Volume leveling

[Bellzemos]

Hello!

Long time WinAmp user here. I used DPS Octimax plugin for WinAmp to level volume of the songs "on the fly" and was happy with it. But now I have a new PC with Windows 7 and DSP Octimax doesn't support Windows 7. So now I tried RockSteady but it's not good enough. The louder songs are still much louder than the quieter ones. And if I harden the compression the songs sound unnatural.

So, is there any (free or paid) WinAmp plugin for "on the fly" automatic volume leveling that works in Windows 7?

Thank you!

[DJ Egg]

I personally just use the ReplayGain feature included with Winamp.
To enable and configure: Winamp > Prefs > Playback > Replay Gain
To use: Select and right-click tracks > Send To > Calculate Replay Gain

[Bellzemos]

Hm, I'd rather use a good plugin... Can you tell me (in short) how ReplayGain works? Does it modify the MP3 files themselves or just stores the info for WinAmp somewhere? How is the sound quality, is it over-compressed or is it naturally sounding? Thank you!

[JonnyMac]

ReplayGain analyzes the files and then saves the volume level to the metedata/tags. Upon the playback of the files the volume is changes based on the data. So effectively, after the files are analyzed changes are made on the fly during playback. As to the quality and volume of the files, there are no changes to the files them selves. The exception being the changes to the volume data in the tags/metadata.

[Bellzemos]

So there is no other way, no plugins in vein of Octimax or RockSteady for WinAmp?

I have a program (ID3Kill) which I use to remove ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags from MP3 files, does that mean that it will remove the ReplayGain "loudness metadata" too?

[JonnyMac]

I am not too familiar with ID3Kill, however it would make sense that ID3Kill would remove the gain data.

As for another plug-in, maybe KMG_Dynamic_Volume20. Not having used it, I can't give it a review. Anyone else with suggestions?

[Bellzemos]

I tried this one and two more volume leveling plugins but wasn't really happy with any of them, so I went and tried the ReplayGain function - I just applied ReplayGain on my whole MP3 collection (~9000 files) and it seems that I'll be good for about 5 hours or so. Those are many albums and compilations, so I should probably save (and play) them as tracks, not as albums, right? When I'll make some more MP3s from my CDs - how do I apply the ReplayGain to them to level them with my MP3 collection? Do I have to copy them to my MP3 collection folder and do it all over or can I just do that one album - but how do I set it so that the volume level will be the same as all the others in my MP3 collection? And how is it with the MPC and other file formats, does ReplayGain work with them too? Thanx!

[JonnyMac]

I am the wrong person to ask, as I don't use ReplayGain or a volume leveler. However, there are a couple guides that may prove helpful

Winamp Tutorial: Automatic Volume Leveling in Winamp with Replay Gain
Winamp Help > General Preferences: Playback > Replay Gain

As for MPC (Musepack) support with RaplyGain that would depend on the plug-in you are using.

[MrSinatra]

in winamp, RG is a plugin, and it works PERFECTLY, without touching the actual audio. metadata tags are added, and u just tell winamp to use them, (track or album).

its all i use, why use anything else?

[Bellzemos]

You guys are right, I will use RG but please help me clear something (I didn't find the answer for this in WinAmp BG help or tutorial): I have a large collection of MP3's on my disk (around 9000 songs in about 900 albums), so should I set BG to calculate gain per album or per track? Per track would be right I guess, but I don't know why Winamp help states that per album is the recommended option?

And then, if I make more MP3's off my CDs for example, do I have to calculate only their RG or do I have to recalculate the whole collection + the new MP3 album to level it all up to the same volume?

Thank you!

[MrSinatra]

per album includes both album/track data, so do that one.

your last question dosn't make any sense. every album stands alone. rating one or adding one or whatever doesn't impact earlier/other ones. just apply RG to every ALBUM as you add them.

also be sure to go into prefs and tell RG that it doesn't need to wait to add tags.

[Bellzemos]

Yes, I worte it down a little weird, sorry. So: I oftenly load my whole collection in WinAmp and play it with a shuffle setting on. If I do it with "per album" option, will all the tracks be played at the same volume?

Also, if I understand correctly, RG volume is set to a predetermined (adjustable) loudness, so every new album (or compilation) will also have the same RG volume as the old collection? Meaning that I only have to calculate the new MP3's RG and can then copy them to my collection and all (new and old) MP3's will have the same volume? If that's so then it's a really great function!

"also be sure to go into prefs and tell RG that it doesn't need to wait to add tags." - I can't find this option, where is it exactly?

Thanx!

[MrSinatra]

i don't understand what you're not getting. you'll need to experiment some yourself.

Yes, I worte it down a little weird, sorry. So: I oftenly load my whole collection in WinAmp and play it with a shuffle setting on. If I do it with "per album" option, will all the tracks be played at the same volume?

go to prefs > playback > replay gain

you set the option you want used there.

Also, if I understand correctly, RG volume is set to a predetermined (adjustable) loudness, so every new album (or compilation) will also have the same RG volume as the old collection? Meaning that I only have to calculate the new MP3's RG and can then copy them to my collection and all (new and old) MP3's will have the same volume? If that's so then it's a really great function!

the whole point of RG is that that everything has the same volume.

"also be sure to go into prefs and tell RG that it doesn't need to wait to add tags." - I can't find this option, where is it exactly?

Thanx!

same as above.

[Bellzemos]

So, what exactly will be different if I clikck here on Save Track data or Save as Album? Please tell, thank you.

[gaekwad2]

If you save track data, only the track gain and peak will be written to the files, which makes sense if they're from different albums. But in this case you should save as album, then you'll get both track and album gain and be able to choose between them on playback.