Compression vs Normalization: What’s the Difference?

the best explanation ever! thank you and regards from Argentina.

This was an exact answer to what I was wondering about, thank you for the great explanation, Joe.

How do you feel about normalization vs compression when it comes to voiceovers?

Thanks for this clear explanation between the two. It makes sense to me now! I appreciate your taking the time to post, Joe.

Thank you so much!

What about normalizing after compressing and or treble/bass boost?

seen your ancient greek tatoo, but cant recognize word. Can you write it please?

For the longest time I thought that Normalization would be a type of Compression Tool or would ultimately change audio it in a way that would mess dynamics or every aspect of what's been originally recorded. I was afraid to use it because I didn't want to mess up the track that way. For example, I love to rip vinyl and I want to keep the exact state the audio is recorded in terms of dynamics because that's one of the reasons why I like vinyl. From what I understand Normalization keeps the dynamics or another way to understand that in a track it has its levels for each samples, instrument depending what is set before exporting, mastering etc. It leaves those dynamics alone and actually lifts all together only the volume of everything in that track thus keeping dynamics. Hopefully I've understood that correctly and if not I'd like more input on this if I'm misunderstood. Thanks for the video Joe :)

excellent

up until now, when I record vocals, i first normalize them and then use a compressor alaso. u think I shouldnt do the normalization and only use comprssor ? thanks

If you were uploading to SoundCloud, don't you want to use Loudness Normalization, inputting SC's required LUFS range?

I only normalize all my audio if I’m working with a 2 track beat with vocals on top I feel that saves me soo much time

dude thank you!

This is an insightful video! well done! i had a question, i have an audio whose first half has very very low volume, and the second half has a high volume, i want to make the first half and second half balanced as i have to sing on it. Any help would be appreciated! I am using Audacity for editing. Thanks a lot!

Hi Joe, I appreciate your video - great presentation style, easy to follow and listen to; I'm just learning to use normalization and compression in audacity so this video was a good start for me. Cheers!

Is normalization a good method to prevent the audio file from clipping?

But wait. Is it only normalizing up to 0 dBFS? Isn't normalize up to zero more for mastering? And aren't there optional settings lower than zero, that would benefit gain staging in the mix?

One small detail FWIW: you're describing peak normalization which is related to, but different than, loudness normalization (commonly used by streaming services). The more you know :)

Is normalization permanent? ie- Should I normalize my song before I export mixdown? I want to come back and edit later after I have had others listen on their respective devices etc. THX!

Hi Joe, could you please do us a video how to do upward compression in Studio One? Thank you.

Hey...do you normalize a whole session??

I love you Joe, but paint the ceiling dude 😂

Hey Joe, I love your videos please keep it up. Two small things that I have been trying to figure out and I am hoping you can help. Can you please show us 1. how to change the default length of a crossfade. The current default length of my crossfade is so short I have to almost completely zoom in to see it. 2. how to keep the new version of studio one from adding the 01 Start to the end of song mixdowns names. I just want the name of the mixdown to be the name of the song and not have it add that at the end of my mixdowns. It only started doing this after I updated to latest version. A bonus on the mixdown is how do you keep it from adding a folder as well that it places the mixdown in. I just want it to save the mixdown with the song name and folder I tell it. Thanks. Kevin

This really helped to clear things up for me. Thanks Joe🤘🤘

so can we say, the waves in the presonus logo is clipping....???

Joe,

I'm not sure exactly how to ask this but how does Normalization fit in with the principle of GIRATS? Can it and Compression make up for low signal issues with the original track? I imagine it can help to a degree but to what degree?

Thanks.

Hay , can u make a Demo on how to use the send on the main output inside studio one
If it shoud use itself a limiter like tha main output itself

Why we use it
Can we make automation for it

Seems a sophisticated thing for a more pro level as I think

But , you are welcome to explain it

Feel free 😁🤣😁

Thanks for the simple explanation, Joe!

Hey mr.Joe is it possibile to sidechain on presonus studio live 32sx ? Or hou to do . Thx

Normalization is something i never use. Idrather send clipping signal over brickwall limiter (something i know how it wotks) over normalize using volume magic to calculate peaks.

I love extra crunchy mixes

Hey Joe, nice video...just got one (my biggest) problem: I use Pro Tools and my mix sounds exactly the way that I want. After bouncing to a stereo track and play it on windows media player it sounds different, kind of lifeless or dull. The reverb and the clarity isn't that present and crisp as in the PT Session...and all I did was just bouncing with the same sample rate. PLEASE GIVE ME THE ADVICE THAT I NEED so that I can start to save the music world😉

Hi joe!

I have another question, what's the difference between limiter and maximizer?

love the way you explain thing

Love you and love your channel ... Thanks, Joe 🍻

Great video as always, Joe

I always learn something related to issues I come across in my own recordings, so thank you very much for the quality info.

You are simply the best.

Makes me pop the question on gain staging your tracks before mixing. Seen a lot of videos that show you “have to” gain stage all tracks to -18dbfs, using various ways of clip gain to a channel trims etc. But I’ve not seen a video that shows the best/most easy/most effective way. What would you recommend?

I use compression more than ......normalization.

You are owsem sir...

I feel like you are santa clause who just answered my wish list by making a video to answer my question. I understand the difference now. Seriously, thank you so much!

Awesome! Great info!

Hey Joe.. how to make the vocal punchy and aggresive using compressor for rap vocal ? thanks for responding

Thanks again Joe!

Can you do a video on how to properly read the waveforms of audio events in the arrangement time-line (on/in the grid). I see that it goes up and down and can be confusing to make sense of especially in stereo. I hope my question makes sense.

Alt N.. in windows. Thanks Joe.

I was used to normalize to a value I could enter myself, instead of a set 0dBFS, before I started using SO. But I understand that isnt the default way of normalizing? I havent used normalization anymore, since I use SO, I just use the input trim on the channels.

Stay awesome, Joe!
-One of your long time subscriber

Oh wow... I was about to say Thanks creepy YT a.i. for this vid as I've been searching about Normalizing my tracks but I see this is fresh.