization by itself is unlikely to be the answer.

John Cline · September 27th, 2008, 05:34 PM

A lot of people will use the "Normalize" function in Vegas. This will adjust the peak level to just under 0db. Unfortunately, peak levels are meaningless when it comes to determining how "loud" your final product is. The human ear doesn't determine loudness by the peak level, it determines it by the average (or RMS) level. The "normalize" function in Vegas is useless because it only makes adjustments based on peak levels and that's not they way we hear things.

If you're watching a movie on TV and it has some relatively quiet dialog and then a commercial comes on, the commercial sounds louder because it has been heavily compressed in order to raise its average level (and get your attention.) The fact of the matter is that the movie and the commercial probably had the same peak level, it just that the commercial has a much higher average level.

Audio compression and limiting is an art form and it takes a lot of experience to do it "correctly." There are no hard and fast rules to determine the appropriate average level, you'll just have to play it by ear. But like I said, peak levels are virtually meaningless (well, as long as they don't exceed 0db.)

You could use the Normalize function in Sound Forge, it can be set to normalize for average levels, which is what you want. Render out the audio from the entire timeline and pull it into Sound Forge, then mark each different clip or section that needs to be level matched. Use the Normalize function in Sound Forge and set it to normalize using "Average RMS power" and normalize to -20db and select "If clipping occurs apply Dymanic Compression." -20db is a good starting point, you will have to play with this value for your project. Once you have determined the appropriate RMS level, use that same value for everything and the loudness of will be matched throughout your entire project.

John

Jeff Harper · September 28th, 2008, 05:17 PM

I recall trying the normalize function in Sound forge a year or two ago, and as I recall it did work well.

Edward Troxel · September 28th, 2008, 08:41 PM

Sound Forge has a different Normalize function that has more options. Vegas just takes the loudest point and makes that a set level. If you have one loud POP and the rest is quiet, the POP is what gets normalized (essentially) leaving everything else soft.

September 27th, 2008, 05:34 PM	#18
John Cline Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 333	A lot of people will use the "Normalize" function in Vegas. This will adjust the peak level to just under 0db. Unfortunately, peak levels are meaningless when it comes to determining how "loud" your final product is. The human ear doesn't determine loudness by the peak level, it determines it by the average (or RMS) level. The "normalize" function in Vegas is useless because it only makes adjustments based on peak levels and that's not they way we hear things. If you're watching a movie on TV and it has some relatively quiet dialog and then a commercial comes on, the commercial sounds louder because it has been heavily compressed in order to raise its average level (and get your attention.) The fact of the matter is that the movie and the commercial probably had the same peak level, it just that the commercial has a much higher average level. Audio compression and limiting is an art form and it takes a lot of experience to do it "correctly." There are no hard and fast rules to determine the appropriate average level, you'll just have to play it by ear. But like I said, peak levels are virtually meaningless (well, as long as they don't exceed 0db.) You could use the Normalize function in Sound Forge, it can be set to normalize for average levels, which is what you want. Render out the audio from the entire timeline and pull it into Sound Forge, then mark each different clip or section that needs to be level matched. Use the Normalize function in Sound Forge and set it to normalize using "Average RMS power" and normalize to -20db and select "If clipping occurs apply Dymanic Compression." -20db is a good starting point, you will have to play with this value for your project. Once you have determined the appropriate RMS level, use that same value for everything and the loudness of will be matched throughout your entire project. John Last edited by John Cline; September 27th, 2008 at 11:35 PM.

September 28th, 2008, 08:41 PM	#20
Edward Troxel Sponsor: JET DV Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 7,953	Sound Forge has a different Normalize function that has more options. Vegas just takes the loudest point and makes that a set level. If you have one loud POP and the rest is quiet, the POP is what gets normalized (essentially) leaving everything else soft. __________________ Edward Troxel [SCVU] JETDV Scripts/Scripting Tutorials/Excalibur/Montage Magic/Newsletters

September 26th, 2008, 01:11 AM	#17
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	I guess I'm not sure what the OP (David) meant by adjusting the sound so it was the same all the way through. Once we know that we could make more appropriate recommendations - although I agree that normalization by itself is unlikely to be the answer.

September 28th, 2008, 05:17 PM	#19
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	I recall trying the normalize function in Sound forge a year or two ago, and as I recall it did work well.