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Thread started 01/02/10 2:47pm

savoirfaire

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Looking for a good free program to level audio in my music...

Hey guys,

Title says it all. I have a lot of music that I ripped to MP3 and between the old CDs and remasters/new releases the volume fluctuates a lot. My last mp3 actually tuned the volume up and down for me so the levels were relatively equal, but my new one does not.

I'm looking for a program that I could basically have scan and adjust the levels on mp3s automatically, one that is free or cheap.

I know I can change levels with Audacity but that would be a slow and inefficient process and I can't be bothered. Anyone have any suggestions at all, anything like this exist?
"Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring faith. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal" - Carl Sagan
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Reply #1 posted 01/02/10 2:53pm

unique

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http://wiki.hydrogenaudio...Replaygain

try foobar and replaygain
[Edited 1/2/10 15:00pm]
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Reply #2 posted 01/02/10 3:15pm

ernestsewell

I let iTunes do it. It has a setting in there that checks the sound of the files. I believe it's in the iPod settings as well. 99% of the time it works for me, and I rarely have to adjust the volume between an old Barbara Mandrell song and something from The Gold Experience (which is rather crisp and loud by default).
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Reply #3 posted 01/02/10 3:24pm

errant

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whatever portable player you use or software you play them on your computer probably has a "sound check" or "normalize" setting for playback.
"does my cock look fat in these jeans?"
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Reply #4 posted 01/02/10 3:30pm

savoirfaire

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ernestsewell said:

I let iTunes do it. It has a setting in there that checks the sound of the files. I believe it's in the iPod settings as well. 99% of the time it works for me, and I rarely have to adjust the volume between an old Barbara Mandrell song and something from The Gold Experience (which is rather crisp and loud by default).


While this might work, it doesn't actually adjust the audio levels on the files, merely adjusts them as they play. I'm looking for a permanent adjustment to my files. But thanks for the suggestion.
"Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring faith. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal" - Carl Sagan
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Reply #5 posted 01/02/10 3:32pm

savoirfaire

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errant said:

whatever portable player you use or software you play them on your computer probably has a "sound check" or "normalize" setting for playback.


I went with zune for a host of reasons, though much to my surprise this feature wasn't available on it (even though it was available on my 2006 Creative Zen Vision:M)...

Still, the software doesn't do it for some reason. I know WMP can do it, but it's only for the WMP interface, once again doesn't allow you to physically edit the songs.
"Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring faith. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal" - Carl Sagan
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Reply #6 posted 01/02/10 3:33pm

savoirfaire

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unique said:

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Replaygain

try foobar and replaygain
[Edited 1/2/10 15:00pm]


Thanks, this sounds like what I might be looking for. Will check when I get home from work.
"Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring faith. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal" - Carl Sagan
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Reply #7 posted 01/02/10 3:35pm

theAudience

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Audacity: http://audacity.sourcefor...t/features




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

peace Tribal Records
"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all."
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Reply #8 posted 01/02/10 4:10pm

unique

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savoirfaire said:

unique said:

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Replaygain

try foobar and replaygain
[Edited 1/2/10 15:00pm]


Thanks, this sounds like what I might be looking for. Will check when I get home from work.


replaygain can fix it permanently. just have a play about and google up how it works. you drag and drop the files you want normalized into foobar, and select the ones you want normalised and regain will calculate the values and same the values in the tags, as some players can normalise with just that data, but you can also save the files as new ones with the adjusted volume

foobar also works with flac, ape, ogg, etc and can save the adjusted files to a different format if you want. it's pretty quick and easy to use for batch converting loads of files
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Reply #9 posted 01/02/10 4:29pm

Se7en

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I don't use it (yet) but ReplayGain is widely considered the industry standard.

One benefit of simply using iTunes, though, is that it only affects playback -- no files are altered. You can turn it off if you want.
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Reply #10 posted 01/02/10 5:00pm

ernestsewell

Se7en said:

I don't use it (yet) but ReplayGain is widely considered the industry standard.

One benefit of simply using iTunes, though, is that it only affects playback -- no files are altered. You can turn it off if you want.

Yeah, I was wondering - does the poster want to actually edit the dB volume on all their files? I'm not sure I'd want to do that. At least with iTunes and the iPod, you can turn it off if you don't want it.
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Reply #11 posted 01/02/10 5:07pm

savoirfaire

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ernestsewell said:

Se7en said:

I don't use it (yet) but ReplayGain is widely considered the industry standard.

One benefit of simply using iTunes, though, is that it only affects playback -- no files are altered. You can turn it off if you want.

Yeah, I was wondering - does the poster want to actually edit the dB volume on all their files? I'm not sure I'd want to do that. At least with iTunes and the iPod, you can turn it off if you don't want it.


Yeah, this is what I want to do... I will be mass copying all my mp3s in case it goes wrong... but like I said, I want to physically alter the levels of the mp3s for use on zune/other playback software (this is an admittedly good feature of itunes, but I find the software to otherwise be pretty poor)...

Foobar seems like the way to go.
"Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring faith. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal" - Carl Sagan
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Reply #12 posted 01/03/10 12:12am

unique

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savoirfaire said:

ernestsewell said:


Yeah, I was wondering - does the poster want to actually edit the dB volume on all their files? I'm not sure I'd want to do that. At least with iTunes and the iPod, you can turn it off if you don't want it.


Yeah, this is what I want to do... I will be mass copying all my mp3s in case it goes wrong... but like I said, I want to physically alter the levels of the mp3s for use on zune/other playback software (this is an admittedly good feature of itunes, but I find the software to otherwise be pretty poor)...

Foobar seems like the way to go.


if that's what you want to do then foobar is the way to go as you can drag and drop all your files into it, set it going and leave it running. it will actually create new changed versions of your mp3s etc (it can do it with flac, ape, etc, so just drag all your music in) with your new settings, and it will leave the original files as they are. if you have thousands of files you can just leave it running overnight or whatever. the only thing about batching like that is you have to choose one output setting and bitrate, you would have to manually select and convert seperate bitrates in batches
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Reply #13 posted 01/03/10 12:28am

Kara

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Reply #14 posted 01/03/10 1:39am

Superstition

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I use mp3gain and use the album gain to set the album volume to 89db. With album gain, all the tracks retain the relative ups and downs in volume, but without any overly nasty dips.
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Reply #15 posted 01/03/10 2:04am

unique

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Superstition said:

I use mp3gain and use the album gain to set the album volume to 89db. With album gain, all the tracks retain the relative ups and downs in volume, but without any overly nasty dips.


mp3gain just uses replaygain and adds tags to the files, it doesn't do what the OP wants, which is to adjust the volume of the mp3s, it relies on players being able to read the tag and adjust the volume accordingly. as the zune doesn't do that (according to the op) the alternative is to adjust the mp3s themselves
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Reply #16 posted 01/03/10 2:28am

Kara

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unique said:

Superstition said:

I use mp3gain and use the album gain to set the album volume to 89db. With album gain, all the tracks retain the relative ups and downs in volume, but without any overly nasty dips.


mp3gain just uses replaygain and adds tags to the files, it doesn't do what the OP wants, which is to adjust the volume of the mp3s, it relies on players being able to read the tag and adjust the volume accordingly. as the zune doesn't do that (according to the op) the alternative is to adjust the mp3s themselves

From the link you posted:

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio...le=MP3Gain

MP3Gain is an implementation of Replay Gain, supporting Track mode and Album mode. However, with most other formats, the necessary loudness adjustment of Replay Gain is stored as metadata, thus leaving the encoded results alone. With MP3Gain, the loudness adjustment is done on the data itself, albeit in a lossless/reversible way.

[...]

The way MP3Gain works actually has a very strong benefit: Since it is the data itself that is modified, MP3Gain does not require special support from players.

I've used this program for years, and the volume changes have worked on every mp3 player I've tried them on, including ones without replaygain support. I don't even have the program set to write tags.
[Edited 1/3/10 2:30am]
[Edited 1/3/10 2:41am]
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Reply #17 posted 01/03/10 3:19am

unique

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Kara said:[quote]

unique said:


From the link you posted:

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio...le=MP3Gain

MP3Gain is an implementation of Replay Gain, supporting Track mode and Album mode. However, with most other formats, the necessary loudness adjustment of Replay Gain is stored as metadata, thus leaving the encoded results alone. With MP3Gain, the loudness adjustment is done on the data itself, albeit in a lossless/reversible way.

[...]

The way MP3Gain works actually has a very strong benefit: Since it is the data itself that is modified, MP3Gain does not require special support from players.

I've used this program for years, and the volume changes have worked on every mp3 player I've tried them on, including ones without replaygain support. I don't even have the program set to write tags.
[Edited 1/3/10 2:30am]
[Edited 1/3/10 2:41am]


but the op has a player that needs the files to be changed. foobar uses replaygain to write the tag data, which appears to be all you need for your players, but as that's not enough for the OP, they need something like foobar to read the tag data and amend or create new mp3s with the volume actually adjusted, rather than being adjusted by the player via the tag
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Reply #18 posted 01/03/10 3:43am

Kara

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unique said:

Kara said:


I've used this program for years, and the volume changes have worked on every mp3 player I've tried them on, including ones without replaygain support. I don't even have the program set to write tags.
[Edited 1/3/10 2:30am]
[Edited 1/3/10 2:41am]


but the op has a player that needs the files to be changed. foobar uses replaygain to write the tag data, which appears to be all you need for your players, but as that's not enough for the OP, they need something like foobar to read the tag data and amend or create new mp3s with the volume actually adjusted, rather than being adjusted by the player via the tag

My players don't read replaygain tags. MP3Gain does change the files, that's why it works for me. I'm just saying.

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio...in#MP3Gain

MP3Gain is an implementation of Replay Gain. It can be used to just analyze files & recommend changes or to also modify the gain. If modifying the gain, it always modifies the audio data. It can add somewhat precise metadata, including undo info. The gain can be modified to any target dB, or it can be changed by a specified amount. For balance correction, user-specified changes can even be made on just one channel in simple L/R stereo-mode files (not joint stereo).

Format: MP3
Method: Audio + Meta, or Audio only
Limitations: Audio data modifications are limited to 1.5dB steps, may become irreversible (however, that's a very rare condition; see the "mp3gain is NOT lossless" forum thread)
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Reply #19 posted 01/03/10 4:15am

unique

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Kara said:[quote]

unique said:


My players don't read replaygain tags. MP3Gain does change the files, that's why it works for me. I'm just saying.

http://wiki.hydrogenaudio...in#MP3Gain

MP3Gain is an implementation of Replay Gain. It can be used to just analyze files & recommend changes or to also modify the gain. If modifying the gain, it always modifies the audio data. It can add somewhat precise metadata, including undo info. The gain can be modified to any target dB, or it can be changed by a specified amount. For balance correction, user-specified changes can even be made on just one channel in simple L/R stereo-mode files (not joint stereo).

Format: MP3
Method: Audio + Meta, or Audio only
Limitations: Audio data modifications are limited to 1.5dB steps, may become irreversible (however, that's a very rare condition; see the "mp3gain is NOT lossless" forum thread)


ah, it's not clear on the site, as it says "lossless" change and metions the change can be reversed. anything that changes the mp3 itself isn't lossless and can't be reversed, it would have to be re processed a second time to change the data back
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Reply #20 posted 01/03/10 4:21am

Kara

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unique said:

ah, it's not clear on the site, as it says "lossless" change and metions the change can be reversed. anything that changes the mp3 itself isn't lossless and can't be reversed, it would have to be re processed a second time to change the data back

Okay smile
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Reply #21 posted 01/03/10 9:31am

ernestsewell

It just seems like a lot of work, with iffy results. You could lose clarity in some files, and gain more hiss in others, especially when, and if, you're changing bitrates. You can't rip up, you know. You won't get better quality that way. So is it going to rip all your files in the same format and bitrate as the originals, AND adjust the volume to your liking? A 128k bitrate MP3 ripped up to 256k and volume adjusted isn't going to sound better in quality than what it was at 128k. Once that shiz is compressed, the file is forever changed, so the new 256k is just going to take up more space, and still sound like a 128k file. (I'm sure you're aware of that though.)

.
[Edited 1/3/10 9:35am]
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Reply #22 posted 01/03/10 10:23am

unique

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ernestsewell said:

It just seems like a lot of work, with iffy results. You could lose clarity in some files, and gain more hiss in others, especially when, and if, you're changing bitrates. You can't rip up, you know. You won't get better quality that way. So is it going to rip all your files in the same format and bitrate as the originals, AND adjust the volume to your liking? A 128k bitrate MP3 ripped up to 256k and volume adjusted isn't going to sound better in quality than what it was at 128k. Once that shiz is compressed, the file is forever changed, so the new 256k is just going to take up more space, and still sound like a 128k file. (I'm sure you're aware of that though.)

.
[Edited 1/3/10 9:35am]


if you had as many mp3s as i do it would take forever, but most normal people don't have anything like me and can fit it all on an ipod

with foobar you could potentially drag all your files in and leave it to get the replaygain tag, and then sort your files by bitrate and batch convert those files to the same bitrate. there's only so many different bitrates someone is likely to have, so even if it takes 8 seperate batches to convert, you just set it going, watch some tv, set the next batch, watch more tv and so on. in my day we had to handwrite mp3 code as there wasn't fancy software about like the kids today. we also had to shoplift for our music instead of sitting on our fat arses in front of computers with pizzas downloading from other kids. and before cds came out it took real skill to hide LP's from store staff. kids today don't know they are born
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Reply #23 posted 01/03/10 10:54am

ernestsewell

unique said:

ernestsewell said:

It just seems like a lot of work, with iffy results. You could lose clarity in some files, and gain more hiss in others, especially when, and if, you're changing bitrates. You can't rip up, you know. You won't get better quality that way. So is it going to rip all your files in the same format and bitrate as the originals, AND adjust the volume to your liking? A 128k bitrate MP3 ripped up to 256k and volume adjusted isn't going to sound better in quality than what it was at 128k. Once that shiz is compressed, the file is forever changed, so the new 256k is just going to take up more space, and still sound like a 128k file. (I'm sure you're aware of that though.)


if you had as many mp3s as i do it would take forever, but most normal people don't have anything like me and can fit it all on an ipod

Yeah I get the "you can do other stuff while it does its thing" thing. Not a new concept of course.

I have over 21,000 mp3s. I'd never attempt anything like the original poster wants. Of course when you buy M$ product....

poke
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Reply #24 posted 01/03/10 11:15am

TonyVanDam

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theAudience said:

Audacity: http://audacity.sourcefor...t/features




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

peace Tribal Records


Audacity is the best. nod And it's freeware.
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Reply #25 posted 01/03/10 11:38am

savoirfaire

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ernestsewell said:

unique said:



if you had as many mp3s as i do it would take forever, but most normal people don't have anything like me and can fit it all on an ipod

Yeah I get the "you can do other stuff while it does its thing" thing. Not a new concept of course.

I have over 21,000 mp3s. I'd never attempt anything like the original poster wants. Of course when you buy M$ product....

poke


That Zune owned the Ipod Classic in all aspects, which is what I required when I bought it, as I needed the 120GB of space for my mp3s. I was shocked that the audio leveller didn't exist for it however....

all my music is ripped at 256k as I didn't have enough room for 320kbps, so it would not be an issue to run it through and wait, even in batches if need be...

I don't have 21,000 mp3s, but I have enough. I appreciate everyone's help. Thanks again.
"Knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Better by far to embrace the hard truth than a reassuring faith. If we crave some cosmic purpose, then let us find ourselves a worthy goal" - Carl Sagan
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Reply #26 posted 01/04/10 1:10am

Kara

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ernestsewell said:

It just seems like a lot of work, with iffy results. You could lose clarity in some files, and gain more hiss in others, especially when, and if, you're changing bitrates. You can't rip up, you know. You won't get better quality that way. So is it going to rip all your files in the same format and bitrate as the originals, AND adjust the volume to your liking? A 128k bitrate MP3 ripped up to 256k and volume adjusted isn't going to sound better in quality than what it was at 128k. Once that shiz is compressed, the file is forever changed, so the new 256k is just going to take up more space, and still sound like a 128k file. (I'm sure you're aware of that though.)

.
[Edited 1/3/10 9:35am]

I'm not sure who this was directed at, but MP3Gain doesn't change the bitrate or re-encode the file. There's some argument over whether it's truly lossless or not, but if someone is that concerned over losing quality, they probably shouldn't be using a lossy format like mp3 to begin with. I've used MP3Gain on thousands of files over the years and never had an issue.
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