Questions of effects of normalization, etc.

[wevets]

I'm trying to understand the side effects of the various plugins that I might use in pre and post processing. My background is that I'm doing mostly voice over work with some music mixing. This is very undemanding for PT, but my goal is to end up with the clearest speech possible. Some questions:

1. Does normalization introduce artifacts in the audio. That is, does the normalization plugin change the amplitude of the audio without regard to frequency, changing the amplitude of across the frequency spectrum as a function of the input amplitude only?

2. Does EQ change the amplitude of the frequencies in an audio sample by a given dB level (which would be proportional to the input amplitude at any given frequency and not an absolute level change, regardless of input frequency) as a function of the EQ plugin settings across the aural spectrum? This is a difficult question for me to ask clearly. Put another way. If I EQ a sample then normalize, will I get the same result if I normalize then EQ? And is this the same question as I asked above.

3. Is there a place where I can learn more about the precise effects of the plugins?

Thanks.

Steve

[mesaone]

1. No, normalization is a linear process and does not introduce artifacts. However, normalizing RMS can result in clipping if you are not paying attention to crest factor.

2. Yes, (usually) same result. However, some EQ plug-ins have saturation or "drive" which varies based on input and output level - this can result in differences based on gain staging.

3. The user manuals for the plug-ins. Soundonsound does great reviews, so check them out too.