Normalization? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Prince · 08-08-2003, 01:02 PM

I realize I've been asking a lot of questions since I signed up, but this is the first forum I've come across on which people actually seem to _know_ something...

I use Roxio's Easy CD 5 Platinum to burn my cd-r's. One disadvantage of burning miscellaneous mp3's on audio discs seems to be not only the varying bitrate but the volume as well. And the occasional clicks. EZCD has a feature called Normalization which presumably can be used to adjust the volume of all audio files to the same level prior to burning. Also, it has some anti-click features that apparently should remove occasional clicks and such. However these features do not seem to work for, so I am asking if anyone has any tips on how to use them, or alternative all-in-one software suggestions?

Mostly what bothers me is that the volume of the audio tracks changes from song to song, even though it was set to "normalize" them. I must be doing something wrong...

meanSpleen · 08-08-2003, 02:07 PM

On the normalization setting, check to see if you can change the level. In other words, look for "Normalize Percentage" or something. Generally from 1 to 100. Set it relatively high, but not at 100. Usually 95 works fine. This does, of course, depend on the mode of normalization. Just leave it at the default setting, and put it at 95.

Generally, normalization is for regular audio cd's. Ones that you can play in every cd-player. I don't think Roxio will normalize a cd full of MP3's.

So
- CD with mp3 files - no normalization
- CD with audio tracks that were made from mp3 files (like the ones you can buy in the store) - you can normalize

There are 3rd party normalizers out there. I really can't think of any right now, so you would need to search them out. Or one of your fellow TFP'ers (hint hint to everyone else reading this) could find one for you.

mpedrummer2 · 08-08-2003, 02:30 PM

OK...I'm a recording engineer, so perhaps I can shed some light on the subject...

All normalization does is adjust the volume so that the current highest point in the song is equal to the level you set it at. For example, if the max in the song is 75%, and you set the normalization level to 95%, it'll turn everything up until the max level is 95%.

Now here's the catch...that maximum level in the song might only happen for a very short period of time, even as short as a single sample. To a normalizer, duration of the peak means nothing; it was the peak, and that's good enough for it.

This means that if your song has one relatively loud hit, at that 75%, and the rest of the song is, say, 35% of the maximum value, when you normalize to 95%, only the 75% is at 95%, the 35% is now only at 55%.

If you had a second song that also had a peak of 75%, but the rest of the song was 70%, when you normalize, the song will sound much lounder, because the average volume is considerably higher.

If the normalizer in your program has an option for RMS normalization, use that. It will take into consideration the average volume, and normalize accordingly. It will use something called limiting to basically chop off the momentary peaks, so the average volume can be increased.

If this was more confusing than helpful, sorry. Ask any questions you may have, and I'll try to answer next time I'm around.

MPEDrummer

Prince · 08-08-2003, 02:52 PM

Thanks for the replies! Wasn't confusing at all.

Sion · 08-09-2003, 05:38 AM

Nero has normalization functions and works very well. I've burnt a few collections of mp3s into audio cds and have no qualms about recommending Nero to do so.

08-08-2003, 01:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Prince /nɑndəsˈkrɪpt/ Location: LV-426	Normalization? I realize I've been asking a lot of questions since I signed up, but this is the first forum I've come across on which people actually seem to _know_ something... I use Roxio's Easy CD 5 Platinum to burn my cd-r's. One disadvantage of burning miscellaneous mp3's on audio discs seems to be not only the varying bitrate but the volume as well. And the occasional clicks. EZCD has a feature called Normalization which presumably can be used to adjust the volume of all audio files to the same level prior to burning. Also, it has some anti-click features that apparently should remove occasional clicks and such. However these features do not seem to work for, so I am asking if anyone has any tips on how to use them, or alternative all-in-one software suggestions? Mostly what bothers me is that the volume of the audio tracks changes from song to song, even though it was set to "normalize" them. I must be doing something wrong... __________________ Who is John Galt?

08-08-2003, 02:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
meanSpleen Squid hat! Location: A Few Miles Away From Halx	On the normalization setting, check to see if you can change the level. In other words, look for "Normalize Percentage" or something. Generally from 1 to 100. Set it relatively high, but not at 100. Usually 95 works fine. This does, of course, depend on the mode of normalization. Just leave it at the default setting, and put it at 95. Generally, normalization is for regular audio cd's. Ones that you can play in every cd-player. I don't think Roxio will normalize a cd full of MP3's. So - CD with mp3 files - no normalization - CD with audio tracks that were made from mp3 files (like the ones you can buy in the store) - you can normalize There are 3rd party normalizers out there. I really can't think of any right now, so you would need to search them out. Or one of your fellow TFP'ers (hint hint to everyone else reading this) could find one for you. __________________ Like TFP? Donate To Keep It Alive!!

08-08-2003, 02:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
mpedrummer2 Insane	OK...I'm a recording engineer, so perhaps I can shed some light on the subject... All normalization does is adjust the volume so that the current highest point in the song is equal to the level you set it at. For example, if the max in the song is 75%, and you set the normalization level to 95%, it'll turn everything up until the max level is 95%. Now here's the catch...that maximum level in the song might only happen for a very short period of time, even as short as a single sample. To a normalizer, duration of the peak means nothing; it was the peak, and that's good enough for it. This means that if your song has one relatively loud hit, at that 75%, and the rest of the song is, say, 35% of the maximum value, when you normalize to 95%, only the 75% is at 95%, the 35% is now only at 55%. If you had a second song that also had a peak of 75%, but the rest of the song was 70%, when you normalize, the song will sound much lounder, because the average volume is considerably higher. If the normalizer in your program has an option for RMS normalization, use that. It will take into consideration the average volume, and normalize accordingly. It will use something called limiting to basically chop off the momentary peaks, so the average volume can be increased. If this was more confusing than helpful, sorry. Ask any questions you may have, and I'll try to answer next time I'm around. MPEDrummer __________________ My sig can beat up your honor student.

08-08-2003, 02:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Prince /nɑndəsˈkrɪpt/ Location: LV-426	Thanks for the replies! Wasn't confusing at all. __________________ Who is John Galt?

08-09-2003, 05:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sion Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.	Nero has normalization functions and works very well. I've burnt a few collections of mp3s into audio cds and have no qualms about recommending Nero to do so. __________________ He's the best, of course, of all the worst. Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin...