Plugin finally working fantastic!
 

I am finally up and going with ml_iPod. It works like a charm and is a great plugin. I am so happy to be able to go totally without iTunes which was so buggy on our XP computers.

When I transferred my first 250 songs to the iPod, and listened to them using the shuffle mode, I noticed that the varying volumes between songs was so great I was constantly reaching for the iPod’s volume control. So I exported the 250 song playlist I had made in Winamp to a folder, using the plugin gen_yar.dll. Then I ran the files through MP3Gain, (using the album gain function). That solved the volume problem but I still had to get the files on to the iPod. I could not just mix them into my existing library since the songs were already in the library, just without the MP3Gain thing done to them.

So, I deleted the existing files on the iPod and then cleared my Winamp library. I then scanned the folder of MP3Gained files into the empty library. I could then load them to the iPod using ml_iPod. Then emptied the library again and rescanned my main directory of music files to get my computer back to where it was. Be aware that doing it this way resets any play counts, ratings etc. you may have that are not part of the music file tags, (if that matters to you). Whew! 250 songs on the iPod. Well at least it is a start!

I don’t know if emptying the library was the easiest way to get it done, but tonight it was all I could come up with. When there is FINALLY true multi user support in Winamp, I will be able to just create a new XP user just for the iPod and do things much more easily without having to mess with my Winamp library.

I am not sure if you know that:

All of the iPods sold in the European Union have Volume limitation - they don't sound as loud as these in USA (there is some law about that) This limitation is set in the firmware, but you can easily remove it and have the true power of the sound.

There are 2 programs doing that:

goPod
iMod

Try it and you'll love it

No,I did not know that! Why is that? TPTB don't trust people not to damage their hearing?

I live in the US, Southern Oregon, so don't have to deal with that. The reason I use MP3Gain is actually to equalize the volume a little between songs. You can do it a few different ways. For some technical reasons I don't know, MP3Gain supposedly works real well for this. The way I do it almost eliminates clipping and does a good job of bringing the volume to a more consistent level between songs. It's not perfect, but it works and the changes done to the music files are completely reversible if you want. It does bring the overall volume down a bit, but it is still ok for me. I use some old Sony Walkman headphones that I really like. I don't like the ones that come with the iPod, and have not been able to find others that will stay in my ears and have enough voume for my tastes, but that is a topic for another thread.

Yes I know what Mp3Gain does.

For these in Europe - use these tools, cause the sound from the iPods is too low. There is nothing wrong that can happen.