Why your awesome IEMs sound bad from your iPod and what YOU can do about it!

Oct 13, 2006 at 2:56 PM Post #46 of 87
Just to let you all know that when using Rockbox the battery life will not be very good. I own a 60 gb video ipod and I use rockbox. My ipod only lasts for bout 5-7 hours when I play music on my rockbox. (It might be because of the custom themes I am using that drains my battery) Although Rockbox might not last as long as using regular ipod firmware, I would still recommend people using Rockbox because it's drag and drop feature is very nice. You can browse through your music thru folders and sub folders.
 
Oct 13, 2006 at 3:52 PM Post #47 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ
I think you guys should give "Audacity"
a try before knocking it so much. It does a lot more than you think,
and it's free (only for Mac, though).



Strange that it's running on my PC then... (and also didn't cost a penny)
 
Oct 14, 2006 at 12:33 AM Post #48 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by gsansite
Strange that it's running on my PC then... (and also didn't cost a penny)


LOL - But you have a "bliss-like" avatar, what can you possibly know?
evil_smiley.gif


Seriously though, I was never really impressed by Audacity. One of those open-source programs that doesn't fraking work, or at least the build I downloaded ages ago left something to be desired, but hey if it's working now, then great. I just think you're using it at cross-purposes.
wink.gif
 
Dec 22, 2006 at 4:00 AM Post #49 of 87
I believe what the OP is referring to is called "Gain Staqing", and it is a legitimate practice which he is using to compensate on the input end of the iPod's EQ amplifiers for their (the EQ stages) being easily "pumped" enough that the final amplifier sections' inputs become overdriven to saturation (thus, leading to clipping).

"Gain Staging" implies the need that controlling what the input stages receive at each amplifier across several amplifier stages is necessary to keep amplifier stages downstream from becoming overloaded. If the normal iPod EQ's output is emerging "too hot" for the final input stages of the final output/headphone amplifiers (as it seems it is), lowering the input levels somewhat right up front to the EQ stage itself can help.

(It would be helpful if there was a preamp level adjustment in the internal iPod EQ settings as exists in iTune's EQ! That would eliminate the need for this entire discussion!)

How the OP is accomplishing this feat, however, seems cumbersome to many of you here. That does not negate its effectiveness - it is just that there may be another way to do this without having to manipulate the actual files.

In iTunes, one can select a bunch of files and after right clicking on the selection, choose "Get Info" and - after clicking "OK" in response to the warning that asks if you want to edit multiple files - you can edit a parameter called "Volume Adjustment" in the lower left end of the dialog box.

I am wondering if adjusting this a few points in the negative direction will accomplish the same desired result of simply dropping the dB a little BEFORE the input stage of the EQ? It sure would be a quicker fix, and is un-doable, of course. If it only adjusts the final amplifier output AFTER the EQ, it is of no use here, of course. I would be willing to bet the latter describes what does happen, though.... PERHAPS! But, the question remains whether the digital gain adjustment controlled by these meta tags occurs before or after the EQ gain stage?

I have seen mentions here of some tools allowing reduction of file volume (normalizing the entire file to have a lower peak dB output level) but need to see more information. Making this work with Apple Lossless files easily would be an important consideration to the OP, and to anyone else trying to control gain staging to pre-EQ input stages for their Apple Lossless files.

BTW - as to the difference between the "Flat EQ" or the "EQ Off" settings - with the EQ Off setting, the iPod will use the meta tag to the right of the "Volume Adjustment" tag called "Equalizer Preset." It is my understanding that the "Equalizer Preset" tags do nothing unless the EQ is set to "EQ Off" in the iPod. Setting the iPod's EQ to any other setting (including "Flat") overrides any of these custom tags.

I hope this is both accurate and helpful!

Terry
 
Dec 22, 2006 at 4:24 AM Post #51 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by derek8555 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I just use Rockbox and the precut seems to work really well in solving this problem. This way I don't have to adjust any of my songs. And Rockbox sounds much better too.


If it has a precut option, that is the best method. However, I use a 2nd generation iPod Nano, so unfortunately Rockbox is not an option for me nor for many other folks here. Any other suggestions out there?

Terry
 
Dec 22, 2006 at 4:36 AM Post #52 of 87
Dec 22, 2006 at 5:26 AM Post #53 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by Jokieman /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Or you could just MP3Gain your music library, reduce the volume levels down to 95dB to get rid of excessive clipping, then EQ all you like.
smily_headphones1.gif
MP3Gain Tutorial for those with iPods



This is an excellent recommendation. Using one of the better MP3 converters, like FLAC or the easy to use LAME front end, Razorlame 2006 one could make smaller yet still very good sounding MP3s just for their portables (leaving the Apple Lossless files on the PC hard drive for archives and jukebox play at home), and normalize the MP3s using MP3Gain as you suggest just for the iPod. I do this exact thing by keeping high quality MP3 copies of my Apple Lossless files (which exist on my home PC) on my laptop.

But, the OP wishes to keep the sound benefits of staying with Apple Lossless even in the transfer to his iPod, so this would not suffice in that event. Might there be a normalizer or a utility that could make a reconversion of Apple Lossless-to-Apple Lossless while reducing the volume normalization on the fly?

Terry
 
Dec 22, 2006 at 6:25 AM Post #54 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I don't travel much, so that is not a big worry of mine and if I do, I'll clearly let them know that if I was a bomb-maker, would I really be so stupid as to advertise to you


Whether or not you actually have a bomb in there isn't the point. People have been criminally charged for having "this is a bomb" written on an object. Having it written on a discrete aluminum box isn't going to go well. Just letting you know, people have had homemade CMoy amps confiscated and never returned by the TSA, and they were just Altoids tins with a knob on it. There's a link in this very thread to a guy who was charged for having "this is a bomb" written on a bicycle, and that situation actually has a perfectly good explanation to it. If you travel, you might want to consider a bag for your Triple.fi's.
 
Dec 24, 2006 at 2:37 AM Post #55 of 87
My nextdoor neighbour works on customs/security at the local airport and you can guarentee a couple of times each year they get some damned fool who says 'careful with that case' or some intro like that 'because its got a bomb in it'. Even more critically he's even had a jerk who had his laptop labelled 'highly explosive - handle carefully'

Somehow they don't think it was quite that funny after the strip search and anal inspection, but they always make them go through that embaressment and painful personal invasion even if they are 100% certain the idiot involved was just having a laugh.
 
Dec 24, 2006 at 2:46 AM Post #56 of 87
Ok, well I've learned a lot in Head-Fi since back then.
cool.gif


Regarding the silly description on the case, it was so if I wanted to sell them they would still maintain their resale value (as opposed to putting my name on them). Obviously if I traveled by plane more often than once every 5 to 10 yrs, I wouldn't have put it on there. It is just a plastic strip which can easily be covered over at a moment's notice. The tagline was there as a friendly reminder to my co-workers not to touch it if they see it on my computer desk, but it would be in my bag mostly. I'm certainly not stupid enough to carry it on an airline like that.... and for you to assume that I would leads me to believe that you think my IQ floats somewhere around 100 or posess zero common sense. Either way, I assure you this is not the case.

Laugh a little more.... don't take things so seriously.

And it's almost Xmas! Have fun, stay healthy, be safe, and enjoy your time off work!
etysmile.gif
 
Dec 24, 2006 at 7:40 AM Post #57 of 87
I was just at the dbPowerAmp site, or more accurately, Illustrator's site, the developers of dbPowerAmp. They also make an interesting product called the Sveta iPod interface, and it has available Apple Lossless codecs. I have only downloaded this and haven't explored it yet, but I am wondering if this has the ability to do what the OP is looking for - that is, create a reduced-peak normalized Apple Lossless copy of an Apple Lossless original to use for transfer into an iPod?

Here's the link to the codecs and required registry updater:
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/sveta-portable-apple.htm

More later as I myself get to experiment with this.

Terry
 
Dec 24, 2006 at 4:36 PM Post #58 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif
3) Regarding the line-out bit, when at home, I listen to my iPod plugged in to
the charger because it seems to give it about a 5 -7% bit more "oomph"
to it, clarity wise and bass wise -- so how could I have the line out
cable connected to a headphone amp if I'm using that output to plug it in
to my charger? Maybe there is some kind of cable that will split the signal
into audio RCA left and right outputs, and a USB cable to plug into the
iPod charger? I looked online for one for awhile and didn't see one. If
you know of any, please advise.



Err, get a dock? It has a line out on the back and also the conection for the USB charger cable.
Get a Dock.
Stick iPod in dock.
Connect charger to dock.
Connect audio cable to line out.
Plug audio cable into amp.
basshead.gif
 
Dec 24, 2006 at 7:02 PM Post #59 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Ok, well I've learned a lot in Head-Fi since back then.
cool.gif


Regarding the silly description on the case, it was so if I wanted to sell them they would still maintain their resale value (as opposed to putting my name on them). Obviously if I traveled by plane more often than once every 5 to 10 yrs, I wouldn't have put it on there. It is just a plastic strip which can easily be covered over at a moment's notice. The tagline was there as a friendly reminder to my co-workers not to touch it if they see it on my computer desk, but it would be in my bag mostly. I'm certainly not stupid enough to carry it on an airline like that.... and for you to assume that I would leads me to believe that you think my IQ floats somewhere around 100 or posess zero common sense. Either way, I assure you this is not the case.

Laugh a little more.... don't take things so seriously.

And it's almost Xmas! Have fun, stay healthy, be safe, and enjoy your time off work!
etysmile.gif



Funny how things can change in a relatively short period of time.

You are now with the Triple.fi and have your iPod without EQ's and with an Amp?

Oh, and the name plate thingy on the Roadie case is a coating that is laser etched.
Very much permanent, but the black part can still rub/scratch off if you are not careful.

-Ed
 
Dec 24, 2006 at 8:02 PM Post #60 of 87
Quote:

Originally Posted by tbritton /img/forum/go_quote.gif
I was just at the dbPowerAmp site, or more accurately, Illustrator's site, the developers of dbPowerAmp. They also make an interesting product called the Sveta iPod interface, and it has available Apple Lossless codecs. I have only downloaded this and haven't explored it yet, but I am wondering if this has the ability to do what the OP is looking for - that is, create a reduced-peak normalized Apple Lossless copy of an Apple Lossless original to use for transfer into an iPod?

Here's the link to the codecs and required registry updater:
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/sveta-portable-apple.htm

More later as I myself get to experiment with this.

Terry



I'm trying out this software now since you suggested it. I'm converting all my ALAC files to 400 kbps AAC. It takes about a minute per song. My Ipod only gets 4 hours battery life with ALAC files and I should be able to double the amount of music on the Ipod. I'm hoping maybe I won't be able to detect much of a difference. We'll see in 33 hours when the conversion process is finished.
 

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