Information Technology IT – 11 Video and audio editing | e-Consult

Purpose of Audio Normalization: The primary purpose of audio normalization is to adjust the audio's gain to a target level, typically around -3dBFS (decibels relative to full scale). This ensures that the audio is consistently loud enough to be easily heard without being distorted. It addresses issues with inconsistent recording levels, where some parts of the audio are too quiet and others are too loud.

How it is Achieved: Audio editing software (e.g., Audacity, Adobe Audition) provides a normalization function. This function analyzes the audio waveform and calculates the gain required to bring the loudest peak to the target level (e.g., -3dBFS). The software then applies this gain to the entire audio track. Normalization often involves a process of finding the maximum amplitude in the audio and adjusting the overall level to achieve the desired target.

Impact on Dynamic Range: Normalization reduces the dynamic range of the audio. Dynamic range refers to the difference between the loudest and quietest parts of the audio. While normalization makes the audio more consistently loud, it can also reduce the perceived impact of quiet passages. It's a trade-off between loudness consistency and dynamic range.