A consequence of signal normalization in spectrum analysis

Normalization of signals is used as a means of dynamic range regulation in many applications, but the inherent nonlinear nature of normalization and its interaction with other commonly used tools of signal processing are often ignored. The author presents some of the issues involved in signal normalization and examines the role of normalization in the context of spectrum analysis. In particular, the question of the relative significance of spectral phase and magnitude is considered for normalized signals