Normalizing Options in Sound Forge??

[zip]

In Sound Forge 4 there are two normalizing options..

- Peak Level
- Average RMS power

In peak level mode there is a simple dB control - but in RMS power mode there are also attack and release time settings of 1 to 500 milliseconds.

In addition, there is a scan level function...

So - if I want to normalize a track or CD which option should I choose?? Do I need to use the scan level function for each track??

Can anyone help me understand the difference between the two modes so I know how to use them - and when??

Thanks!!

zip

 

[Capt. Snazzy]

i haven't used the RMS Normalizing function but i use the peak level one quite a bit.
The peak level normalizer just looks at the level of the highest peak and raises it to the level you specify in dB.
it then raises the level of the rest of the song however much it raised the highest peak level, this increases the overall volume of the song without changing the dynamic relationship between different parts, the volume of the whole song is increased the same amount. i believe the RMS option actually changes some of the dynamics much like the normalizing function of say the TC Finalizer or something.
scan-level is used to find the current volume of the highest peak in the wav file, the program automatically does this when it normalizes, that option is just there so you can see (without actually changing any levels) what your highest peak is. hope this has helped a little bit.
Aaron

 

[C. Anthony]

Old string but I'll answer anyway

If you use the RMS option of normalizing (applying dynamic compression option) you can really bring up the volume to it's fullest, short of overcompressing and losing some of your original dynamics and or violent distortion. Makes your CD's as loud as the commercial ones if you do it right. I don't know if you still need this but you have to experiment with it.

 

[zip]

thanks man...

A bit late for this project but something I will definitely check out on the next!

Thanks zip >>