normalizing

[peyman_salimi]

hi guys,

i have a problem.i use sonar 6 as the audio sequencer and wavelab for mastering.
i 've always been normalizing my songs in wavelab without any problem.
last month i got my new version of Sonar that has got a Vintage Channel as a plug in that sounds great. i apply the vintage channel into my tracks(i mean to the master obviously,not into each track seperately)
and then export project as a wave file .then when i normalize it in weavelab i get a distorted sound.
can anybody tell me what's the reason.and i'd like to know if normalizing is a unavoidable thing in mastering or not...everybody normalizes???

i 've heard that normalizing is not the best way to get the standard level and volume.so what's the best way????

[richiebee]

I never fully normalize. I always go to -1dB or lower. Do you have the option in Wavelab to normalize to a level other than 0?

The best way to achieve the optimum level is to record it that way. Since we all know that's easier said than done, we normalize!

R.

[peyman_salimi]

yeah!you can normalize to any level you'd like.

[brandondrury]

Are you normalizing with peak or RMS?

If a person has a limiter, I can't think of a reason to ever normalize. Maybe I'm missing something.

I wrote a big speech about this yesterday. Check it out.
new Cubase 4 user

Brandon

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

If a person has a limiter, I can't think of a reason to ever normalize. Maybe I'm missing something.

That depends on how much you smash the shit out of your music!

Rich

[MR.BYTCH KILLA]

What does normalizing mean Richie?

[richiebee]

Normalizing in this context simply refers to bringing the levels up so that they peak at a specific level - I always normalize to -1db.

I work with a lot of classical musicians who regulate their own volume levels based on the dynamics of the music they're playing. So, unlike pop music, classical music often has very quiet tunes and some loud tunes. Its often inappropriate to normalize each track individually because it would lose the consistency of the whole work. I normally put all the tracks together and normalize them all as one file. That way they retain the relationship of loudness that the performers gave when they played.

In a lot of pop music, every track would be normalized individually to give it its maximum volume level.

Normalizing could be considered part of mastering.

Rich

[MR.BYTCH KILLA]

Are u talking about the volume of each track or plug in adjustment?
?

[richiebee]

Normalizing could be bringing the volume of anything up to a specific level, but it usually refers to the stereo track.

[peyman_salimi]

thanks guys for the help.