Audio normalization

[trilko]

Hi!

I have audio files from DVDs (AC3) or in AAC format. I would like to make a normalization of this audio files. Can you suggest me which program to use?

Is there any program avilable to convert these files to AAC+?

Tnx!

[ursamtl]

Open them in Foobar2000 and use Replaygain. I'm not sure if Foobar handles AAC+ but it probably has a plugin for it. Google to find out.

I highly suggest Replaygain instead of the usual normalization because it judges the audio level by the average loudness and not just the peaks. This is especially important for audio from DVDs which tends to be less compressed than music from CDs. For instance, if you have one track that has peaks 12dB louder than the average and another with peaks only 6dB louder than the average, the second track will sound twice as loud! If you use Replaygain, they will sound like they are at the same level.

[trilko]

Open them in Foobar2000 and use Replaygain. I'm not sure if Foobar handles AAC+ but it probably has a plugin for it. Google to find out.

What do I do? Just open a file in FB2k, right-click, ReplayGain, Scan Per-file Track gain and then Update File Tags? Is that it?

BTW, FB2k doesn't support AC3 files, I guess I have to install additional component? It also doesn't want to update my AAC files :(

Tnx for help!

[ursamtl]

I don't do too much these days with AC3 files and I never work with AACs so I can't help you much. I'm pretty sure Foobar will support AC3s with the right plugins. You could try the Foorbar forum over at hydrogenaudio.org.

I also recommend reading a bit at www.replaygain.org. It takes a bit of getting used to RG because compared to modern CDs, the RG levels seem low, perhaps too low at first. But once you use it for awhile, you realize just how badly mutilated a lot of new music has been.

[Rck60s]

Is that a better program than what is in audition....

[ursamtl]

Is that a better program than what is in audition....I'd say they're about the same in terms of quality. I have Cool Edit (earlier version of Audition) and when I've compared the results between it and Replaygain, the resulting levels were very close.