How to Normalize audio tracks that goes into a Commercial CD?

[Solar]

Hey fellas!

I was wondering, wich software and how do you guys approach to normalize (by the way i know how to normalize an audio file) lets say you have 8 tracks that i finished mixing for a client and i did a home little mastering (nothing major) and then the client wants those 8 track to send them to teh place that creat and does the CD duplications as it will be released in a real normal commercial music CD. So my question how do you guys NORMALIZE each track that they all at the same LEVEL peak (so you don't hear one that is less or too loud then the next track?)

Thank you for any tips and explaination.

Appreciate

[AnAverageJoe]

Why don't you just do a rough mix... I don't normalize anymore since it eats up head room and kills my dynamic range.

[thenewyear]

There is a normalise function in most DAWs just click the button!

Be aware though that normalising does not increase perceived loudness at all and normalising 8 differing tracks to the same level could give you some odd results. Also as the last poster stated doing it as anything but the last stage of a process kills headroom.

Posts mentioning normalising usually have a million replies along the lines of:

DONT NORMALIZE. IT FUX UR AUDIO MAN

which are usually a bit over the top. But having said that normalisation really is a blunt tool. It is much better to do all your thinking about gain and comparative track levels as part of the mastering process.

[Solar]

Hey guys!!

Thanx a lot for the answer but i think i miss explained myself, I was not refering to Normailize after i finish my mixes, i never normalize after my mixes, i was saying after i did my little home Mastering for my Client, how Do i make sure approach or do to make sure all the track have the same CD quality LEVEL? Meaning that i won't hear one that is too Loud then the other. I usually use PSP Vintage Warmer and Latest Nomad Factory Brickwall

[gainstages]

during mastering, i compare the volume of each track by looking at levels (especially rms) and by listening. i generally work with all of the tracks in the same session, so i can quickly bounce back and forth between them, or i can line them up in different orders to audition the sequencing and check volumes on the transitions.

i reccomend you do NOT make any volume changes after you've already done your dithering and SRC - go back and fix it first, then redither.

[Jerry Tubb]

Originally Posted by Solar

how Do i make sure approach or do to make sure all the track have the same CD quality LEVEL? Meaning that i won't hear one that is too Loud then the other.

easy... only one way to do it.

~listen~ from one song to the next, and the next, etc.

your ears will tell you if it's right.

make small level adjustments till it sounds "right".

JT

[Solar]

Thanx a lot fellas!

I will note all these great suggestions and will do my best and get to the learning process. Appreciate a lot! Thanx a million!

[diamondjim]

I check the average RMS and peak RMS levels of each track after I have applied any eq, compression, or limiting against my "target" level, usually around -14 db average RMS (using K-14 metering also). My work is mostly acoustic and not pop or rock. Wavelab makes this very easy, using the Global Analysis function.

I then tweak the eq or compression until the loudness is about where I want it based on the type of song/instrumental. Finally I listen to each track in sequence and check for jumps or drops in overall level and adjust again accordingly.

I don't normalize for the reasons stated by others. My work flow is more labor intensive but I like the results, so it works for me.

[Virtalahde]

Here's how I sometimes put the songs in ballpark in level..

Turn the monitoring volume way way down, whisper levels. Listen to the vocal and adjust the levels according to that. From there fine tune.. at normal level and see how transitions between the songs go.

[lucey]

Originally Posted by Virtalahde

Here's how I sometimes put the songs in ballpark in level..

Turn the monitoring volume way way down, whisper levels.

I like to use the Avantones this way ... at mid to low level, jumping around the files. Less sound, more focused, easy to hear levels.

[aivoryuk]

Originally Posted by Jerry Tubb

easy... only one way to do it.

~listen~ from one song to the next, and the next, etc.

your ears will tell you if it's right.

make small level adjustments till it sounds "right".

JT

very good advice jerry.

imo using rms values doesn't tell you anything of percieved levels and is one of the reasons i think the loudness wars exist imo of course