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Normalize

Normalize User Interface

The Normalize tool in the Volume menu can be used to ensure a constant signal level in all your audio recordings.

Normalize

Normalize Settings

Normalize provides several settings to control how the volume normalizsation is applied to your audio file. Generally, the default settings will work well for most applications such as leveling out samples for music production.

Level Measurement Method

  • You can select a measurement method from the dropdown list. The different methods are described in detail below in the Measurement Methods section.

  • The remaining settings and sliders will be enabled or disabled depending on the chosen measurement standard.

Target Level (LUFS/LKFS)

  • This is the target level in LUFS/LKFS that the audio file will be normalized to.

Absolute Gate (LUFS/LKFS)

  • The Absolute Gate setting applies a gate at the specified threshold so that any periods of silence below the threshold do not skew the target level measurement.

Relative Gate (LUFS/LKFS)

  • This setting controls the threshold of a gate to the ungated LUFS measurement. A setting of -10 will apply a gate with a threshold 10 LUFS below the ungated LUFS measurement.

Limiter (dB)

  • This setting applies a limiter at the specified dB level so that output levels never exceed the specified level. Any level above the Limiter setting level will be brickwall limited.

Measurement Methods

There are 5 different level measurement methods available to choose from. The audio file will be measured with the selected measurement, and then its level will be changed to so that the measurement matches the Target Level chosen with the slider as described in the settings section above.

Normalize method

  • ITU-R BS.1770 (EBU R-128)

The ITU-R BS.1770 and the EBU R-128 recommendations aim at normalizing the perceived loudness and perform better than previous methods such as RMS. The ITU recommendation defines how to measure loudness using filters to match the frequency dependent sensitivity of the ears and how to apply absolute and relative gates. The EBU recommendation refers to the ITU standard and specifies specific values for the absolute gate (-70 LUFS) and the relative gate (-10 LU). The loudness is measured in LUFS (Loudness Unit Full Scale) or LKFS (in the older versions of the ITU standard).

  • True peak

In the digital world, level meters and normalize tools often use sample peak detection. The problem with sample peak detection is that an audio signal that has no digital clipping might start to clip during the conversion back to analogue. These "in-between" peaks are often referred to as inter-sample peaks. The true peak level measurement method takes inter-sample peaks into account.

  • Sample peak

The sample peak setting measures the loudest sample value encountered. Normalize will raise the level of the audio file until the loudest sample value is at the level chosen with the Target Level slider.

  • Global RMS (AES)

The Root-Mean-Square (RMS) level calibrated according to the AES17-1998 standard so that an input sine wave has the same peak level as the RMS level. This results in an AES-RMS level that is 3 dB higher than the mathematical RMS level.

  • Global RMS (Mathematical)

The direct mathematical evaluation of Root-Mean-Square (RMS).