From: Alexandre Prokoudine Date: Thu, 15 Sep 2022 08:51:24 +0000 (+0300) Subject: Add Region Gain documentation X-Git-Url: http://shamusworld.gotdns.org/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi?p=ardour-manual;a=commitdiff_plain;h=360ceda8deb5bb50f3b5c8488ea4e54861f9a173 Add Region Gain documentation --- diff --git a/include/region-gain-adjustment.html b/include/region-gain-adjustment.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..83b64a0 --- /dev/null +++ b/include/region-gain-adjustment.html @@ -0,0 +1,124 @@ +

+ Ardour allows adjusting region gain by a constant amount as opposed to + adjusting gain envelope where it's possible to change it gradually over time. + Like everything in Ardour, this is a non-destructive change. The result can be + adjusted at any a later time or discarded altogether. Internally, region gain + is an inherent property of regions, it can be edited directly in the region + properties dialog. +

+ +
+ Region Properties +
+ Region Properties +
+
+ +

+ There are two additional ways to adjust region gain: by boosting or cutting + gain with a 1dB step, or by normalizing audio. +

+ +

Boosting and Cutting Gain

+ +

+ The quickest way to increase or decrease gain of selected regions without + involving the gain envelope is to use Boost Gain and + Cut Gain commands respectively. +

+ +

+ These commands can be accessed via the main Region > Gain menu or + region's context menu. A much easier way is to use shortcuts: + Alt+6 boosts gain by 1dB, Alt+7 cuts gain + by 1dB. +

+ +

+ When gain is boosted or cut, the region caption in the bottom of the affected + region specifies the amount in parentheses. In an example below, gain was cut + by 2dB. +

+ +
+ Gain cut +
+ Gain cut +
+
+ +

Normalizing Audio Regions

+ +

+ Audio normalization is a way to bring the amplitude of a signal to a target + level by applying the same amount of gain to an entire piece of audio data. + Unlike other ways to treat perceived loudness, such as compression, + normalization retains the original dynamic range. +

+ +

+ Normalization is a common step in exporting an entire project to an audio + file. However, with Ardour, it's also possible to normalize some of the + regions. This effectively changes the region gain setting, the same one that + the boost/cut gain commands change. +

+ +

+ Region-level normalization in Ardour can be accessed via the Region > + Gain > Normalize… menu command +

+ +
+ Normalize Region +
+ Normalize Region +
+
+ +

+ The normalization tool locates the part of the audio region that has the + largest amplitude and adjusts the whole region so that that part matches the + normalization target. In an example below, an audio region was normalized + to -3dBFS, which led to -2.5dB gain reduction, and this is the part with the + largest amplitude hitting the exact -3dBFS target: +

+ +
+ Normalized region, zoomed in +
+ Normalized region, zoomed in +
+
+ +

+ It's also possible to apply additional constraints by analyzing perceieved + loudness of the material. The first option is to constraint root mean square + (RMS) to a certain amplitude value. The second option is to constrain loudness + units (LUFS) to a certain value. +

+ +

+ The normalization tool will use the peak amplitude value, but will also + correct the calculated gain adjustment when the constraint demands that. + In the example below the same region as in example above was normalized to the + same peak amplitude of -3dB but with an additional constraint of -21LUFS. + The normalization tool took the peak amplitude into account and made sure it + wouldn't exceed the target value of -3dBFS, then adjusted the region gain + further from -2.5dB to -3.3dB to meet the LUFS constraint demands. This + resulted in the peak amplitude hitting -4.2dBFS rather than the target -3dBFS. +

+ +
+ Normalization with LUFS constraint, zoomed in +
+ Normalization with LUFS constraint, zoomed in +
+
+ +

Resetting Gain

+ +

+ To reset gain correction for a region entirely you can either set it to + 0 in the region properties dialog or use the + Region > Gain > Reset Gain menu command. +

diff --git a/master-doc.txt b/master-doc.txt index d8d18a8..d2929e3 100644 --- a/master-doc.txt +++ b/master-doc.txt @@ -1262,11 +1262,25 @@ uri: editing-and-arranging/create-region-fades-and-crossfades part: chapter --- +--- +title: Adjusting Gain +link: adjusting-gain +uri: adjusting-gain +part: chapter +--- + +--- +title: Region Gain +include: region-gain-adjustment.html +link: region-gain-adjustment +part: subchapter +--- + --- title: Gain Envelopes include: gain-envelopes.html link: gain-envelopes -part: chapter +part: subchapter --- --- diff --git a/source/images/peak-normalization-with-lufs-zoomed-in.png b/source/images/peak-normalization-with-lufs-zoomed-in.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4d27357 Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/peak-normalization-with-lufs-zoomed-in.png differ diff --git a/source/images/peak-normalization-zoomed-in.png b/source/images/peak-normalization-zoomed-in.png new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1230237 Binary files /dev/null and b/source/images/peak-normalization-zoomed-in.png differ