The Risks of Bouncing Down w/VolumeNormalization?

[TrierMusic]

I don't have live in front of me so I may be getting the terms wroooong, but...this thread (http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96809) got me thinking about the effects of "normalizing" the audio when you render audio to wav.

Usually when I turn this option off, it just doesn't render.

Is that because Live won't render audio that goes into the red?

I often find that my audio sounds way different once it has been rendered down outside of live.

I suspect it's because the audio normalizing is making the quiet parts quieter, etc.

Am I a crackpot?

I could test this, but I've got other things to work on that are more fun

[Tone Deft]

use the web to find definitions of terms you're unfamiliar with.

normalization just bumps the overall volume of a track to the highest peak is at the loudest level the DAW will create. you're telling Live to bump up the volume so that the loudest moment of your track is moved up as high as it can go, naturally Live won't put it into the clipping range.


BUT if you make a track that drives the Master output into the red, it's still a tune that clips. AFAIK Live will render the file as you made it, so it clips and distorts.

why does it sound bad? usually louder is perceived as better, turn it up!

hth.

[blank]

Imo normalisation is not the best way to optimise your dynamics impact.

Must mix the stuff well and turn normalisation off.

[leedsquietman]

+1

Totally.

Learn how to mix properly and learn how to use compressors/limiters/volume maximizers properly.