Can someone explain the Export -> Normalize option?

Discuss music production with Ableton Live.
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AaronShaver
Posts: 82
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2008 7:08 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Can someone explain the Export -> Normalize option?

Post by AaronShaver » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:13 pm

I'm confused on whether I should use it. What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Thanks.

doghouse
Posts: 1450
Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:30 pm

Re: Can someone explain the Export -> Normalize option?

Post by doghouse » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:23 pm

Normalizing maximizes the gain of the sample...in effect it turns it up as loud as possible without clipping.

The downside is that it can increase noise in low-level sections.

Vios
Posts: 266
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Location: Denver, CO
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Re: Can someone explain the Export -> Normalize option?

Post by Vios » Mon Jan 30, 2012 10:55 pm

Normalize will bring the very loudest peak audio point in your track to the -0db point when exported to a wave file. There isn't much use to the feature, esp as all professional audio is kept to -0.2 or -0.3dbs as some poor audio devices cause clipping when converting from analog to digital above the -0.2 or -0.3dbs point. It's something I never use.

A great technique is to keep your audio below -3dbs point at all points in your track if you're sending it off for mastering. If you're doing a rough master yourself, keep your audio below -0.3db at all points in your track before you export.

AaronShaver
Posts: 82
Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2008 7:08 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Re: Can someone explain the Export -> Normalize option?

Post by AaronShaver » Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:01 pm

Thanks, guys. That helps a lot. I had been self-mastering and trying to get at close to 0.0 db as possible, but I will do the -0.3 thing from now on.

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