Compression vs Normalization: What’s the Difference?

[@leenabel]

Thanks for this clear explanation between the two. It makes sense to me now! I appreciate your taking the time to post, Joe.

[@GraveyardAngelOfficial]

This was an exact answer to what I was wondering about, thank you for the great explanation, Joe.

[@unrealrox]

the best explanation ever! thank you and regards from Argentina.

[@navneet4489]

You are simply the best.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Is that a Tina Turner song?

[@navneet4489]

@@HomeStudioCorner hahaha you Got it.....man Amazing

[@gutpileman]

This really helped to clear things up for me. Thanks Joe🤘🤘

[@BharathRamMS]

Wow! What a clear and concise explanation! Loved it.

[@Psych_Explained]

Hi Joe, I appreciate your video - great presentation style, easy to follow and listen to; I'm just learning to use normalization and compression in audacity so this video was a good start for me. Cheers!

[@Stigggs]

Thanks. That explains it.

[@gusssten]

Good explanation, Thank you 🙂

[@amperafamily4085]

Alt N.. in windows. Thanks Joe.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

👍

[@BukanIbuMu]

Stay awesome, Joe! -One of your long time subscriber

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Thanks John.

[@vatosgym]

Thank you so much!

[@YASIR.K]

Love you and love your channel ... Thanks, Joe 🍻

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Right back at you, Yasir. 😘

[@michaeltablet8577]

Thanks again Joe!

[@lucygodfrey141]

love the way you explain thing

[@StoryTime4138]

What about normalizing after compressing and or treble/bass boost?

[@liquidsolids9415]

Thanks for the simple explanation, Joe!

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You bet!

[@jasonvichinsky1458]

excellent

[@Thatsmessedupman]

Which is best to do when you have tracks from various sources, all different levels and want to have them all around the same level. Each track has their own issues with their highs and lows .So I want to be sure the highs dont cause distortion but also dont want the lows to be too faint. I thought normalization is the key but it seems it might only solve the clipping aspect.

[@jimhart1959]

Awesome! Great info!

[@GregoryAgid]

Great video!

[@GoodOlTahj]

Great video as always, Joe I always learn something related to issues I come across in my own recordings, so thank you very much for the quality info.

[@nostalgicselectives1077]

For the longest time I thought that Normalization would be a type of Compression Tool or would ultimately change audio it in a way that would mess dynamics or every aspect of what's been originally recorded. I was afraid to use it because I didn't want to mess up the track that way. For example, I love to rip vinyl and I want to keep the exact state the audio is recorded in terms of dynamics because that's one of the reasons why I like vinyl. From what I understand Normalization keeps the dynamics or another way to understand that in a track it has its levels for each samples, instrument depending what is set before exporting, mastering etc. It leaves those dynamics alone and actually lifts all together only the volume of everything in that track thus keeping dynamics. Hopefully I've understood that correctly and if not I'd like more input on this if I'm misunderstood. Thanks for the video Joe :)

[@nobodyneverknows]

Some older machines like akai s3000xl sampler have a normalize function however if you look at the included spectogram one can see that a truly unmixed signal with very loud peaks and quiet rest parts of the track just get squashed by normalize function to an almost flat peak type. Its more like a build in compression rather then normalize as we know it. No matter what you put ther it will just get flattened. Its pretty cool and powerful tool hidden in this old school shitter box.

[@seppous]

dude thank you!

[@amatormuzisyenler2314]

Hey mr.Joe is it possibile to sidechain on presonus studio live 32sx ? Or hou to do . Thx

[@xyzct]

If you were uploading to SoundCloud, don't you want to use Loudness Normalization, inputting SC's required LUFS range?

[@WarrenWatsonActor]

How do you feel about normalization vs compression when it comes to voiceovers?

[@thamilanban]

Hi Joe, could you please do us a video how to do upward compression in Studio One? Thank you.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Honestly never used it in my life

[@IgnacioVS]

so can we say, the waves in the presonus logo is clipping....???

[@tommyzai7038]

HI Joe, any thoughts on True Peak vs. Peak? I'm trying to decide which to use . . . I plan on a -1dB target normalization target.

[@lio4263]

up until now, when I record vocals, i first normalize them and then use a compressor alaso. u think I shouldnt do the normalization and only use comprssor ? thanks

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

But wait. Is it only normalizing up to 0 dBFS? Isn't normalize up to zero more for mastering? And aren't there optional settings lower than zero, that would benefit gain staging in the mix?

[@kadiummusic]

Normalise all your tracks to zero then reduce all their input gains to your preferred mixing level i.e. -18db and get on with mixing. Plus this way you don't get all those clip gain lines all over your tracks. 😎

[@andrewjacobs5579]

Oh wow... I was about to say Thanks creepy YT a.i. for this vid as I've been searching about Normalizing my tracks but I see this is fresh.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

😂 nice

[@bigxrecords7375]

I only normalize all my audio if I’m working with a 2 track beat with vocals on top I feel that saves me soo much time

[@avi.koral.2694]

Hi joe! I have another question, what's the difference between limiter and maximizer?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Same thing as far as I know.

[@photeinoulatsalou3629]

Hey Joe, nice video...just got one (my biggest) problem: I use Pro Tools and my mix sounds exactly the way that I want. After bouncing to a stereo track and play it on windows media player it sounds different, kind of lifeless or dull. The reverb and the clarity isn't that present and crisp as in the PT Session...and all I did was just bouncing with the same sample rate. PLEASE GIVE ME THE ADVICE THAT I NEED so that I can start to save the music world😉

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Check your export settings.

[@photeinoulatsalou3629]

@@HomeStudioCorner I appreciate your answer, but there isn't a lot to check on the export settings. I bounced on 24 bit wav, some as I recorded and mixed . Maybe it's time for the vid of your life my friend 🙂

[@michaelmaas6460]

I've spent hours sitting with and watching engineers who were using PT and learned that there is a huge similarity with the DAW I use (Reason 10) and PT, so maybe this will help. In Reason, bouncing and exporting aren't exactly the same. If I export a song, everything comes out right, but if I bounce, there is a special menu with lots of choices of how I want it bounced. Depending on how I handle that menu, I can lose many effects such as eq, pan, reverb, etc. So, my guess is, in PT explore the differences between exporting & bouncing, and look for that extra menu that you may have somewhere for the one or the other.

[@photeinoulatsalou3629]

@@michaelmaas6460 appreciate your answer very much. I tried it to export, but hadn't that much time to experiment with it. Hope that will solve my problem. It's really frustrating to listen to the sound you're looking for...but only inside the daw . All the best to you

[@michaelstuben8748]

Checked dc-offset at export ?

[@vpocyk]

seen your ancient greek tatoo, but cant recognize word. Can you write it please?

[@Superhutchnwa]

So I had a podcast interview where my guest was further away from his microphone than me which caused his volume to be much lower than mine. I'm struggling to get the normalization correct. Is there a way to apply the same volume to my whole track?

[@Hamitache]

Hey Joe.. how to make the vocal punchy and aggresive using compressor for rap vocal ? thanks for responding

[@akira_21_]

Try to use 1176 with slow-ish attack and fast release

[@Hamitache]

@@akira_21_ ok what about the ratio ? should I use heavy compressed signal ?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGHWi4ihqZiSp5Y

[@FlotownMastering]

One small detail FWIW: you're describing peak normalization which is related to, but different than, loudness normalization (commonly used by streaming services). The more you know :)

[@HomeStudioCorner]

👍 good point.

[@MaartenFranken]

I was used to normalize to a value I could enter myself, instead of a set 0dBFS, before I started using SO. But I understand that isnt the default way of normalizing? I havent used normalization anymore, since I use SO, I just use the input trim on the channels.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You can still normalize "to" a certain value in S1. It's just a two-step process. Normalize, then use clip gain to bring the clip down to the desired level. There's a macro that lets you normalize to -12 I think. But I don't use it. - Joe Gilder

[@MaartenFranken]

@@HomeStudioCorner thanks Joe!

[@peteryoas]

If you have 2 songs mixed and mastered and ready to release and you wanted to make sure they are the same volume, would you normalize both to 0db at that point before sending off?

[@Gumpa2]

What I don't understand is, for example, when I want to record my Ocarina with the Sm57 (its the mic I have here, maybe not optimal), and I set the gain so it won't clip, the resulting tracks almost always have barely any peak, and sound much less loud thant what is expected with the gain so high (about 70%, I am using the Audien id44 Interface). So to hear something I have to normalize it, and its reall weird. Is it a weird setting in Reaper, or is the Microphone just that deaf, or is there something else Iam doing wrong?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

One option is turn up your speakers so you don't feel the need to crank up all your tracks. It's all very normal.

[@baxterfanboy9116]

Is normalization a good method to prevent the audio file from clipping?

[@ahmedyadam7240]

Hay , can u make a Demo on how to use the send on the main output inside studio one If it shoud use itself a limiter like tha main output itself Why we use it Can we make automation for it Seems a sophisticated thing for a more pro level as I think But , you are welcome to explain it Feel free 😁🤣😁

[@HomeStudioCorner]

That's not a send. That's a place to put plugins post-fader on the main output.

[@ahmedyadam7240]

@@HomeStudioCorner I didn't get it !! Sorry my friend! Can u make a demo on such use It's completely new to me if you please

[@HoldMyBeerFam]

Can you do a video on how to properly read the waveforms of audio events in the arrangement time-line (on/in the grid). I see that it goes up and down and can be confusing to make sense of especially in stereo. I hope my question makes sense.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

do you mean how to tell if something is out of time? Like...needs the timing fixed?

[@HoldMyBeerFam]

@@HomeStudioCorner No this was what I was trying to say sorry I know it made no sense. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpyre4esrZeLbJo

[@dhanvimehta8188]

This is an insightful video! well done! i had a question, i have an audio whose first half has very very low volume, and the second half has a high volume, i want to make the first half and second half balanced as i have to sing on it. Any help would be appreciated! I am using Audacity for editing. Thanks a lot!

[@tyronemixx]

I'm a total noob so take this with a grain of salt. My guess is that you Normalize the sections separately to the same peak level. .

[@agesonjohanesburg2915]

Is normalization permanent? ie- Should I normalize my song before I export mixdown? I want to come back and edit later after I have had others listen on their respective devices etc. THX!

[@juliasdemta2976]

You are owsem sir...

[@HomeStudioCorner]

You are. 😊

[@craigpitmanmusic]

Joe, I'm not sure exactly how to ask this but how does Normalization fit in with the principle of GIRATS? Can it and Compression make up for low signal issues with the original track? I imagine it can help to a degree but to what degree? Thanks.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Yeah, if the track is recorded TOO quiet there can be problems, but usually there aren't. Like that sermon audio. It's pretty quiet, but digital recordings are so clean anyway, simply increasing the volume doesn't hurt anything.

[@craigpitmanmusic]

@@HomeStudioCorner Good to know. Great video. Thanks.

[@kevinpenhorwood5255]

Hey Joe, I love your videos please keep it up. Two small things that I have been trying to figure out and I am hoping you can help. Can you please show us 1. how to change the default length of a crossfade. The current default length of my crossfade is so short I have to almost completely zoom in to see it. 2. how to keep the new version of studio one from adding the 01 Start to the end of song mixdowns names. I just want the name of the mixdown to be the name of the song and not have it add that at the end of my mixdowns. It only started doing this after I updated to latest version. A bonus on the mixdown is how do you keep it from adding a folder as well that it places the mixdown in. I just want it to save the mixdown with the song name and folder I tell it. Thanks. Kevin

[@HomeStudioCorner]

1. You can't adust the default length, but I've never found that to be an issue. 2. Not sure.

[@kevinpenhorwood5255]

@@HomeStudioCorner Thanks for your reply. I have a circumstance where I need all my crossfades to be 1 second. In video editing you can adjust the default length of a crossfade. I guess it can't be done in studio one. I only want it to save time so I don't have to touch all my crossfades. On question two I actually found that answer = don't select the between markers even if it says Start - End use the between Start and End markers above.

[@FranssenMark]

Makes me pop the question on gain staging your tracks before mixing. Seen a lot of videos that show you “have to” gain stage all tracks to -18dbfs, using various ways of clip gain to a channel trims etc. But I’ve not seen a video that shows the best/most easy/most effective way. What would you recommend?

[@yawpaw9796]

Use your ears.

[@HomeStudioCorner]

I understand the reasoning behind that advice, but I don't want all my tracks to be the same volume. The lead vocal needs to be louder than that little shaker track. The kick drum needs to be louder than a background vocal. So normalizing to -18 seems to create more work for me.

[@FranssenMark]

@@HomeStudioCorner Clear on that, seems logical for me. But when you do gain staging on tracks, what is your workflow on that? Just curious.

[@jasongarcia5482]

Hey...do you normalize a whole session??

[@kadiummusic]

Normalise all your tracks to zero then reduce all their input gains to your preferred mixing level i.e. -18db and get on with mixing. Plus this way you don't get all those clip gain lines all over your tracks. 😎

[@levitikon1]

I love you Joe, but paint the ceiling dude 😂

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Oh heck no. My wife is an interior designer and LOVEs the ceiling.

[@levitikon1]

@@HomeStudioCorner i have a very similar studio setup as you with four angled ceilings and deep pile carpet. Great acoustic dampening. I think I might need the base traps behind my desk though. 🤔

[@moripsmusic8715]

!!!!

[@yawpaw9796]

Normalization is something i never use. Idrather send clipping signal over brickwall limiter (something i know how it wotks) over normalize using volume magic to calculate peaks. I love extra crunchy mixes

[@HomeStudioCorner]

Well there you go

[@kadiummusic]

Two completely different things. One is affecting the level only. The other is affecting level by affecting the audio itself. And why would you do that when you're only gain staging to optimise your plugins and avoid clipping? Normalise all your tracks to zero then reduce all their input gains to your preferred mixing level i.e. -18db and get on with mixing. Plus this way you don't get all those clip gain lines all over your tracks. 😎

[@nolarocks]

I use compression more than ......normalization.

[@nolarocks]

Wouldn't you want to improve/increase your signal amplitude rather than normalize? Normalizing brings the noise up as well right?

[@HomeStudioCorner]

normalization is ONLY turning up the volume. Compression decreases dynamic range, which will have the effect of bringing up the quieter parts. That said, I normalize a handful of tracks when I mix. I compress more than I normalize, but it's like comparing apples to oranges. I compress for the sound. I normalize to adjust the volume.