I just read in Computer Music magazine, in a song they put together using just soft synths, they suggested bouncing each soft synth to an audio track as a WAV, then normalising each WAV before mixing ............ is this a good technique, to normalise each track?   

A complete waste of time. Use 24 bits and forget about it.

It would be easier to answer if the statement was put in context. Computer Music usually has decent advice, knowing the full context might put it in perspective. Nonetheless I'm sure many will be happy to answer without knowing the reason it was suggested.
 
Personally, as with cake2010, I'm not sure I see any benefit in normalizing, but knowing the magazine there is likely a reason it was suggested.

I think it's a "whatever suits you"-question. Using normalisation as a routine isn't fruitfull IMO, but it does have it's uses.

Say, in the example you mention: The bounced audio tracks in this case have no problems with background noises, so normalisation is quite acceptable. The soft synth sounds used may be very different by nature, one is ambient, one is lead, so normalising them may simply make mixing a little tad easier. So, no harm done by normalising, but propably not very much gained either.

Educate me, please: Does the better dynamics/ headroom of a 24 bit environment actually bring any advantage in a synth bounce situation? I somehow thought it only matters when recording audio.

The trouble is, if you do normalize all of your tracks, when they summed at your main outs, there's a very good chance you'll get digital clipping.

"Normalize BEFORE mixing"? - so what happens if, as is quite normal, your mixing raises the overall level of the track(s)?

I'm with Cake2010, absolutely no point in normalizing if you're recording @ 24 bit.

Bristol_Jonesey


"Normalize BEFORE mixing"? - so what happens if, as is quite normal, your mixing raises the overall level of the track(s)?

You lower the level(s) of the track(s). ;-p

Negating the effect of normalizing.

Bristol_Jonesey


Negating the effect of normalizing.

Well, this we can't say for sure if we don't know the context.

I am a little confused about what CM is suggesting. If one is working with soft synths wouldn't we balance levels before we freeze? I do. To than normalize seems counter productive. 

I also agree with using 24 bits. I can see normalizing if after the freeze a track or two is not fitting right. But that should not happen if you are watching your levels before a freeze. 

Also I don't bounce anymore I freeze.

Bristol is right.

Also CM is not the most accurate publication. If this were in SOS I would want to read the whole thing to find why. Being in CM I am not going to listen to it.

BTW what else would one create but a wav file through a bounce or freeze?

"they suggested bouncing each soft synth to an audio track as a WAV, then normalising each WAV before mixing"

One last point. If one records well normalizing should not be necessary. Working with soft synths than if one needs to normalize I think you don't know what you are doing.