Normalizing simply scans the section for the single loudest event,
and places that event at zero (or one step below). It's just the
process of applying the maximum amount of gain possible.
The problem with normalizing different tracks is that if one track of
quiet wind in trees is normalized, it might become uncomfortably
loud. Or let's say there is one tiny branch snap in that file, that
jumps all the way to zero already, no gain will be applied because
that file as a 'whole' as already at maximum gain. Normalize will
apply gain equally across the file, using the single loudest event to
determine how much gain can be applied without going over digital
'zero'.
On May 19, 2007, at 11:05 AM, G W wrote:
> Dan,
> You emphasize to not use normalizing to raise the listening level.
> What is the difference between selecting the track and adding
> amplification or using the normalization process?
> Gerald White Muscatine,IA
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Dan Dugan <>
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 12:31:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nature Recordists] 24 bit vs 16 bit recordings
>
> Kyle Keegan, you wrote:
>
> >I recently purchased a Nagra Ares bb+ and I am currently using it
> with
> >a Telinga Pro 6 Stereo Dat mic. The subject of the majority of my
> >recordings are birds. I am in the process of recording common species
> >of Northern Ca to produce (hopefully) a CD to help raise money for a
> >local rural, private one room school house as well as promoting
> >awareness of the conservation and appreciation of the local birds in
> >our area. Last year I spent a week at a recording workshop put on by
> >Cornell/ Macualay Library of Natural Sounds and they rated the Nagra
> >as their absolute #1 choice in recorders. I am very pleased with the
> >Nagra/ Telinga mic combo.
> >
> >Last week I contacted Nagra and asked them questions regarding 24 bit
> >recordings vs 16 bit as well as 44khz sampling frequency vs 48 khz.I
> >was surprised to be informed by Nagra that a 24bit recording will not
> >play on a Cd player.
>
> That's right, the CD standard is 16 bits deep. But you've been doing
> the right thing by making your master recordings at 24-bit depth!
>
> >They also informed me that consumer grade CD's
> >are recorded at 44.1 khz and I should stick to that.
>
> The difference between 44.1 and 48 KHz is small; if you're going to
> CD and 44 or 48 are your choices, I'd use 44.1. If you want to record
> at a higher sampling rate for conservatism, 96K seems to be the
> preference.
>
> >As soon as i
> >finished reading the email response, I hooked the Nagra up the my PC
> >and downloaded some 24 bit recordings, compressed them into MP3
> format
> >and burned them onto a CD and it worked.
>
> Compressing to MP3 format does reduce quality. The higher rates are
> well-nigh indistinguishable by ear, but instruments will show
> degradation. Conversion to MP3 should only be done for distribution
> in that format, and you never want to use an MP3 for anything except
> playback, i.e., don't re-convert it to wav.
>
> >I am wondering if anyone has advice in regards to this? I have spent
> >an enormous amount of time recording in 24 bit/ 44khz setting and
> I am
> >hoping that I didn't blow it. The quality of the sound is especially
> >important to me in order to represent the species of focus clearly
> and
> >with richness.
>
> You have been doing exactly the right thing, so don't worry!
>
> Burn a CD-ROM of your original 24-bit files for an archive. Import
> your 24-bit files to your digital audio workstation software. Convert
> 48K masters to 44.1K using the highest quality process available
> (good ones are very good now) at this point. Edit your material,
> raising conservative recording levels to better listening levels (do
> not normalize!). When you "bounce" out your CD track files, bounce
> them at 16-bit depth with 16-bit dither turned on. Burn CDs from the
> resulting track files.
>
> The above is brief, if you don't understand I'd be happy to explain
> the workflow in more detail.
>
> -Dan Dugan
>
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