I can't comment on "why" but as PlayIt Live is often used for automated playout, correcting the files (ideally using a method that doesn't introduce another lossy decode/encode process) is best.
The "audio processing" plugin is good and can fix problems to a degree with "automatic gain control" but for many purposes fixing the subjective loudness is the right answer.
If you take each logical source (player, quick carts etc.) into a mixer, you can obviously adjust gain as you wish and for "live" use this is the best way to use PlayIt Live.
I use a hardware mixer but there are also software mixers which can be used with PlayIt Live (one being the Voicemeeter Banana).
Wikipedia has a good article on loudness normalisation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EBU_R_128
Also the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has further reading on the subject https://tech.ebu.ch/loudness
Why doesn't Playit Live have an input volume adjustment....that would make it so easy to adjust audio levels as you go rather than being concerned about running tracks through Audacity. To me it seems crazy not to have one.
My guess is that it was a false positive.
I tried downloading the installer from Sourceforge this morning ( mp3gain-win-1_2_5.exe ) and then submitted the download to the Kapersky online scanner and that said the file is clean.
I downloaded MP3 Gain from sourceforge and my Bitdefender found two trojans in the exe file. So I am now ary to down load it.
Okay so to make better transitions between songs, which one do i adjust to make the transitions tighter, cue in, or cue out?, and i what level should i adjust them to, i really don't want to normilize the audio, as it may take away from the original file, i really don't like using compressors or limiters.
Thanks, Andrew
Stephen,
It would be possible to reduce the quality of the MP3 file by setting a level that produces clipping but yes it changes the overall gain setting.
The key thing to avoid with MP3 and similar is multiple decode - encode cycles and MP3Gain doesn't decode and re-encode.
Normalise isn't a word I would use for MP3Gain as that implies setting peak levels, MP3Gain is about subjective loudness not peak level.
If you want to know more on that subject try:- https://tech.ebu.ch/groups/ploud
That's great. I will give it a try. Thanks.
Just so that I am clear .... using MP3Gain does not reduce the quality/fidelity and only resets (normalises) the amplitude parameters; right?
Stephen,
I've had my copy of MP3 Gain since 2003 (and not needed to update it) but what seems to be the same programme is now on Sourceforge
http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/index.php
The simple answer to your question is yes but there are some better explanations at
http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/faq.php
Mark Hawkins
So that I don't use the wrong one, could someone please post the link to MP3Gain ?
I was worried that this would reduce the quality of the audio. Are you saying that it only adjusts the volume parameters within the file?
Stephen.
Hmm you are correct re master and Wav. Although many can't hear the difference. In the digital world it's best to "remaster' at the best level of quality.
Back in the 70s, The early Optimods and Gates AGCs were very noisy, so we recorded to Cart with our levels mastered for -0- Db, so we pumped up the intro on Virginia Plain to an acceptable level BUT it had a lot of hiss. I don't recall a Broadcast version.
We had a few problems with Pink Floyd and Black Sabbath also,. The FM underground stations preferred no talk over intros, so we could not hide the breathing.
As far as age. I recall seeing The Stones in Hyde Park in 1969 (I think). 46 years ago.
I appreciate that you both know this, but for the benefit of others reading this thread, if you need to "re-master" audio to reduce the dynamic range it is best to start with a WAV (or similar) file rather than MP3 (or similar).
I've had occasion to fix intros which are "too quiet".
Showing my age somewhat, the song that most illustrates this problem for me is "Roxy Music" - "Virginia Plain".
Hearing that on AM radio, the intro is a bit quiet but when I got it on record I was very surprised at the difference as the intro was extremely quiet.
To this day, I don't know if they issued a "radio mix" of the song, the engineer rode the fader, or if the compressor just always worked hard.
For those too young to remember https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8DJP6XYGDQ
and it's got a "drop dead" end as well....
One last Comment on setting Levels and perfecting seques....
MP3 Gain works without problems when loaded from Sourceforge.
MP3Gain is NOT the same as Mp3 G a i n P r o or MP3 Pro.
Interweb comments indicate serious problems by those who have mistakenly downloaded them,
It's big Caution Sign.
If you need to edit levels on songs that have extremely quiet intros or segments, you can use Audacity without a noticeable change in quality.
.
S Thel
PlayIt Live default settings for Track Fading and Silence analysis will provide consistant Segues IF the MP3 or Wave file is saved at it's optimum level. One of the problems with when playing MP3 or Wave Files from different sources is varying audio amplitude. Quieter tracks lead to early transitions and seemingly makes some tracks seem overly loud. Yes, you could use a Compressor/Limiter to control this, but post processing will not change how PlayIt Live responds when in the Playout process.
My experience tells me that you must begin with consistant levels before adding tracks to PlayIt live.
If I hear or see a track is quiet, it's opened in an audio editor, such as Audacity, where the levels are Normalized to peak at -1db. Let me point out that most audio editing software sees the odd peak as the maximum amplitude of the track. The trick to this is to bring these individual peaks down to the overall average. Then Normalise the entire track to -1 dB. To compare, import another audio track that you find acceptable and compare the loudness of the two tracks.
It's not likely that a louder track is actually peaking over -0- db. But if it is, use the idea above to reduce the overall amplitude of the “Hot” track.
Remember: -3db is Half as loud. +3db is double the volume.
Over the years I have known people who use Programs, such as Audacity, to create Chains. Whereas all the titles in a folder are processed to cut silence, Normalize to -1dB and Saved to a separate file that is added to PlayIt Live.
By doing so they feel they have a more consistent sound requiring less Post processing.
I maintain that Original recording have the best fidelity but differ in amplitude. I suggest, if any processing with EQ or compression should happen post digital when being being played as audio, so all tracks are consistently processed at the same settings.
Perhaps these ideas will help you achieve consistent audio levels and great Segues with PlayIt Live.