Normalize

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Use the Normalize effect to set the maximum amplitude of a track, equalize the volumes of the left and right channels of a stereo track and optionally remove any DC offset from the track.
Accessed by: Effect > Normalize...
Normalize dialog
Note: Normalize will equalize the amplitudes of the left and right channels of a stereo track. This is useful for Normalizing most stereo recordings of LPs and cassettes, and will correct for any channel imbalance in the equipment used to play back the LP or cassette. If this is not what you want, use the Amplify effect instead.

Remove any DC offset

When this box is checked Normalize will attempt to remove any DC offset in the selection by finding the largest positive and negative peaks and then adjusting the waveform so that the amplitude of these peaks is equal. This works well on long selections containing a mix of sounds, but may actually create DC offset when applied to short sections of recordings of voices or certain instruments that have an inherently asymmetrical waveform.

Normalize Maximum Amplitude to

Enter the value for the maximum amplitude you would like the processed selection to be. Note that you cannot enter positive values: Normalize will not allow you to create clipping.

Difference from the Amplify effect

Normalize processes the left and right channels of a stereo track independently. Amplify applies the same amplification to both channels.

Normalize will not let you create clipping. Amplify will let you create clipping.

Normalize offers the option to remove DC offset. Amplify does not offer this option.

For a more thorough discussion of differences between the Amplify and Normalize effects, see this page in the Audacity wiki

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