Normalizing MP3 Volume Levels
Chris | Live Tech Support | Video Help | Add to iTunes
http://live.pirillo.com/ -Hopefully my volume stays the same during each of my videos. I try to moderate the volume, so it’s always near the same. A community member wonders if there are any good solutions for editing MP3s to equalize their volume.
I threw this out to the community in our live chat room on WyldRyde IRC Network. I knew there were a couple of different programs that can level the volume of all the MP3s in your library. However, none of them were coming to mind. As soon as I asked the question, several people pointed me to MP3Gain. This program is free, and open source. Not only does it equalize the volume on all of the MP3s in your library, it also does some statistical analysis to determine how loud the file actually sounds to the human ear.
Another good program is called the Levelator. This app is found on Gigavox.com. Gigavox is a site run by my good friend (and longtime Gnomedex supporter) Doug Kaye. The Levelator is also free, you just need to register. Anything on this site is something I would definitely trust.
Wicket likes to be soft, I like to be loud. Maybe if we use one of these programs, you won’t have to constantly reach for your volume controls.
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9 Comments
Bill Bomar
August 31st, 2007
at 6:16am
As with many folks I suppose, I have the volume problem with MP3s. I tried the Levelator. First, you don’t have to register (which didn’t matter to me anyway). Secondly, and perhaps primarily, Levelator does not work with MP3s. You have to convert to WAV in order to use Levelator. With 2000+ pieces, that would be a bit of a task. Just thought I would let you know…Bill.
Jacque Talboy
August 31st, 2007
at 9:34am
Okay, I downloaded the levelator and it doesn’t work with MP3’s. Just thought you should clarify that.
Jacque Talboy
August 31st, 2007
at 9:34am
Okay, I downloaded the levelator and it doesn’t work with MP3’s. Just thought you should clarify that.
P J Thomas
August 31st, 2007
at 10:26pm
Been using MusicMatch for years, always worked for me
P J Thomas
August 31st, 2007
at 10:26pm
Been using MusicMatch for years, always worked for me
ran
September 4th, 2007
at 12:54pm
Hrrrm…. would like to try that MP3Gain – but its last update was two years ago!! Has anyone used it recently, and is it working fine?
ran
September 4th, 2007
at 12:54pm
Hrrrm…. would like to try that MP3Gain – but its last update was two years ago!! Has anyone used it recently, and is it working fine?
Don
September 9th, 2007
at 6:46pm
I like MusicMatch also for normalizing mp3s, however it is being phased out and I’m not sure I want to jump onto the Yahoo Music Jukebox.
Also, what I’ve been hoping to find has been a program that could normalize mp3 files while creating an mp3 DVD instead of an mp3 CD. MusicMatch cannot do this. Nero only appears to normalize when creating an old-fashioned wav-based CD.
I’d appreciate any tips folks may have. I tried mp3 Gain, however wasn’t too pleased with it as it seemed to increase the volume at the beginning of an mp3 and drop the volume after a bit.
John
September 14th, 2007
at 8:31pm
I’ve been using mp3 gain for about 9 months now. Works great and can handle a large volume of mp3’s at a relatively quick pace. It first does an analysis on each individual song. I found out that recording levels vary considerably. mp3 Gain shoots for a decibel level of 89 and will adjust it as close to that as possible. It also flags clipping.
I’m running version 1.3.4.