MP3Gain Usage Guide

[aquatika]

Is there any downside to choosing this option or to put it another way, any benefits to restoring the ipod and re-loading all files?

No downside, but I like to restore my iPod every so often just to keep it in shape. Like any hard drive it will tend to get jumbled up a bit over time. I often think people not doing this every so often (every few months or so) can lead to some of the many problems that appear here.

Either way your going to be the same amount of time to load all your music back. Just be careful if you do restore that you don't wipe any ratings etc that you may have. You can always back-up your two iTunes music folder files just in case.

 

[aquatika]

PS I updated the AACGain post, hope it makes it a bit clearer for others. I realised that the way it was worded could lead others to have the same problem as you.

 

[Drooling Dog]

Thank God this program comes with an eternally-available "Undo", because I've been using it for years now, and I've never understood it.

My main goal is to get mixed playlists sounding like they all came from the same album. I don't want to have to adjust the volume up when a playlist takes me from an old Jefferson Airplane song that registers 81db to a new Godsmack song that's over 100db.

According to MP3Gain's help file (as far as I can tell), Track Gain is what I'm after to get this done. But then you have to deal with clipping, because that Max No-clip Gain is only an option for Album gain. I have "Don't clip when doing track gain" checked, but I still seem to get clipping. The volume adjustments are perfect, but I do get a little clipping.

Someone clue me in as to what I should be doing. I've read this thread 3 times, and I'm still kinda lost. I've never tried album gain.

 

[aquatika]

Drooling Dog,

Track Gain is what you should be using for what you want.

Are you using the MP3Gain default setting of 89db ?? if you are using this and are still getting clipping try reducing it down a bit (87db, 85db etc) until the clipping stops.

 

[Drooling Dog]

Drooling Dog,

Are you using the MP3Gain default setting of 89db ?? if you are using this and are still getting clipping try reducing it down a bit (87db, 85db etc) until the clipping stops.

I have been using 89db. Unfortunately, I can't go any lower. The iPod is pretty quite as is. Lowering everything to 89db is the absolute lowest I could go, and still have it as loud as I need it.

 

[aquatika]

You can always increase the volume of the iPod via the iTunes Volume Adjustment slider, it's found in the Get Info menu when you right click on a song or songs.

Increasing the volume on the iPod will not re-introduce any clipping erased by MP3Gain, it only gives the iPod volume greater range. Try it out and see how it goes. You can set different volume adjustments for different songs/ albums.

 

[LinkinJunior]

Does mp3gain audio files w/ VolumeLogic cause any problems?
I'm curious as to know if just to let VolumeLogic level it instead of using mp3gain.

 

[MattPaintballer]

How do I get this to work? I originally downloaded the full version without AACGain and I tried double clicking "mp3gain.exe" and a black DOS-style window appeared for a split second then disappeared. Then I downloaded AACGain and, like the website told me to, renamed "aacgain.exe" to "mp3gain.exe" and move it to C:/Program Files/MP3Gain and overwrite the existing file. Now when I double click the "mp3gain.exe" ("aacgain.exe") the same thing happens. What do I do?

 

[aquatika]

Make sure you have Microsoft Visual Basic runtime installed, if not download the full version of MP3Gain,

mp3gain-win-full-1 2 5.exe from here

It sounds like the front end (or GUI) is not loading.

You shouldn't be clicking the .exe file anyway, if you have installed MP3Gain correctly there should be an icon on your desktop or in the Start menu.

 

[Chanat0wn]

A couple of questions here.

What is the difference between album analysis and track analysis? Would it be ok if i do album analysis on all my songs? And when i do make all my songs that soft, how can i get them to play louder. I know that using euPod makes songs on my iPod louder, but what about on my computer? What does maximizing do to my songs everytime i see a "clipping"? Can i do album gain for all my songs at once or do i need to do them seperately by albums? Thanks guys for answering

 

[aquatika]

What is the difference between album analysis and track analysis? Would it be ok if i do album analysis on all my songs? And when i do make all my songs that soft, how can i get them to play louder. I know that using euPod makes songs on my iPod louder, but what about on my computer? What does maximizing do to my songs everytime i see a "clipping"? Can i do album gain for all my songs at once or do i need to do them seperately by albums? Thanks guys for answering

Please have a good read through this thread, it will answer a lot of your questions. That's why it's a sticky, to help people. Any problems give us a shout back.

 

[Chanat0wn]

I was just wondering what the difference between track and album analysis? Track makes all the songs into one volume but album decreases from original volume?

Also, i thought mp3gain only affects the iPod sound and not when played on the computer. How come it is so much softer now when i play it say on winamp?

 

[aquatika]

MP3Gain physically changes your music files so that the gain change is reflected wherever you play your music. Be it iPod or PC.

Album gain applies gain so that a set of songs keep their relative volumes ie songs on an album may not all be the same volume, the volume may vary from one song to another for mood, atmosphere or whatever.
Album gain keeps these volume changes intact.

 

[wallisj]

Just wanted to say i have finally finished (after 28 hours) letting mp3gain and aacgain process ALL my mp3 and m4a files

Just resync'd them back to the pod (did a restore since i updated 95% library)

Sounds amazing....EQ's can now function without distortion....everything sounds better with this process...very happy

I think out of 6508 songs, 7 failed to process (due to being mp1/2 in discuise which i didn't know but these were really old files i've had for years)

Did track gain on all collection at 89db

Can't praise high-enough....was scared but did a practise run on a duplicate of a couple of mp3 and m4a albums to be sure it wouldn't corrupt files.

 

[aquatika]

Glad you like it, once you start using it you can't do without it. It's one of the best MP3 tools around.

 

[filrkaye]

mp3 gain/the process

I am just trying to make sure I have the right steps for adding tunes to the ipod using mp3gain. First insert the cd's in itunes let it automatically read the tracks and rip in to the itunes library(I set it at 192 ACC). Then open up mp3gain and search for the itunes library folder that I just added the songs to. I set the mp3 gain at the default 89db with track analysis. Once that is all done then do I plug in the ipod and drag the tracks from the itunes folder or can I just drag them into the ipod from the library folder in the itunes software? Also do I set the itunes software to souncheck checked in the beginning and leave the soundcheck off when transferring to ipod since all the files should be around the 89db level or set the ipod to souncheck as well?

Thanks!

 

[this_is_nascar]

I've spent quite a bit of time reading about MP3Gain and I think I'm ready to execute it across my entire iTunes library. I'm figuring that I'll also use the euPod program to boost the overall volume on my Nano.

So........ anything I should be concerned about before I pull the trigger. Over 90% of these tracks are bought and paid for, as opposed to being free downloads.

 

[aquatika]

can I just drag them into the ipod from the library folder in the itunes software? Also do I set the itunes software to souncheck checked in the beginning and leave the soundcheck off when transferring to ipod since all the files should be around the 89db level or set the ipod to souncheck as well?

Just transfer the songs to your iPod via iTunes.
With Track Gain applied you won't need to use Soundcheck.

anything I should be concerned about before I pull the trigger

No, everything should be fine. Remember that you can undo any changes.
MP3Gain will not work on protected iTunes Music Store files, not sure from your post if that's what you have or not.

 

[filrkaye]

So just run the mp3gain on the whole itunes library folder of songs then plug the ipod in for the transfer? When you originally rip the songs to itunes do you have the soundcheck checked?

 

[aquatika]

When you originally rip the songs to itunes do you have the soundcheck checked?

It doesn't matter, either way.