I don't understand audio normalization with MP3Gain

[seventrad]

[SOLVED] I don't understand audio normalization with MP3Gain

Hi guys,

Look the screen:


The "Y" in the "clipping" column indicates that track will be have a clipping effect. But, I didn't understand! Why I will be have a clipping in track marked? I will decrease the volume to 100dB for 92dB. And why the "Track Gain" is -9.0dB?

 

[jimdandy]

MP3Gain looks at the psycho-acoustic properties of the audio file so looking at those numbers might be less helpful than one would think. It does look weird, however, I've never used the program so can't say for sure.

I would assume the 'track gain' column indicates literal gain while the 'volume' column indicates perceived loudness . . why that particular track would be at -9dB but would have a perceived loudness of 100,4 I'm not exactly sure, but there could be several reasons . .

The file may have already been processed with a peak limiter. This is default behaviour in some consumer media software, I'm pretty sure Windows Media Player does it by default, if not when encoding CDs to a digital format then definitely when authoring a CD from digital files . . .

Does the track sound about the same overall volume to the other tracks when their 'volume' is set to 92? I've noticed you've changed quite a few of the 'volume' targets in that screenshot . .

 

[seventrad]

Does the track sound about the same overall volume to the other tracks when their 'volume' is set to 92? I've noticed you've changed quite a few of the 'volume' targets in that screenshot . .

What the best value to gain volume in mp3 files without clipping? I use 92dB for normalize the sound of all music. Can I use one more high value?

Am I right?

 

[seventrad]

MP3Gain looks at the psycho-acoustic properties of the audio file so looking at those numbers might be less helpful than one would think. It does look weird, however, I've never used the program so can't say for sure.

I would assume the 'track gain' column indicates literal gain while the 'volume' column indicates perceived loudness . . why that particular track would be at -9dB but would have a perceived loudness of 100,4 I'm not exactly sure, but there could be several reasons . .

The file may have already been processed with a peak limiter. This is default behaviour in some consumer media software, I'm pretty sure Windows Media Player does it by default, if not when encoding CDs to a digital format then definitely when authoring a CD from digital files . . .

Does the track sound about the same overall volume to the other tracks when their 'volume' is set to 92? I've noticed you've changed quite a few of the 'volume' targets in that screenshot . .

I sent one email for the programmer of the MP3Gain and his answer was:

My Question: The "Y" in the "clipping" column indicates that track will be have a clipping effect. But, I didn't understand! *Why I will be have a clipping in track marked?*

"No, a "Y" in that first "clipping" column means the file _currently_ has some clipping. The "clip(Track)" column is the one that shows if you _will_ have clipping after you apply Track gain.

I am guessing that your next question will be something like this: "You mean I have clipping in my file right now? How is that possible? This is a new mp3 that I just ripped from my own CD!"
I will answer that question (even if you did not really ask it).
The mp3 format does not _exactly_ store the original audio. It stores a very close approximation of the original audio, hopefully so close that your ears cannot tell the difference. If the original audio was very close to clipping, then sometimes this approximation can slip past that clipping level a little bit."

My Question: I will decrease the volume to 100dB for 92dB. And why the "Track Gain" is -9.0dB?

"Your actualy current volume is 100.4 dB. Because of the specific details of the mp3 audio format, MP3Gain can only makes volume changes in steps of 1.5 dB. So -9.0 dB (100.4 - 9.0 = 91.4 dB) is the closest MP3Gain can get to the target volume of 92 dB."

 

[jimdandy]

Cool! So those Abba tracks were either from a recently remastered CD or have been processed by a peak limiter at some point in their lifetime . . .

Is this all helping? If the tracks still don't sound about the same volume to you I would look at your audio monitoring setup . . . what is it that you are listening through?

 

[seventrad]

Cool! So those Abba tracks were either from a recently remastered CD or have been processed by a peak limiter at some point in their lifetime . . .

Is this all helping? If the tracks still don't sound about the same volume to you I would look at your audio monitoring setup . . . what is it that you are listening through?

So, that's all!

Thank you for your help!!!

 

[noobvious]

I've always found it is best to use an 89db volume level, both for MP3Gain or for ReplayGain use.....clipping is never an issue with an 89db level.