RMS AT -20 OR -23?

Had a question regarding RMS and Limiter:
My last audio chapter that I recorded had the RMS (raw) at -27. If I applied the recommended RMS Normalize (-20db) I then get lots of clipping. When set the SOFT Limiter Preset it obviously brings everything into ACX acceptance #'s. Noise is fine.

But if I use the Normalize at -23 it doesn’t require the limiter and just makes the #'s.

Is their really any difference in these two methods? Use -20 and the limiter or -23 and no limiter?

But if I use the Normalize at -23 it doesn’t require the limiter and just makes the #'s.

Congratulations!!! Most people can’t pass with a simple level adjustment.

I’d probably go with the higher level and the limiter…

Is their really any difference in these two methods? Use -20 and the limiter or -23 and no limiter?

There is more than one way to calculate RMS and I’m not sure if ACX and Audacity use exactly the same algorithm. i.e. You might get -23 and ACX might get -23.1 and reject it. So, I wouldn’t go all the way to edge of the limits. But, maybe adjust to -22.5dB and maybe you still won’t need the limiting if you want to go that way.

Of course the noise will also be lower at -23 so if you are close to the limit the lower level might be better.

At the higher level it will be 3dB “louder” and the slight limiting will slightly even-out the ups & downs in the volume.