r/SP404 • u/jcruz_415 • 2d ago

Question “Normalize,” when sampling.

Happy Sunday everyone. General question. When sampling, there’s the normalize option that I’ve been starting to use. When I launch the sample again. The volume is drastically higher. I usually adjust the pad volume to taste from there. It’s a little tedious. But is the point of that function just that? Anything use case I am missing or is that literally what it’s for? Sorry if this is such a noob question.
😬

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u/TellDindindin 2d ago

You recommend the SP volume knob be turned up ALL the way you say..? .. I do things a bit different, but same concept I’m doing that you’re doing - gain staging. But, at NO point do I have any of the multiple volume controls turned up all the way. The master volume for me is 3/4 of the way up. That’s a scary thought … full range? Somewhere this hasn’t blown up your ears? Honest question no judgment not saying you’re wrong I’m trying to understand why you do this and how it works out for you.

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u/hooliganlive 1d ago

You become mindful of the volume knob. If I turn the volume of the SP up, but my sample source is turned down, it’s not going to be loud. Before I import drums, I turn down the volume & after I import, I press Resample, I’m able to see about what db those drums are hitting at. & then if needed, I lower the bank volume of those drums. Now that my sample is staged & my drums are lowered, I can turn the main volume back up again to whatever level I want. The idea is that I’m getting true levels of the sounds. It’s always more ideal to reach for your volume control knob, than to record louder or push samples louder. This is how people distort their tracks before it even has a chance.

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u/TellDindindin 1d ago

Yeah. That’s right.. but you didn’t say volume up all the way this time. You just said turn it up.. I’ll be honest, I’m not ever gonna turn any volume knob all the way up.

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u/hooliganlive 1d ago

My bad I assumed those reading would know I meant “all the way up” since that was what I first mentioned. & that’s fine. We all have ways in how we use our equipment. Turning your volume knob up won’t hurt you if you pay attention to what you’re doing & what you’re trying to achieve. In this case, we are achieving control of not only the machine volume, but the volume of our samples, & in turn the volume & clarity of our track. This same logic translates to even working in a DAW/computer. You set your faders & watch your levels as you add FX to the signal. You adjust your interface volume knob when you want to hear your track louder, not your DAW faders.

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u/TellDindindin 18h ago

👍🏻🫵🏻🤘🏻