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Subject:normalize for loudness
Posted by: statas
Date:1/19/2003 7:38:55 AM

i need to normalize several tracks for average loudness. can someone briefly explain the settings and how to use them? i especially don't understand attack and release.

Subject:RE: normalize for loudness
Reply by: MJhig
Date:1/19/2003 3:06:23 PM

Let's use a cymbal crash as an example. If the attack is set to zero ms, the process will effect the sound from the very start and if the release is set to say 5000 ms the process will continue to effect the sound through out it's duration until the sound fades below the threshold setting. If the attack is say 10 ms then the initial attack of the stick hitting the cymbal will not be processed and maintain it's original volume but the following body of the sound will be effected/compressed. If the release is set shorter, say 500 ms the body of the sound just after the initial attack will be processed/compressed then released leaving the tail of the ring and overtones below the threshold setting alone.

If you have a full version of SF and you audio is -6 dB or higher why not use a Compressor (Dynamics and/or Wave Hammer)instead of Normalize to RMS.

A simple experiment would be, if the audio peak is above -6 dB (if not use Normalize PEAK to say -3 dB) then use the "Limit at 6 dB and Maximize" preset in Wave Hammer.

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