Normalize Function

[tgs]

I have to say...this is one of those "NEVER" things that everyone repeats and few seem to ever explain.

The reason why I HATE the normalization function: I work a lot with mastering and now and then I get a job where the files have been normalized, and I'll spend the first half hour just trying to get them at even level again.

Even worse: my colleague recently got the files for a mix he was supposed to do, a Cubase project. The guy had normalized EVERY SINGLE FILE in the project. It must have taken AGES to get that one sorted out.

 

[colonel kurtz]

that's pretty retarded...but again, i don't think it's the normalization that's the problem - it's the people who are abusing it

just like when you see some old man driving on the highway at 40mph in his cadillac...you know that beast can go a lot faster, the the operator is totally inept

 

[KillFrenzy]

The only use I find is when the level is too low. I usually don't use anywhere else pecause as the process uses the highest peak to do the job, VERY OFTEN, this peak is "out of context". In other words: on a clean guitar track, it's a abnormal hard picking, for example. On a full mix, maybe it's a single "boom" (hard hit snare + kick + bass + vocal). In such case, normalization won't bring different songs to the same level. Sometimes not even close.

 

[KillFrenzy]

Crap... Now I saw the article and the 1st myth is exactly what I was trying to explain.. hahaha.
Very good link, btw.

 

[seditz740novaprospect]

anyone of you ever done a null-test with a normalized file and a file brought up to the same level with the channelfader?

I did....total cancellation

i tired that recently with some drum tracks that were recorded at -18, and the same thing happened