Originally Posted By: Peters Garage
I never use Normalize, because I completely loose control of my tracks in the mix - basically it's like adding an Adaptive Limiter on each track, which mean that all tracks will shout out loudest possible - which in my experience is like listening to a political conversation where all the participants shout at each other - probably interesting but very hard to focus on what being said.


I do not use normalise to lift the tracks. I set all individual tracks to -12db as a point to start. It gives a base point that then allows me to make the shifts I want in the mix from a common base. Everything is at the same low volume then adding eq, compression or other effects can make the changes I want on each track. Then set each track where I want it in the stereo field and volume to have all levels where I want. (Where I feel they are best placed). Maybe use some reverb to move the track back a bit (or forward). Once I have the mixed tracks where I want them I use iZotopes Maximiser (limiter) as the last step to lift the tracks. (For most of my songs there is actual very little limiting involved. ). The levels are checked via iZotope Insight 2 as is the stereo field and phasing.

To me it makes the process easier to normalise everything at the start of the process. This can be achieved using other tools such as gain adjustments or amplification but I find “normalisation” the easiest and quickest way.

Tony

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