Normalization

Posted on Apr 11, 2003 03:41 am
Jamie Garrett
Contributor Since: Sep 09, 2002

I noticed that alot of times a final recording is not normalized to 0dB, but instead to -0.25 or -0.02dB or some similar smidgeon under zero instead. I remember reading somewhere that normalizing to 0dB will cause the machines at the CD mastering house to recognize it as an error. Is this true or is there some other reason people do this? If anyone can elaborate I'd greatly appreciate it. :O) -j

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jues
Contributor
Since: Dec 30, 2002

Apr 11, 2003 06:08 am

Yeah no worries

Basically, older CD players (including the one I have here) will regard anything over -0.2dB as an error and as a result will play back a nice bust of white noise (as if the signal was actually clipped)

As a result, it is a good idea to normalise finished CD master to -0.3dB or -0.2dB depending on how much of a rebel you are...

jues.