"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Robert Morein" wrote in message

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Robert Morein" wrote in message


You want the sound as it exists on your SoundForge timeline to
approach the 0 dB line as closely as possible, without exceeding it.

This is one of the great myths of audio production, that you need to
get peak levels as high as possible while tracking. It might be more
responsible for crappy sound than any of the other myths of audio
production. During tracking it is a good thing to leave adequate
headroom above peaks, and by adequate I mean 6 to 10 dB.

As long as the input never exceeds 0 dB, it provides the optimal
result.

Agreed. However while you're tracking, it is difficult or impossible to
guarantee that 0 dB FS won't be exceeded.

I have not suggested "tracking", or gain riding. Mr. Gardner can precisely
determine the maximum loudness of the record, and set that point to -0.5 dB.
This, and no other setting, will provide the optimal result.

Since the material is prerecorded, Mr. Gardner has the option
of determining the peak level in advance, and adjusting for it.

He has the option, but if he leaves reasonable headroom, he won't need it.
Thus, he only has to play each track once, not twice.

My methodology for leaving reasonable headroom while digitizing vinyl is
to
play the loudest trackability tracks on a HFN test record, and leave at
last
3 dB headroom over that. This ensures the 6 to 10 dB headroom for the
music.

This kind of approach is not possible for live recording, which may
be what you are referring to.

Yes, I do a fair amount of live recording, but I've done considerable
digitizing of LPs & tapes as well.

A reasonable amount of headroom while digitizing has saved me time and
effort many times. The sonic cost is zero because the dynamic range of
analog media is so much less than that of the digitizing equipment that I
use.

Incorrect again. The dynamic range of analog media is much less, but this
does not imply that bit deletion -- which is what you are needlessly
suggesting Mr. Gardner do -- is harmless to analog material. To prove this
would require more mathematical expertise than you possess.