Hey I've B'n recording my own music 4 a while, it had been on an analog deck for some time, now that i've entered the digital arena i've discovered normalizing. I've checked out some music sites that say U should normalize to RIAA industry standard 2 make sure Ur cd volume is equal 2 that of other discs... the problem is i've not found a single site that can tell me what the standard is.

I've B'n normalizing at about 95%, but it would be nice 2 know the standard, if anyone can help let me know...

Normalizing is not what they mean.
Usually the peak level is about -0.5 to 0 db
The average peak level is around -11 db.
To put more volume without going over the peak level you need a limiter, and not normalizing your music.

MissCute said:

The girl knows her stuff! :I: couldn't have explained it better myself!

'dre

i dont know much about mastering etc, but isnt pushing up the volume by more than 1/2 db if ure an amateur an excellent way of reducing quality of sound?

Phil said:

It all really depends on the original material - it's like asking "should I increase the brightness of a photo, if I'm an amateur" - well, sure, on the darker pictures, but no, not on the lighter ones.

If you use a program like Sound Forge or N-Track, I think you can get the average peak level. Once you've got it, make adjustments to get it as close to -11db (I shoot for -12, myself, but, from now on, I'm going for -11.)

But again, it depends on the original piece, and what you're trying to do... if the song is, by nature, a quiet piece, (acapella, piano, strings) maybe you DO want it quieter.

I've noticed that some of Prince's CDs are MAD CRAZY loud compared to others. The Gold Experience is just WAY louder than other CDs. Did I MEASURE IT? No. I just no when that CD comes up on the carousel, WHOOO it's loud.

Anyhoo, all this is to say, quality in, quality out. The GOAL is to have the loudest signal going IN to your computer, without distorting... AVOID distortion at all costs. If you increase the volume through software, you're pumping up the volume of the song AND any incidental noises - cable noise, hiss from the original source, etc.

If you can get a good loud signal from the original source, then you wont have to increase the volume through other means. THAT'S the goal.

BUT, if you're doing everything digital, inside the computer, then hopefully, your levels will be fine, AND/OR, increasing the volume through software won't reveal any other noises, because it's been digital from square one.

Good luck. It DEFINITELY takes experimenting.