The audio compressor or normalizer

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Adjust volume level

Many instruments tend to be very dynamic, and when recorded can result in large note amplitudes, some very strong and some very weak. We could imagine following the volume of each of these tracks through the fader race of our console, but even with a very good automation system, this task could be very long and very complicated.
This is where the compressor or normalizer comes in. It is used to restrict the dynamics of an audio signal, making it easier to find a more stable level in the mix and to have an optimal volume level.

Here is the diagram of a sound wave recorded without compression and with compression:

How to adjust a compressor?

As you can see, when applying compression, the dynamic range of this wave has been reduced. In the original wave, the difference between the lowest amplitude and the highest amplitude is around 15 dB. After applying compression, the dynamics are only 5 dB. What happens is that the compressor detects and compresses the loudest sounds in the wave. After compressing these louder sounds, I can raise the entire level of the wave, so that the weak and strong notes are leveled out in the rest of the mix.

Threshold :

Compressors, like all dynamic processors, including the normalizer, work by measuring the amplitude of an incoming signal relative to a reaction point that must be configured to tell the compressor when to start operating. This reaction point is called the threshold.

Consider our example of watching TV and turning the volume down when advertising. We all have our own threshold that tells us when a sound is too loud and that will force us to take the remote control to lower the volume. This volume level is our threshold. The threshold that is, in fact, the most important component of any dynamic processor.

How to adjust a compressor?

In a compressor, a signal level above the threshold will activate the compressor, while a lower signal level remains unchanged

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Normalization of an audio file.

How to normalize an audio or video file.

Normalization is used to increase or decrease the level of the song as a whole, so that its maximum volume peaks assume the indicated level.

For example, if the maximum intensity points of the song are at -3 dB (therefore, well below 0, which should represent the maximum before distortion), normalizing to 0 dB means increasing the level of the entire song so that these peaks reach 0 dB.

This is the typical normalization of the peaks.

There is also RMS normalization (which takes into account not the peaks, but the actual average level of the song).

AUDIO CDs, which have good dynamic possibilities (various intensity tones, from pianissimo to fortissimo), are generally recorded so that the maximum volume points are at 0 dB.

Normalizing your recordings in WAV can be useful to adapt them to the average level of a CD in case they are too low (because you had been careful in the level during the recording) but there is one important thing to keep in mind:

normalization of this type alters the original dynamics, that is, the reciprocal relationships between weak and strong sounds.

Although all levels are raised by the same amount, the relationship between 2 levels changes (small mathematical example:
2/5 = 0.4 ma (2 + 1) / (5 + 1) = 0.5 …

The result is that the weaker sounds, after sudden normalization, sound much louder and those that were already loud only sound a little louder … altering the dynamic relationships that had been envisioned by those who originally recorded the music and causing the sound output to lose depth.

Some types of music, generally already deficient dynamics (rock, metal, etc.) since the excursions between the minimum and maximum volume are almost never very consistent, are more “normalizable” without problems, while the genres in which there may be Large Dynamic excursions (classical music or music with passages from pianissimi to fortissimi) are more problematic.

Furthermore, it is necessary to keep in mind that if you normalize a large wav file that contains many songs (not yet divided) there can still be, even in genres with little dynamics, consistent differences, in this case between one song and another and not between different points of the same song.

So a light normalization can do and is actually used (to raise the level of the song), but it would be better to make sure you don’t need it (recording from the beginning with a good level) or at least not have too much need. and remember, however, that the dynamics are somewhat flattened.

Normalization of an mp4 or normalization of a video.

We are in the video age, it is said that 2,000 hours of video per minute are uploaded on YouTube.

HOWEVER, THERE IS NO OTHER SOFTWARE THAT IS ABLE TO NORMALIZE THE AUDIO OF THE VIDEOS !!

Mp4Gain is used by television channels throughout the world. Also by radio stations … even by some famous musicians, of whom we cannot give the name for reasons of confidence … but we are talking about musicians of global fame.

One of them is the guitarist of one of the groups that generates the most money on their world tours … or perhaps the one that generates the most money on their world tours. He uses Mp4Gain …

And so, many other celebrities are our clients. NBA players belonging to the legendary dream team, etc.

What is Normalize audio?

The battle of volume

For decades, but especially in recent years, music producers discovered that by being able to manipulate volume levels on the mixing console, they were able – artificially – to get people to listen to a recording as “better” with just push the recording volume up a bit, its decibels.

Indeed, tests carried out by universities have shown that a little more volume makes the music sound “better” when listening.

Hence, in the last few decades, especially from the 80s, there has been a war to make each musical production sound louder to achieve that effect of better sound quality.

This has resulted in recordings showing extremely uneven volume levels, some sounding very loud and others sounding too low.

But today everyone wants the music to sound at high volume, to boost the volume level, to boost the volume of the song.

Even when it comes to loud music like dance music, rock, etc. trying to boost the bass, which produce an effect not only in the ear, but literally “feel” and to make people “feel” that music, the producer must be generous in the recording console and with the equalizer.

This usually results in people perceiving that their collection of musical files has uneven volume levels, that some recordings sound very loud and others sound very low in volume.

So it has become an urgent need to find an audio volume normalizer that manages to boost the music level, that manages to boost the bass and that manages to improve the sound of each music file, that makes it sound louder.

Mp4Gaines the answer. It is without a doubt the most efficient normalizer that manages to boost the volume and make it sound louder and at the same time sound at a more equal volume level.

If you are looking to improve the volume level of your audio and video files, of the main formats, not just mp3s, Mp4Gain is definitely the most powerful, modern and efficient solution.

NORMALIZE DIGITAL AUDIO

The “Normalize” feature has the function of scanning all or part of a selected audio file and detecting the highest peak.

In fact, it passes all samples in the file one after the other (counting at a rate of 44, 48 or 96000 per second of recording), temporarily stores the value until it finds a sample, the highest value ignores all the lowest values that the last.

Once this final value is detected, you can imagine a value of -8 dB, the software applies an increase of 8 dB to all the samples in the file and therefore raises the total level of the file by 8 dB to find the main peaks at zero dB.

Signal normalized to 0 dB peak or 0 dB at Absolute Peak – Listen

The advantage? Normalization does not allow “partial” to systematically change the listening volume from one song to another or from one fragment to another, from one disc to another. This feature says what it does, normalizes (bring it to the default).

Note: In general, a maximum normalization level of zero dB can be defined. For example: -1 dB. To prevent some intermediate CD player converters or some output amplifiers from these players from being distorted (?). Subject to debate.

Advantage: This processing only changes the overall level of the file, but by no means its dynamics (it does not reduce the difference between the highest and lowest levels of recording). So nothing to do with a limiter, a compressor or an expander.

Problem: if only one of the samples in the recording or the selected part reaches 0 dB (either positive or negative), even if all the others are -20 dB or less, the system will consider that the file does not need to be changed and then normalization will still be strictly ineffective, which is kind of silly, right?

Original signal with 0dB peak – Listen

Therefore, before normalizing the recording or marking, make sure that some isolated peaks do not deceive the system and, if necessary, remove or reduce them with the “volume” function or another (select the peak, reduce or redraw with the pencil tool) .

Also, remember to select your file in parts to apply appropriate “volume” or “normalization” levels for the sounds to be normalized.

Danger 2 (Return): It is good when the software allows it not to normalize certain recordings or fragments of recordings to zero dB.

For example: Record steps on the lawn whose average level is -35 dB and less, which is perfectly correct. If you “normalize” it to ZERO, you end up with an outrageous sound that will sound like anything but footsteps on the grass.

Mistrust: Some software offers various options for “normalization”: either in “RMS” or “Peak”. The two processes must be clearly differentiated.

RMS: It has nothing more to do with it. In fact, the software will apply a compression algorithm to the processed file. For SF, it will have 3 other predefined values, but you can choose any other value.

Peak: The software performs a “normalization” according to the technique described above. Therefore, there is no change in the recording dynamics.