The Levelator software automatically normalizes audio levels in podcasts and other audio files.
The Levelator is a remarkable software that can run on Windows or OS X (universal binary) to adjust the audio levels in your podcast or any other audio file. It's nothing like a compressor, normalizer or limiter, although it includes all of them. And it's far easier to use than any of these tools. With a user interface that is incredibly easy to navigate, you can easily drag-and-drop any WAV or AIFF file onto the application window, and within minutes, it will produce an enhanced version of the audio.
Have you ever found yourself with an interview recording where you and your guest talked at different volumes, or a panel discussion where some individuals were too close to the microphone, and others too far? These are the types of issues that the post-production engineers at Team ITC had to cope with daily. Earlier, it used to take them several hours using tools like SoundTrack Pro, Audacity, Sound Forge or Audition to address these problems. But now, with The Levelator, they can do it all in seconds. Literally. And the best part is that it's free.
When the IT Conversations component-based show-assembly system was launched, we realized the importance of components being of the same loudness to avoid awkward sound distortions. Nevertheless, for several months, we had to rely on RMS normalization functions in several applications, but the results left much to be desired, and not all our post-production audio engineers had the necessary tools or skillsets to address the issues. So, one of our best engineers, Bruce Sharpe, came up with a standalone software RMS normalization utility, which we have been using as part of our production system GVUploader for almost a year now.
GVUploader's normalizer works similarly to an intelligent RMS-based compressor/limiter combination, primarily affecting transient and the long-term overall loudness of the file. But it doesn't do the type of fine-tuning that a seasoned audio engineer can achieve using professional tools or operating at a mixing console, where one can compensate for medium-term variations by adjusting levels up or down. While hardware components like various AGC (automatic-gain control) devices can help do moderate leveling, they can't do much since they must operate in real-time, which means no "look-ahead" is possible. Besides, they are neither free nor easy to find.
In contrast, software like The Levelator can make multiple passes over the audio, creating a loudness map of volume changes, to produce an enhanced version of the audio. It's much better than relying on human expertise, which is limited by the ability to react to changes unless the expert is lucky enough to be present during recording, using visual cues to anticipate coming variations. It's not straightforward, but the metaphor is helpful. Overall, The Levelator is an outstanding software that can quickly enhance your audio files and solve many sound-related problems.
Have you ever found yourself with an interview recording where you and your guest talked at different volumes, or a panel discussion where some individuals were too close to the microphone, and others too far? These are the types of issues that the post-production engineers at Team ITC had to cope with daily. Earlier, it used to take them several hours using tools like SoundTrack Pro, Audacity, Sound Forge or Audition to address these problems. But now, with The Levelator, they can do it all in seconds. Literally. And the best part is that it's free.
When the IT Conversations component-based show-assembly system was launched, we realized the importance of components being of the same loudness to avoid awkward sound distortions. Nevertheless, for several months, we had to rely on RMS normalization functions in several applications, but the results left much to be desired, and not all our post-production audio engineers had the necessary tools or skillsets to address the issues. So, one of our best engineers, Bruce Sharpe, came up with a standalone software RMS normalization utility, which we have been using as part of our production system GVUploader for almost a year now.
GVUploader's normalizer works similarly to an intelligent RMS-based compressor/limiter combination, primarily affecting transient and the long-term overall loudness of the file. But it doesn't do the type of fine-tuning that a seasoned audio engineer can achieve using professional tools or operating at a mixing console, where one can compensate for medium-term variations by adjusting levels up or down. While hardware components like various AGC (automatic-gain control) devices can help do moderate leveling, they can't do much since they must operate in real-time, which means no "look-ahead" is possible. Besides, they are neither free nor easy to find.
In contrast, software like The Levelator can make multiple passes over the audio, creating a loudness map of volume changes, to produce an enhanced version of the audio. It's much better than relying on human expertise, which is limited by the ability to react to changes unless the expert is lucky enough to be present during recording, using visual cues to anticipate coming variations. It's not straightforward, but the metaphor is helpful. Overall, The Levelator is an outstanding software that can quickly enhance your audio files and solve many sound-related problems.
What's New
Version 1.4.1: N/A