When/where to do Normalization?

I wouldn’t normalize anything

In most DAW's (all?) normalizing is a non-destructive process which is the same as a clip gain adjustment. I like to do clip gain adjustments before I start adding any sort of treatment or anything so I usually normalize all tracks before beginning the mix. I normalize to like -6dbfs or something. 

But you might not need to do this.

The reason why I do is that I have a lot of outboard gear set up to be used as inserts and I don't like to fiddle with the levels on the outboard too often. So it's helpful to have a starting point that's at least in the ballpark of what my outboard compressor (or whatever) wants to see based on the levels I've set from previous projects. It's just simpler that way.

The other thing is that I monitor my mixes through an analog 2-bus chain right from the beginning. So right from the beginning of the mix I'm listening to the summed signal going through Orbit -> SB -> Tegeler Creme and all of those units react differently at lower volumes. So I normalize right off the bat to get that chain close to where it will really be.

All that said...

1) Sometimes I forget to do that and I'm not sure it makes a difference.
2) In most cases my normalization doesn't change much because it's fairly conservative to begin with and those are the levels I'm targeting at tracking
3) If you're mostly ITB there's probably zero reason to do it

Man, don’t do basically anything because you think you’re supposed to. Do things that make your productions noticeably better.

I guess maybe dither is an exception. But seriously, don’t signal process “just because” the best work comes from authoritative decisions.

True, couldn't agree more. Just want to point out again that normalization isn't really signal processing at least not if you do it before any other signal processing. It's really identical to clip gain adjustment.

Still, if you don't know why you're doing it there's no reason to do it which I think is your point. Just want to make sure others reading this thread that don't understand what normalization is recognize that it's totally non-destructive. I've read other thread were some folks new to the DAW game can get confused on that.

Much here above my current understanding "Pay Grade".
But...

Just primarily recording "self/share" Demos...
My default is to Normalize at -6db.
(A lot is on a floating 32 bit/Audacity for the original Vocal)

Got embarrassed when (super nice Guy as you may know) David Rick was kind enough, to listen/review a recording of mine...

But was the second one (after a lower Volume clip) and it must've blasted out his headphones.
Guessing it was -1!! (Oops!)
Chris

Hey I think this is semantics, but digital gain is always already digital signal processing to my brain. I'm not talking about DSP chips vs. native processing in this context. It's very simple math, but it's still processing to my way of thinking. Moving a fader in PT meets this criteria as well.

I sometimes normalize things I send out to clients so I don't have the "it's so soft compared to____."

Using clip gain as my initial blend, and evening things out (like punches or oddball things) is pretty common, in my room.

I never normalize anything. I will clip gain a ton when needed but I don't want anything sitting at digital zero. Most plugins are designed with a -18 reference point.

When sending out mix revisions for comments, I will throw a limiter on it and knock off a couple dB and have it peaking around -.3. That way there are no complaints about the level, thou I still tell them mastering will make it louder still.