Re: [LAU] Ardour: exporting woes

On Sun, Mar 20, 2016 at 06:28:20PM -0400, jonetsu@email-addr-hidden wrote:
> On Sun, 20 Mar 2016 21:59:07 +0000
> Fons Adriaensen <fons@email-addr-hidden> wrote:
>
> > The default export format has the 'normalisation' option on.
> > $(GOD) knows why.
>
> >> 1) Is -15dB on the master bus something completly silly ?
>
> > No.
>
> >> 2) If so, how to remediate the currnt recording ?
>
> > Edit the export format, disable normalisation, save.
>
> OK, thanks.
>
> What's the difference between this 'normalisation' and a heavy
> compressor ?

The normalisation will not really modify the mix or the dynamics.
It just adds some gain so the level is the maximum that the export
file format can handle without clipping.

In other words, it should sound just the same after you adjust
(reduce) the volume.

Now if playing back the normalised file results in clipping
or distortion, that means that either your sound card can't
handle full digital level, or you have too much gain after
the soundcard.

> Still, this brings a practical question: how to integrate tranquil
> pieces in a list, say, as on a CD, without having the listener going to
> the volume knob and, while still keeping intact the breathing room of
> the soft pieces in comparison of the loudest ones in the same set ?

If the CD has both pieces that should be loud and others like yours
that are meant to be softer, then you did the right thing. But it all
depends on what the listener wants - many will want a constant level
regardless of any artistic intentions.

Your track has quite a low level, even if it is intended to be soft.
Ebumeter says the loudness is -3.7 LU. That's relative to an already
low referenc value of -23 dB. Still that's probably OK iff any other
tracks it is bundled with are also mixed to a well defined loudness
instead of maximum peak level.

It's a real shame that Ardour only offers peak normalisation. Peak
level has no perceptual meaning at all, there is really no reason
why a mix should ever be peak-normalised.

All the code required for real loudness normalisation is already
there, so it would be trivially simple to offer that as well.

Ciao,

-- 
FA
A world of exhaustive, reliable metadata would be an utopia.
It's also a pipe-dream, founded on self-delusion, nerd hubris
and hysterically inflated market opportunities. (Cory Doctorow)
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