Using the Normalize and Gain commands

SONAR provides several commands to boost or cut the volume of audio data. The Process > Apply Effect > Normalize command, and the Process > Apply Effect > Gain commands are used to control the volume of selected audio data, in decibels. For more information about the decibel scale, see The decibel scale. The Normalize command “normalizes” the audio data: it boosts the volume until the maximum amplitude is reached somewhere in the data. By normalizing the data, you achieve the maximum possible volume without distortion or clipping. The Gain command lets you edit the volume, phase, and stereo interleave of selected audio data. You can also use this command to remove center material from a clip (good for removing vocals).

Like all the audio processing commands, these commands work by modifying the waveform data. You can achieve volume changes non-destructively using automation. For more information, see Automation.

When increasing or decreasing the volume of audio clips, you should consider the following points:

Normalize raises the noise floor; that is, while it increases the volume of the signal, it also boosts the noise it contains. (This is true when you raise the volume by other means, too.)

Due to the nature and limitations of digital audio, the sum of all audio signals played together cannot exceed the waveform amplitude limit. Even though no individual clip is clipped, the combination may cause distortion.

If the selection contains any loud signals, Normalize may not seem to have any effect. This is because the volume increase is determined by the loudest audio in the selection. If an audio clip contains segments that are too quiet and others that are loud, you should probably split off the quiet segments into separate clips and then normalize those.

To normalize audio data

1.	Select the audio data to be affected.

2.	Choose Process > Apply Effect > Normalize from the menu.

The Normalize dialog box appears.

3.	Drag the Normalize Level slider to the approximate level you think is appropriate.

4.	Click OK to process the selected audio.

Listen to the edited data. You can use the Edit > Undo command if you don’t like the results, and then try a different setting in the Normalize dialog box.

To use the Gain command

1.	Select the audio data you want to edit.

2.	Choose Process > Apply Effect > Gain to open the Gain dialog box.

3.	If you only want to change the overall volume of the selection, move the New Left Channel-From Left slider and the New Right Channel-From Right sliders by a similar amount. You can press the Audition button to try out your edits.

4.	If you want to switch the two channels, reverse all four sliders from their present positions.

5.	If you want to invert the left channel phase, click the Invert left-channel phase button . If you want to invert the right-channel phase, click the Invert right-channel phase button in the New Right Channel section.

6.	If you want to remove center material (usually where the vocal track is), set the New Left Channel-From Left slider and the New Right Channel-From Right slider to 100%, and set the New Left Channel-From Right slider and the New Right Channel-From Left slider to -INF.

7.	Press the Audition button if you want to audition your edits.

8.	Click OK to process the selected audio.

Listen to the edited data in your mix. You can use the Edit > Undo command if you don’t like the results, and then try different settings in the Gain dialog box.