Is auto gain implemented in ACID or how to normalize songs? -ACID Product Family

Subject:Is auto gain implemented in ACID or how to normalize songs? Posted by: Steve06 Date:12/3/2004 4:55:40 AM If there ain't no auto gain feature, is there any other method to normalize songs? Explanation: Normalization means to make all songs have "the same" volume by detecting (through auto gain) "the true" volume of every each song and raising in volume those which have a low volume index and lowering the loud ones.
Subject:RE: Is auto gain implemented in ACID or how to normalize songs? Reply by: JohnnyRoy Date:12/3/2004 6:35:18 AM > Normalization means to make all songs have "the same" volume by detecting (through auto gain) "the true" volume of every each song and raising in volume those which have a low volume index and lowering the loud ones. I don't know about "true volume", but what normalization does is adjusts the highest peak amplitude of a waveform to a certain percentage, thereby raising or lowering all other peaks accordingly. If you set the peak to 0dB then the loudest part will be raised to 0dB and the other parts will be raised relative to that (and no louder). If, however, one song has a very loud part but the rest is relatively low, it WILL NOT be as loud as another song that has a consistent volume. (i.e., the song with the consistent volume will be normalized louder) So normalization can vary widely between songs based on their dynamic range. I think what you want is Compression to lower the loud notes and raise the low ones. In ACID use the Track Compressor. It has Auto gain compensation as one of its options. The setting [Sys] Limit levels to –6dB (hard limiter) is a good place to start. [Sys] 6:1 compression starting at –12dB will really pump up the volume. If you have Sound Forge you can use Wave Hammer which has a Volume Maximizer as well as a Compressor. ~jr

> Normalization means to make all songs have "the same" volume by detecting (through auto gain) "the true" volume of every each song and raising in volume those which have a low volume index and lowering the loud ones.

I don't know about "true volume", but what normalization does is adjusts the highest peak amplitude of a waveform to a certain percentage, thereby raising or lowering all other peaks accordingly. If you set the peak to 0dB then the loudest part will be raised to 0dB and the other parts will be raised relative to that (and no louder). If, however, one song has a very loud part but the rest is relatively low, it WILL NOT be as loud as another song that has a consistent volume. (i.e., the song with the consistent volume will be normalized louder) So normalization can vary widely between songs based on their dynamic range.

I think what you want is Compression to lower the loud notes and raise the low ones. In ACID use the Track Compressor. It has Auto gain compensation as one of its options. The setting [Sys] Limit levels to –6dB (hard limiter) is a good place to start. [Sys] 6:1 compression starting at –12dB will really pump up the volume.

If you have Sound Forge you can use Wave Hammer which has a Volume Maximizer as well as a Compressor.

~jr