Hi Steve, That was a marvellous explanation. I actually understood it and that doesn't happen too often with technical stuff.
Many thanks. Robert. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Matzura" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "PC audio discussion list. " <Pc-audio@pc-audio.org> Sent: Saturday, December 10, 2005 9:50 AM 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
