Normalise or compress to achieve consistent volume?

[dave_van_damn]

I've been using a USB turntable (not the best choice I know) to archive some old vinyl and I'm finding that the tracks start off at a decent volume but get slightly quieter towards the end of the record. I've attached a photo to show what I mean.

If I highlight the whole wave form and normalize it the tracks get louder but the ratio of loud and quiet stays the same.

My question is, should I -
a) highlight each individual track and normalize them independently of the rest (so in this case, normalise all 4 tracks to -1.0 for example)
b) use some kind of compression on the entire waveform/individual track.
c) just stick the normalizing the entire wave at once and accept it.

Thanks

[DVDdoug]

Does it sound like it looks? Perceived volume is complicated and you can't judge the volume by the peaks or the way the waveform looks.

And, sometimes some tracks on an album are intended to be loud and others quiet (but you don't have to keep it that way).

If you are going to apply noise reduction, do that before messing with the volume so the noise is as constant as possible. And, remove any loud clicks & pops (if possible) so they don't affect normalization.

If I highlight the whole wave form and normalize it the tracks get louder but the ratio of loud and quiet stays the same.

Right. That won't solve your problem.


1. Normalize (maximize) all of your songs individually for 0dB peaks. You can use the Amplify Effect and accept the default, or the Normalize Effect.

All of your songs will now be as loud as possible without clipping, but they won't necessarily sound equally loud.

2. If the songs are equally loud, you're done.

3. If not, Choose the quietest song as your reference.

4. Adjust the other (louder) songs down by ear to match your reference.

normalise all 4 tracks to -1.0 for example)

Only 4 tracks?

I've been using a USB turntable (not the best choice I know)

There is nothing wrong with that as long as the USB turntable isn't too cheap.

b) use some kind of compression on the entire waveform/individual track.

Compression will tend to even-out the volume but it's not the best way to start and of course dynamic compression reduces compression which changes the character of the sound. Compression also tends to bring-up the background noise.

[dave_van_damn]

Wow, thank you for all the helpful tips! Really good stuff

Does it sound like it looks? Perceived volume is complicated and you can't judge the volume by the peaks or the way the waveform looks.

Is there a way that Audacity can analyze the waveform for volume?

normalise all 4 tracks to -1.0 for example)

Only 4 tracks?

It's an EP

[Gale Andrews]

Does it sound like it looks? Perceived volume is complicated and you can't judge the volume by the peaks or the way the waveform looks.

Is there a way that Audacity can analyze the waveform for volume?

The light blue part of the waveform is the Root Mean Square or RMS level. That gives you an approximate idea of how loud it sounds.

Gale

[dave_van_damn]

Does it sound like it looks? Perceived volume is complicated and you can't judge the volume by the peaks or the way the waveform looks.

Is there a way that Audacity can analyze the waveform for volume?

The light blue part of the waveform is the Root Mean Square or RMS level. That gives you an approximate idea of how loud it sounds.

Gale

Ah! Very helpful thanks.