Subject:Normalization Settings - Spoken Word Podcasts

Posted by: jamesreese

Date:11/3/2005 3:22:32 PM

What should be the normalization settings in Sound Forge for spoken word audio (no music) which will be distributed as a podcast MP3 file? My original file is WAV 44.1kHz 16bit 705kbit mono. Thanks. JR

Subject:RE: Normalization Settings - Spoken Word Podc

Reply by: mpd

Date:11/3/2005 5:22:10 PM

Set the volume to what you think is appropriate. Most of the VO stuff I do ends up around -20 dB, RMS or so. With mild compression (2-3 dB gain reduction), I usually end up with 4-6 dB of headroom, which give me something to work with for getting equal loudness between different speakers, or appeasing clients who insist on getting something louder.

When we get busy, I outsource VO to some other studios in town, and it comes in with similar levels and headroom.