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#1
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
When I play my music files and even more often, my saved videos, the
sound level can really vary. I can open one file and need to turn the volume way up to hear it, then the next tile blasts my ears out. I often run the sound into an actual stereo system, so those that load really loud are a huge problem. I'm considering buying an actual audio compressor to install between the computer and stereo, but was wondering if there is some software that can be used instead (which would work better on my laptop, which has internal speakers). I used to run sound for bands, so I'm very familiar with the hardware used for analog sound systems, but dont know if such a thing exists for digital sound on computers..... |
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
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#3
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
On 04 May 2014, "Bill in Co" wrote
in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general: MP3Gain (freebie) can level mp3 files. I almost always run it once on any mp3 file I get. Strictly speaking, mp3gain doesn't level the file. It embeds information in the file that tells the player what volume to play it at so that it's similar in volume to your other audio files. It doesn't actually change the volume of the file itself. |
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
Nil wrote:
On 04 May 2014, "Bill in Co" wrote in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general: MP3Gain (freebie) can level mp3 files. I almost always run it once on any mp3 file I get. Strictly speaking, mp3gain doesn't level the file. It embeds information in the file that tells the player what volume to play it at so that it's similar in volume to your other audio files. It doesn't actually change the volume of the file itself. Not only the player, apparently, because if I convert that mp3 to another format (using a file converter), the overall volume of that converted file has indeed been changed in the copy. So IOW, whatever reads the mp3 gets that data and changes the amplitude of the resulting file by storing new and reduced coefficient values in there. (Most mp3 files I find are pretty close to clipping levels (if not clipping), with little headroom (meaning the amplitude coefficients stored in the mp3 file were too large). So I normalize them in Mp3Gain, and you can see the change in amplitude afterwards, in an audio editor: it's been reduced. |
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
On Sun, 4 May 2014 21:19:11 -0600, "Bill in Co"
wrote: Nil wrote: On 04 May 2014, "Bill in Co" wrote in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general: MP3Gain (freebie) can level mp3 files. I almost always run it once on any mp3 file I get. Strictly speaking, mp3gain doesn't level the file. It embeds information in the file that tells the player what volume to play it at so that it's similar in volume to your other audio files. It doesn't actually change the volume of the file itself. Not only the player, apparently, because if I convert that mp3 to another format (using a file converter), the overall volume of that converted file has indeed been changed in the copy. So IOW, whatever reads the mp3 gets that data and changes the amplitude of the resulting file by storing new and reduced coefficient values in there. (Most mp3 files I find are pretty close to clipping levels (if not clipping), with little headroom (meaning the amplitude coefficients stored in the mp3 file were too large). So I normalize them in Mp3Gain, and you can see the change in amplitude afterwards, in an audio editor: it's been reduced. But that is only for MP3 files. I find MP4 videos to be the biggest offenders. And with nearly 5,000 MP3 files, I really dont want to convert each one. An actual hardware compressor would be a better bet, but that wont work on my laptop, with the built in speakers. That's why I thought there might be a software compressor to install, which just levels out the sound regardless what I'm playing, whether that be a MP3, MP4, FLV, WAV, or even a music CD or DVD. You'd think such a program would exist.... |
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
On Sun, 4 May 2014 22:59:07 -0600, "Bill in Co"
wrote: And it indeed might, at least within some multimedia players (where you could set the volume leveling for playing different types of files), but I don't know. My approach has always been to try to fix the files themselve, to be more consistent and normalized, when I first get them. Granted, if you've got 5000 files, that might not be the most efficient approach, however. :-) There may be some multimedia players that have that volume leveling capability built in, but I just don't know. I use Media Player Classic (MPC) for video files and Winamp for audio. I'll have to watch for others and see if some sort of alternatives exist. I like both of these programs and both work on XP and Win98, so I can keep consistent between computers. In the meantime, I'm gonna start watching for a hardware audio compressor. When those tiny speakers blast on my laptop, its annoying, but when my 200watt (RMS) stereo blasts, it can do damage. |
#9
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
Bob F wrote:
Bill in Co wrote: wrote: When I play my music files and even more often, my saved videos, the sound level can really vary. I can open one file and need to turn the volume way up to hear it, then the next tile blasts my ears out. I often run the sound into an actual stereo system, so those that load really loud are a huge problem. I'm considering buying an actual audio compressor to install between the computer and stereo, but was wondering if there is some software that can be used instead (which would work better on my laptop, which has internal speakers). I used to run sound for bands, so I'm very familiar with the hardware used for analog sound systems, but dont know if such a thing exists for digital sound on computers..... MP3Gain (freebie) can level mp3 files. I almost always run it once on any mp3 file I get. Does that take manual intervention, or is it smart enough to just run it on a library? No manual intervention. You just select the file, or directory containing the files you want to process, and run it. There are some settings you can tweak, but it's pretty much good to go. It's from the sourceforge.net site, which has several good free utility programs. As I mentioned, it's about the first thing I do whenever I get an mp3 file. And most really need the normalizing (most have their volume/amplitude coefficients set too high) http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/ |
#10
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
Slightly amended:
Nil wrote: On 04 May 2014, "Bill in Co" wrote in microsoft.public.windowsxp.general: MP3Gain (freebie) can level mp3 files. I almost always run it once on any mp3 file I get. Strictly speaking, mp3gain doesn't level the file. It embeds information in the file that tells the player what volume to play it at so that it's similar in volume to your other audio files. It doesn't actually change the volume of the file itself. Not only the player, however, because if we convert that normalized mp3 to another format (using a file converter), the overall volume of that converted file has indeed been changed. This is because MP3Gain stored new normalized coefficient values in the mp3 file. (So it's not just the player). I find most mp3 files are pretty close to clipping levels (if not already clipping), with little headroom (meaning the amplitude coefficients stored in the mp3 file were too large). So I normalize them in Mp3Gain, and you can see the change in amplitude afterwards in an audio editor - it's been reduced. And I leave the normalization setting at 89 db in MP3Gain. |
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
On Mon, 5 May 2014 12:42:01 -0600, "Bill in Co"
wrote: Not only the player, however, because if we convert that normalized mp3 to another format (using a file converter), the overall volume of that converted file has indeed been changed. This is because MP3Gain stored new normalized coefficient values in the mp3 file. (So it's not just the player). I find most mp3 files are pretty close to clipping levels (if not already clipping), with little headroom (meaning the amplitude coefficients stored in the mp3 file were too large). So I normalize them in Mp3Gain, and you can see the change in amplitude afterwards in an audio editor - it's been reduced. And I leave the normalization setting at 89 db in MP3Gain. Most people dont know how to record stuff. On the old meters, the needle should not go into the red zone, except during occasional peaks. It's prety much the same with the LED volume level "meters". When I did sound for bands, I had to record a lot of shows. I learned quickly how to adjust the levels on the tape recorders. (Back then we used reel to reel tapes, or later on casette tapes). [If you're under 40, you'll have to google those words} ..... and look up vinyl record too I have not done any of this in years, but I believe everything is recorded to a computer hard drive these days. I'd probably be totally confused when the hard drive ran out of TAPE Like, dude, where the f**k do I put the next reel of tape in that hard drive! |
#12
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
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#13
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
On Mon, 5 May 2014 23:16:28 -0600, "Bill in Co"
wrote: I've still got an old Revox G-36, vacuum tube, open-reel tape recorder. It's built *very* well - almost like a tank. German craftmanship. Before the advent of tape recorders we had "wire recorders" (which recorded on a spooled steel wire), although I believe that's predating me. I have not done any of this in years, but I believe everything is recorded to a computer hard drive these days. I'd probably be totally confused when the hard drive ran out of TAPE Like, dude, where the f**k do I put the next reel of tape in that hard drive! Or have the young'ins try using a rotary dial telephone! And maybe even a typewriter. Revox was known to be top of the line back in it's day. Kind of the Cadillac of tape recorders. I never owned one, but I remember the name well. I still have one of my reel to reel recorders, but I can not think of what brand it is at the moment. It's not tube though. More modern, but it was well made. I met an old guy bback in the 70's who had a used electronics store. He had one of those wire recorders in there, but it was not for sale and he said it didn't work anymore. It was fun to see though. I still find it hard to comprehend how that wire could get magnetized like a tape. The magnetic field had to be quite powerful. I doubt the sound quality was all that good ??? The first (Heavy) VCR's were well made too. I had one that still worked in the mid 90's, but I had left it at my parents house, but after dad died. mom went into a nursing home. I had to clean out therir house, and the VCR was gone. I suppose they tossed it..... The young'ins should be required to get a Rotary Dial Cell Phone. (Like this): http://makezine.com/2008/02/29/porta...ary-phone-pre/ |
#14
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
wrote:
On Mon, 5 May 2014 23:16:28 -0600, "Bill in Co" wrote: I've still got an old Revox G-36, vacuum tube, open-reel tape recorder. It's built *very* well - almost like a tank. German craftmanship. Before the advent of tape recorders we had "wire recorders" (which recorded on a spooled steel wire), although I believe that's predating me. I have not done any of this in years, but I believe everything is recorded to a computer hard drive these days. I'd probably be totally confused when the hard drive ran out of TAPE Like, dude, where the f**k do I put the next reel of tape in that hard drive! Or have the young'ins try using a rotary dial telephone! And maybe even a typewriter. Revox was known to be top of the line back in it's day. Kind of the Cadillac of tape recorders. I never owned one, but I remember the name well. I still have one of my reel to reel recorders, but I can not think of what brand it is at the moment. It's not tube though. More modern, but it was well made. This old 1950's Revox (which I bought used) is really built well. It reminds me of the way homes used to be built, in terms of construction quality, rather than the almost prefab, ticky-tacky, construction mentality of today. (That said, the old ones often were poorly insulated, so I'll concede that point). My first home (a small 2 bedroom) had *30 AMP* service to the entire house, if you can imagine that. We had to be very careful on what was plugged in! Of course, it had a gas range and heater, however. I met an old guy bback in the 70's who had a used electronics store. He had one of those wire recorders in there, but it was not for sale and he said it didn't work anymore. It was fun to see though. I still find it hard to comprehend how that wire could get magnetized like a tape. The magnetic field had to be quite powerful. I doubt the sound quality was all that good ??? The first (Heavy) VCR's were well made too. I had one that still worked in the mid 90's, but I had left it at my parents house, but after dad died. mom went into a nursing home. I had to clean out therir house, and the VCR was gone. I suppose they tossed it..... The young'ins should be required to get a Rotary Dial Cell Phone. (Like this): http://makezine.com/2008/02/29/porta...ary-phone-pre/ |
#15
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Is there an Audio Compressor for Windows?
On Tue, 6 May 2014 13:05:52 -0600, "Bill in Co"
wrote: This old 1950's Revox (which I bought used) is really built well. It reminds me of the way homes used to be built, in terms of construction quality, rather than the almost prefab, ticky-tacky, construction mentality of today. (That said, the old ones often were poorly insulated, so I'll concede that point). My first home (a small 2 bedroom) had *30 AMP* service to the entire house, if you can imagine that. We had to be very careful on what was plugged in! Of course, it had a gas range and heater, however. Homes built befoe 1940 were probably built the strongest, but lacked insulation, and adaquate wiring, etc. The best homes built were in the 1950's and 60's. They lacked some of the decorative stuff which I like from older homes, but they were still built with real lumber, built durable, and had at least halfway adaquate wiring..... My parents house was built in 1952, and although it only had 60A service, I dont think they ever blew a main fuse. 30A service is fine for a storage shed, and little more. I have a workshop which only has 40A, and that barely cuts the mustard when I start using power tools. But I can easilty run another cable over to it, because it's only 6 feet from the garage which has 100A. But I just plug in an extesion cord from the outside garage outlet if I want to run a bunch of power tools while using the AC in the shed. The garage is only 6 feet away, but the breaker box is about 60 feet away. With the price of wire, I'll just use the extension cord those two times a year I need the extra power. Today's homes are garbage. Particle board , plastic siding, etc. I also find them to look ugly. They just dotn look like a REAL house, they look like plastic. They are the first buildings to be completely destroyed from a tornado too. |
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