audio levels and mastering

  • Thread starter Thread starter umesh
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umesh

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Hi,
I've been experimenting with computer multi track based recording of late. I record some stuff with Calkwalk Home Studio or any other recording program and then add some effects and export it to a .wav then burn to CD.

Different songs come out with different volumes/levels and I wanted to find out how to get all my songs at the same level to put them on CD as well as the standard levels normally done for a CD. I am more into the music creation than the recording, but I want to be able to put together a decent CD when I am done.

Anyone can help with this or know of any tutotials etc? I am familiar with prgrams like Wavelab or SoundForge.

Thanks a lot,
Umesh
 
Beathoven said:
One word: Normalizing.

Use this function in your editing program to get all your levels at the same point.

Peace,
Beathoven
http://www.nowhereradio.com/beathoven/singles
Er... no..........

That will bring the PEAK levels to the same point (as well as raise the noise floor), but that doesn't mean the song's relative loudness will be raised much.

Relative loudness counts far more to our ears than peak amplitude does.

It's true that some normalizing plug-ins try to work on RMS (or average) levels, but I haven't heard one yet that didn't negatively impact sound quality (maybe the Renaissance Waves stuff is good, but it's very pricey and I haven't used it, so I can't comment!)
 
in soundforge your compression or limiting function would have an output level adjustment.

this is what you want to work with.

the normalize function would have a percentage parameter. this also could be used as a "volume control" but it would be easier to use the output of the comp/lim.

what you want to do is have all your songs set up and ready to listen to in soundforge and then set each songs level so that it sounds right to you.

you also may be able to find other "volume controls" in sound forge.

with practice you can have the relative levels of all your songs in the right general places!
 
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