"Normalize" produces random results after using it a while

I can see how that would be frustrating.  However, have you thought about using volume envelopes instead of normalizing?  Envelopes are non-destructive whereas, normalizing is destructive.  If you prefer normalizing, I hope you do it on copies of the original signal just in case you want to start over or make changes.

Personally....I wouldn't use normalize at all unless I had some bad signal levels from old recorded material I was trying to salvage from tape or something similar. As suggested, I would use 'envelopes' instead. This 'normalize' topic has many strong application opinions pro/con. So...I do think it has it's place but not on tracks that could (should?) be tracked again to get it to a comfortable -10/-12 db. I think of 'normalize' as a musical tourniquet to be used as a last resort. That's my take on it....carry on.

Jazzsinger....I'm still on 5.0PE but does X1 have 'Process/Audio/Gain' in the menu choices? That may be a better alternative even if you have to it 2 times on the same track in 3db or 6db increments. Then the faders will be more applicable. I haven't had envelope problems myself. Just a shot from the hip here...carry on.

Well...you might tame all the peaks with an envelope, bounce to clip and then utilize the gain process further to get the track to -12 db or so. Success my depend on the original track problems so YMMV. Ha...I'm really not trying to complicate things for you, just trying to help with your audio track dilemma.

You need to understand what normalization does.  In a nut shell, it raises the level in a specific track to what ever maximum level of normalization you select. If you set it to 100% it will take the highest peak and amplify it to 100% of 0db. All other levels are amplified accordingly to keep the clip in perspective. 

  If you use this on a complete track the track is fine. All levels are consistent. However, it appears from your OP that you are normalizing clips in a track NOT the entire track..... and that is the reason you are getting inconsistent results. It is not a bug or a baker problem.... it's how you are using the function.   

In any number of clips, the highest level will vary. for example lets take 2 clips side by side in the track. In the first one, the peak is lets say is -3db, and in the second clip the highest peak is -12db. If you do NOT select them both but instead opt to normalize them one at a time, normalize will only amplify the first clip a very small amount ..... from -3 to 0db is not much..... but the second clip is -12 to 0db, quite a large amplification.

NOW.... if after doing the normalization, you play them both back..... the second clip will appear much louder than the first since the normalization to get it to 0db was a much larger amount, and that affects the entire clip making it sound louder. 

  The solution is to select all the clips in a track and normalize them all together not one at a time. The other option is if for example you have a normalized track and discover that you need to punch in a mistake...... now the new clip is lower than the track, and normalizing it alone will NOT bring it to the same level as the surrounding material. The solution to this is relatively easy..... I do this all the time. Simply highlight that ONE clip. Now instead of guessing at the normalization level.... just select the GAIN...and go to the presets... I normally start with +2db... and apply it.   

Between looking at the wave of the clip and the surrounding clips.... and listening to the before, during and after of the punch in point ..... I can get a good idea if I'm good or if I need to hit 2 more db..... I repeat this until I can not tell that the new clip is at a different level than the surrounding material. 

I seem to be alone so far in this thread in using normalization. I only use it in tracks where the levels are low and need to come up and I can not get a better clean input signal.

I also use it in my wave editor as the final step in finishing a project. I trim the start, trim the end, and normalize it often to 98% of 0db. 

No one has ever complained that they can tell I used normalization. It is simply another tool that is available and used properly with a good understanding of what it is and what it can do, will allow you to get that final level output to a decent level as long as everything else is in good order in the mix. And no.... using it doesn't put you into contention for the loudness wars. You need compression for that.


Add/edit:  If while working on a clip, you applied the gain or normalization and it's not right... you can undo it. It becomes destructive editing only when you have gone too far to back up with out undoing all the other changes in between OR... when you shut down the program. 

  I'm not afraid to do destructive editing. I do it all the time. But I am sure I want to keep the changes first. I have rarely regretted making a change permanent.  So,  I'm not worried by making and saving destructive edits.  

100% what Guitar hacker said, People always misunderstand it and then you get people saying don't use it?? It's a tool and if your read the instructions it is a very useful tool. I don't like Sonars implementation of it. But I've used Wave Lab's Normalization on just about everything I record for the last 12 years with excellent results. The most important part of using the tool is to first know what your dealing with. Sonar does not have the "look for peak Level" so it's a crap shoot.

Dave (Bitflipper) is correct in saying that normalization is a crap shoot  because you don't have any real idea of just how much the gain will be increased. It depends on the highest peak in the track or clip.  While the part of the track you are looking at in the console view may seem low, there could be a spike further down the time line that will limit the gain applied by normalization. 

On a track with a relatively consistent and low overall level,  the results can be quite dramatic yielding a big volume increase. 

On another track with the same low level and one spike up to -1 db.... the result will be a track that is almost unchanged even though the majority of the track is low.... that one spike is the measureing stick for normalization.

On a track where normalization raises the levels significantly, there are a few options I consider. 

1. use envelopes to lower the levels after normalization
2. set the normalization to a level less than 100% normalization. 
3. undo the normalization and use gain in +2db increments until I get it where I want. 

...and manually eliminate any rouge peaks

Yeh, you don't want any rouge peaks. Mauve and fuchsia are OK, though.  Sorry.

This helps:
Normalizing a lot of clips:
Insert any effect to the effect-bin. Turn them ** OFF **. 
APPLY this effect to ALL clips.
This command forces Sonar to make a wavefile for each clip.
Now normalize the clips, and it works.
 
background:
---- apply trimming does not work right ---
Only the apply-effect-command forces SONAR to make single wavefiles for each clip. The appy-trimming-command does not NOT right.

Don't forget you've got 18dB of gain available via the track trim/gain control.

Another option - insert something like the Sonitus EQ in your FX bin - this one has it's own output level control, which I think again goes up to +18dB?

What's really needed is something between a normalizer and a limiter.

I seem to recall SoundForge or Wavelab had something called RMS normalize as one of its normalization settings. That normalized so it sounded the same to human ears.

Yeah, I may go that way. Just more work, that's all.

What did people do before we started recording music on computers? They weren't normalizing, that's for sure. ----------------------------------We turned the gain up on that tape return and watched our metering. Inserted a compressor of it had Violet peaks. ( Rouge )

I did duplicate the GAIN issue, but it seems "spotty". You know, INTERMITTENT, the toughest to document.
 
I've been with Cake since CakePro 3.0, and so firmly BELIEVE its flawless, that I usually blow threads like this off. ASSuming that the OP is doing something wrong.
BUT, I'm trying to "rescue" a couple of tracks from '73, working only with mono tracks and I'm NOT getting in the 2-track bounce what I "hear" during playback.
Been using the Gain knob so that's part of it? AND
Off topic here, but the default pan law "0Db sin/cos constant power" DOES NOT give me a 2-track mix that is the same as playback.
But that's off topic, I'll post details in another thread...

Tom