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replaygain?

post #1 of 20
7/27/09 at 11:14pm
Thread Starter 
Hello head-fi, as I just became comfortable with foobar (columns UI, DSPs, other basic functions etc...), I have come to wonder exactly what replaygain does.

I know it has something to do with clipping or evening out volume, but what benefits does it offer? Does it actually modify the MP3 files? (that's what my library is composed of)

Also, how do you know how to apply replaygain? Thanks in advance guys
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post #2 of 20
7/27/09 at 11:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMT391 View Post
Hello head-fi, as I just became comfortable with foobar (columns UI, DSPs, other basic functions etc...), I have come to wonder exactly what replaygain does.

I know it has something to do with clipping or evening out volume, but what benefits does it offer? Does it actually modify the MP3 files? (that's what my library is composed of)

Also, how do you know how to apply replaygain? Thanks in advance guys
Replay Gain (in laymen's term) is basically making the files less loud and helps in even-ing out the volume of a track or an album. it is metadata (data about data) that is created and attached to the mp3 file and is completely reversible as it's only metadata thus can be deleted/turned off without changing the data of the mp3 file.
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post #3 of 20
7/27/09 at 11:38pm
Thread Starter 
I see - doesn't seem like it could hurt. So which option do I use in foobar? And do I apply it song by song? How does that work?

Sorry about these questions, I guess we all start somewhere.
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post #4 of 20
7/28/09 at 12:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by JMT391 View Post
I see - doesn't seem like it could hurt. So which option do I use in foobar? And do I apply it song by song? How does that work?

Sorry about these questions, I guess we all start somewhere.

I have been using it for a while and have not encountered any problems or clipping. It will give you an even volume across the board. I have all my FLACs with replaygain and it comes in handy for my ipods (rockbox) when I use them in the car, since the volume from album to album changes. Like previously posted, it's not permanent and does not alter the file itself (metadata). Whenever you don't want it applied just put "processing none" in Playback. The Preamp is what's going to give you the +/- volume. With RG info higher, volume is higher etc....

The easiest way for me is just right click the album, ReplayGain, Scan per file track etc. Once the scan is done, you apply it.

You can use Album, Track etc.....Try it with a few files and increase the preamp and you'll notice the difference.
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post #5 of 20
7/28/09 at 12:35am
Thread Starter 
So replaygain is used to compare an album relative to itself? Or would it have the same effect if I highlighted my whole library and did a scan0 per file track gain
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post #6 of 20
7/28/09 at 12:44am
I did it by album using track mode. I tried album mode but stuck with track. I don't know about the whole library at once. How big is your library?
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post #7 of 20
7/28/09 at 12:46am
Thread Starter 
111 albums - It seems like foobar is scanning to see the peak volume of each track and then by reducing the dB level in each song, making each song peak at 1. So it seems like it is comparing SOMETHING.

EDIT: It's funny, because all the albums I felt were a bit "loud" (just didn't sound clean) seem to need to be reduced the most. Interesting.
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post #8 of 20
7/28/09 at 12:50am
Correct...To get an idea, once it scans and you apply it, check a single track (right click one track--properties--properties and look towards the bottom where it says replay gain and you'll see what it applied--example- track gain -3.75db...
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post #9 of 20
7/28/09 at 12:54am
Thread Starter 
Alright, well I'm doing it album by album using the scan per file track gain just because - Over the next few days or whatever I'll do some experimenting. I really enjoy foobar and all its features. I also enjoy the whole barebones install + what you make out of it thing.

Besides the fact that it sounds infinitely better than itunes, it just has that "fun" factor. It's a cool learning experience - it really helps you understand your sound.
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post #10 of 20
7/28/09 at 12:59am
Foobar is awesome...Here is the skin (config) that I am presently using


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post #11 of 20
7/28/09 at 1:07am
Thread Starter 
Damn that looks really nice - That's one of the things I have yet to understand. From what I see you need to download panels for the columns UI and then you can choose color schemes and stuff. I've been fishing through hydrogenaudio forums with no luck though. Anways, here's my humble custom columns UI layout.

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post #12 of 20
7/28/09 at 1:14am
Thanks....

NICE!!!!

Check deviantart.com....I'm using Ibiza by Br3tt....He has some very nice ones....Many to choose from there....Search Foobar skins...


EDIT- Also....Sometimes you have to change some scripts to make them work and tailor them to your needs and remove some components that are being used by other skins.....If you have any questions on setting them up, shoot me a PM....
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post #13 of 20
7/28/09 at 1:31am
Thread Starter 
Will do - It's off to bed for me though, I'll take a look tomorrow - expect a PM because I'm not expecting to get this right the first time haha. Thanks for all the help dude
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post #14 of 20
7/28/09 at 1:34am
No prob, my pleasure....
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post #15 of 20
7/28/09 at 3:53am
As far as replaygain is concerned I can recommend going with album mode. My reason for this is this: The artist(s) meant for certain songs to be louder than others. Let's take Tools parabol and parabola for example. I hope you're familiar with it since that would really help. If you are using track gain you will notice that when the song changes the volume will decrease instead of going up. Parabola is by far the louder song and is indeed supposed to be. Especially on songs with are gapless you might notice something is off when using track as source mode.
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