Very good, thanks for the explanation. P.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Matzura" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PC audio discussion list. " <Pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 8:50 PM Subject: Re: Wav Hammer in SF On Sat, 10 Dec 2005 19:56:32 +1100, you wrote: >Well, I haven't used it, but I understand it compresses the sound in some >way, something like normalizing. Normalizing and compressing are two different functions and bear absolutely no relationship betwixt and between. Compression is the art, and I do mean art, of making soft parts loud and loud partrs soft so you don't have to keep reaching for the volume knob. Normalization is simply maximizing the amplitude, or volume, of a waveform such that its loudest point is never any louder than a pre-determined value (usually 0dB, some folks push it to +3dB). No other aspect of the waveform is changed, it's just moved up in whole so that its peaks brush up against that arbitrary value of loudness. Uses for normalization: Recordings made too low in volume. Should be normalized to at least 90% of full wave height, leaving a little room for harmonic distortion which could produce voltage levels that would or could overdrive a sound-reproducing device, such as the final output stage of an amplifier, or even a speaker itself, but not register on an oscilloscope as being louder than the specified normalized value (see above). When normalizing a waveform, it's always a good idea to leave some what's called head-room for just this case and these conditions/circumstances. Uses for compression: Imagine hearing a recording of a meeting where the main speaker was clear as a bell, but the audience who may have asked questions were down in the sonic mud. Compression would temporarily raise the volume level so the soft parts, the far-away audience members, can be heard when they speak. Then, when the main speaker starts up again, the volume level is pushed back down so the main speaker doesn't overdrive the recording or playback equipment. Understand that normalization will not help in this case because normalization brings every sound up in volume by the same amount, while compression changes the volume level "on the fly," as much or as little as needed, depending on the characteristics of the waveform. Hope this helps. _______________________________________________ PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This list is a service of MosenExplosion.com. To see what other lists we offer, visit us on the web at http://www.MosenExplosion.com _______________________________________________ PC-Audio List Help, Guidelines, Archives and more... http://www.pc-audio.org To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This list is a service of MosenExplosion.com. To see what other lists we offer, visit us on the web at http://www.MosenExplosion.com
