Mp3gain V's Replaygain

[Bolan-Boogie 0]

MP3GAIN V's Replaygain

 

Your views or experience ?

 

Ok guys I have used MP3Gain for a good few years with great results,

However I had been doing a bit of reading regarding Replaygain and have been doing just a few tests.

 

Many including myself thought that MP3Gain is virtually the same as Replaygain as they both 'Normalise' the sound of the Mp3 file ironing out any distortion or rouge peaks in sound levels making your files sound more uniformed etc.

 

BUT

 

What I have found personally (by experiment) is yes they do a similar job, but I have found Replaygain better in as much as:

 

MP3Gain irons out peaks etc in the sound file and can reduce the file volume to eliminate any 'Clipping' that may cause distortion etc, but does nothing regarding 'Lower' or quieter frequencies. It doesn't raise lower frequencies to the same volume as the rest of the track, it soley works on reducing the high problematic peaks or 'clips'.

 

Replaygain appears (my own personal view) to raise the db (volume) on parts of the file to a more suitable level as well as doing the same as MP3Gain with the higher end frequencies.

 

Just to throw an example on my rant !

 

Some Dj software has an 'Auto DJ / Crossfade' function (normally use this for background music etc). If you have to manually set a crossfade setting this can be a real pain. Eg, if you set a 8 second crossfade, some tracks fade out too quiet so more of a recognizable gap in the crossfade, or the total opposite in as much as some tracks fade out too loudly at 8 secs whilst the other track comes booming over the top.

 

By running Replaygain this has very much improved as my files were already done with MP3Gain.

 

How was it done ?

 

Nice and cheaply (FREE) download Foobar 2000 (free media player) open a directory as if going to play the files then select all, right click and select 'Replaygain' then they are analysed the same as MP3Gain then update changes upon completion.

 

Sorry for the long drawn out post, but maybe useful to someone !! smile icon

Edited January 27, 2009 by Bolan-Boogie

[RichardP 0]

How was it done ?

Nice and cheaply (FREE) download Foobar 2000 (free media player) open a directory as if going to play the files then select all, right click and select 'Replaygain' then they are analysed the same as MP3Gain then update changes upon completion.

I'd also endorse Foobar 2000, it's a plain looking but powerful little player (if a little geeky).