# Normalize

### From Audacity Manual

Use the Normalize effect to set the peak amplitude of single or multiple tracks, equalize the peak amplitude of the left and right channels of stereo tracks and optionally remove any DC offset from the tracks.

  Accessed by: Effect > Normalize...

## Remove any DC offset

When this box is checked Normalize attempts to remove any DC offset in the selection by centering the waveform on the 0.0 amplitude level. Technically, it does this by finding the average of all the sample values in the selection, then subtracting that average value from all the samples. Removing any DC offset is desirable because its presence:

- can cause clicks when playing or editing
- limits the headroom available for normalization so restricts the loudness that can be achieved.

If you are sure your tracks have no offset, unchecking this option will speed up Normalize to some extent.

## Normalize Maximum Amplitude to

Enter the value for the maximum amplitude you would like the processed selection to have. The initial default setting is -1 dB, but you can change this. Your choice of settings will be remembered for next use of Normalize any time you change it. A level of -1 dB is just below the maximum amplitude (0 dB) possible without clipping, but gives a little headroom for effects and distortion-free playback on all equipment. Enter a more negative value (for example, -3 dB) to normalize to lower amplitudes.

Entering a positive value is disallowed and causes the "OK" and "Preview" buttons to be disabled. Use Effect > Amplify... if you need to increase amplitude above the 0 dB clipping level.

## Normalize stereo channels independently

When this box is unchecked (the default), Normalize will work on the channels of a stereo track as a pair and change the level of both channels by the same amount. Use this if your audio is already correctly balanced as this mode will preserve its original stereo balance.

When this box is checked, Normalize will adjust the amplitude separately for the left and right channels of a stereo track. This is useful for correcting stereo recordings of LPs and cassettes which may be unbalanced, as long as significant clicks are removed first.

### Tips

Normalizing multiple audio tracks
If you select multiple tracks and apply the Normalize effect, then all audio tracks will be independently normalised to the same peak level.

For example, if you set "Normalize Maximum Amplitude to:" 0.0 dB, every selected audio track will be normalized to 0.0 dB, irrespective of its original level. Whatever peak volume differences there were between the tracks will be removed.

Difference from the Amplify... effect
With Amplify, if you select multiple tracks and apply the effect, then all audio tracks will be amplified by the same amount thus preserving the balance between the tracks.

Normalize offers the option to remove DC offset, Amplify does not offer that option. Normalize does not allow clipping above 0 dB, but Amplify does.

For a more thorough discussion of differences between the Amplify and Normalize effects, see this page in the Audacity Wiki

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