Normalizing audio in DP10?

[gjensse]

Where is the "Normalize audio" function in DP10? Have they decided to remove this important function like they removed Set Loop?

[CharlzS]

Make a selection in the Waveform Editor first, then right-click it. You can shift-spacebar search commands also after selection in WE.

[mikehalloran]

Where is the "Normalize audio" function in DP10? Have they decided to remove this important function like they removed Set Loop?

Nope, they just moved it to the Waveform Editor (where it should have been al along, I suppose). Besides the two ways that CharlsZ mentioned, there are others. I can’t post screen shots from my iPad but can later if you need. It’s in the manual, of course.

Dwapite being mentioned in the documentation, this function is missing from Performer Lite — no Waveform Editor.

[HCMarkus]

I'm not sure why this function is important, given all the different ways we have to adjust gain in DP. Is it just me?

[mikehalloran]

I'm not sure why this function is important, given all the different ways we have to adjust gain in DP. Is it just me?

Sometimes, it’s the only way to boost gain enough to get a usable signal. I get tracks that look blank till I Normaize. I usually pull them back -5dB afterward, Bite Gain makes those tracks barely visible.

If you’re doing the tracking, it should never be necessary.

[bayswater]

I'm not sure why this function is important, given all the different ways we have to adjust gain in DP. Is it just me?

Habit I guess. I used to get audio files from several sources and I normalized them (less 3db) as a first step in mixing. Haven't done it for a very long time. But if I wanted to use it, having to go to the waveform editor is not convenient. I'd rather MOTU has made more waveform functions available in the SE, rather than moving them out. You can't listen to your edits in the context of a mix in the waveform editor. The waveform images are sitting there in the SE. It would be great to be able to do what you need there, and grandfather the waveform editor.

[Bobbyd]

Normalize huh? I'm still not consistent at getting all of my mixes at the optimal volume. so I'll have to give it a try.

[HCMarkus]

Normalize huh? I'm still not consistent at getting all of my mixes at the optimal volume. so I'll have to give it a try.

Normalization only brings files to peak at full code. So one brief peak will cause an entire file to be normalized at a lower average level than another file that has more consistent internal volume. Normalization is not what you need for consistent levels. You need to master (EQ/compression/limiting) with an eye on your meters. Reference LUFS if you have a plugin that will allow you to do so. If your mixes reflect consistent LUFS levels, they should be in the ballpark for relative perceived volume.

[monkey man]

Agreed, Sir Markus. I avoid it completely.

As for Mike's waveform-visibility issue, Mike, does cranking the magnification slider up for a track not enlarge the image enough?

[Bobbyd]

Normalize huh? I'm still not consistent at getting all of my mixes at the optimal volume. so I'll have to give it a try.

Normalization only brings files to peak at full code. So one brief peak will cause an entire file to be normalized at a lower average level than another file that has more consistent internal volume. Normalization is not what you need for consistent levels. You need to master (EQ/compression/limiting) with an eye on your meters. Reference LUFS if you have a plugin that will allow you to do so. If your mixes reflect consistent LUFS levels, they should be in the ballpark for relative perceived volume.

OK, I found a free LUFS plugin (youlean-loudness meter) and I'll give it a try. I've been using the meter bridge window and apparently I still don't have a good grasp of using a limiter on the Master fader. What I'm seeing - songs with more dynamics require different limiter settings. There gets to be a lot of red in the meter bridge yet the bounced audio waveform stays at a medium level.

[bayswater]

I agree too, but there are those who normalize everything so mixing consists entirely of reducing levels, EQ is subtractive, etc. Compression and limiting follow.

[HCMarkus]

What I'm seeing - songs with more dynamics require different limiter settings. There gets to be a lot of red in the meter bridge yet the bounced audio waveform stays at a medium level.

Ah, the challenge of dynamics! But they're one of the things that keeps music interesting...

How you approach the issue is genre-dependent. Application-dependent. Taste-dependent. Era-dependent. Consider studying music in your preferred style on Spotify, but turn off Spotify's "Normalize Volume" preference so you can see how loud pros are mastering, then aim for a similar level. If your music is so dynamic you must use a ton of master buss compression and limiting to get similar LUFS readings, consider using more compression on individual elements in your mix. Also look into leveling (essentially fast attack/slow release compression) to reduce the difference in volume between soft and loud passages of your music.

You'll see a lot of stuff on the web about mastering at -14 LUFS or so to avoid the "loudness penalty." Depending on your musical style, this may be a great guideline. Unfortunately, application of volume normalization is hit or miss depending on the streaming platform and listener-selected preferences. And some styles definitely benefit from a more compressed sound. As such, the loudness wars of recent history are, to a degree, still with us, but we can now aim for more reasonable levels, where volume is competitive with other music in the genre yet not so squashed as to be lifeless.

[Bobbyd]

Thanks for the advice HCMarkus. After all these years I just started using a master fader (and plugins) recently.

[mikehalloran]

Agreed, Sir Markus. I avoid it completely.

As for Mike's waveform-visibility issue, Mike, does cranking the magnification slider up for a track not enlarge the image enough?

If Bite Gain will do the trick, I use it but often, it’s not enough to do anything more than make a track barely visible.

Normalization only brings files to peak at full code. So one brief peak will cause an entire file to be normalized at a lower average level than another file that has more consistent internal volume. Normalization is not what you need for consistent levels.

Yep. A click or pop on the track can create a spike that leaves the overall track volume low.

Some people Normalize everything and subtract from there. Not I—it’s a problem solving tool for me.

Likewise, it doesn’t matter mush to me that it’s now been moved to the Waveform Editor. I did find it a bit more convenient to have it in the Audio menu, however.

[monkey man]

As for Mike's waveform-visibility issue, Mike, does cranking the magnification slider up for a track not enlarge the image enough?

If Bite Gain will do the trick, I use it but often, it’s not enough to do anything more than make a track barely visible.

This is precisely why I asked, Mike; it sounded to me like you weren't taking advantage of the track-specific waveform-display magnification slider:

Bite Gain makes those tracks barely visible.