Normalize music data base for transfer with SonicStage

[videot]

A few years back I recorded all of my CD's onto my hard drive as MP3 using iTunes for windows. I find that the volume appears to have been normalized for each album. However there is an enormous difference in volume from one albums set off songs to that of another. None of the tracks have copy protection.

I would like to transfer these tracks to my Sony Mini disc using SonicStage 3.4. Is there any easy way to get normalization done using some batch process? What programs might be able to do this? I'm not overly concerned about a little loss of quality if the tracks have to be converted again since my hearing isn't the best in any case.

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Thanks in advance

[jonny mac]

Sonicstage won't do this but I believe there are programs that will (although if you have a lot of MP3s it will take a long time). Maybe someone else can name some programs to do this??

[xatax]

Try this great little program:

MP3 Gain

The best batch and sigle-file normalizer out there IMO.

[Sparky191]

Be careful with it though as if you apply it wrong, it can ruin tracks aswell adding clipping distortion. I tried it before and didn't the results myself, mind you I don't really understand how it all works.

[xatax]

Oh, the cool thing about MP3 Gain is that it doesn't work like other normalizers. It doesn't alter the quality of your files at all since it works in the volume level information only (that's why it only can alter the volume in 1.5 dB steps only, not really a disadvantage since it doesn't alter the quality) . And it informs you clearly of any clipping situations. It's the most advanced normalizer out there, try it. It uses a special volume detector system that works more like your ear and less than a VU meter. For more information follow the above link.

"MP3Gain does not just do peak normalization, as many normalizers do. Instead, it does some statistical analysis to determine how loud the file actually sounds to the human ear.

Also, the changes MP3Gain makes are completely lossless. There is no quality lost in the change because the program adjusts the mp3 file directly, without decoding and re-encoding."

Cool isn't Sparky191?

taken from: MP3 Gain (3rd line in the page)

[Sparky191]

No not always cool, because if you apply it to your library it will cause clipping distortion if theres a large disparity between your albums/tracks. It can up the volume too much. Which is why you should take care in how you apply it. Not because you can't undo it. But because it takes hours to run on a large library.

[videot]

But can all MP3 players play these files after these extra volume details are stored with the original music data & does this information also transfer when you transfer your music to other media?

[Sparky191]

But can all MP3 players play these files after these extra volume details are stored with the original music data & does this information also transfer when you transfer your music to other media?

Yes. Also the analysis is kept in tags in case you want to undo. Some players have problems with the mp3tags. Its explained in the MP3Gain FAQ.