Reducing volume on lossy transfers

[Partha]

Hi I have a lot of CDs/Hi-Res content I'm looking to convert to 256 kbps V0 Lame for on-the-go listening. The problem is a lot of these CDs are mastered too loud, close to 0 dbfs and I want to achieve a result similar to the 'mastered for itunes' effects, only with lame mp3s. So to essentially get a better lossy 'master', here are the steps I propose....please tell me whether this is fine since I am no audio professional...

FLAC to mp3 V0 256 kbps VBR (insane) quality q 0, CRC error protection, no additional CLI.
--------------------------
Bit depth 32 bit float
resample 44.1
volume normalise fixed amplification -1.5 DB.

Will this achieve the desired effect? I can also do replay gain apply but I feel that is too aggressive...

Waiting for your response. Thanks

[Spoon]

Use Volume Normalize and enable the EBUr128 option, which measures the perceived loudness and adjusts down.

[Partha]

Use Volume Normalize and enable the EBUr128 option, which measures the perceived loudness and adjusts down.

Track gain or adaptive, which one

[Spoon]

Track gain

Adaptive is for use in noisy environments (like a car)

[Partha]

Track gain

Adaptive is for use in noisy environments (like a car)

Okay. Thanks

[Partha]

what was wrong with the fixed amplification -1 DB? I followed the apple 'apple digital masters' guidelines...would like to know more...

[Spoon]

Because each track is a different volume, there is no standard.

[Partha]

Because each track is a different volume, there is no standard.

hmmm

[garym]

volume normalize (or replaygain) is trying to get each track (or album, as ReplayGain can be track based RG or album based RG) to meet a target playback volume. Some tracks are already close to that volume and need little adjustment. Some tracks are far away from that volume and need a larger adjustment. For most modern music, the RG adjustments will be negative (reducting volume to get closer to 89db). The default in most cases is 89db (but this can be changed in many program's settings re: writing ReplayGain). In dbpoweramp, using EBU R128 method (the newest and what I use), the setting LUFS -18, would be close to 89db.

[Partha]

Thanks. That clears it up. I don't have the option to change my EBU R128 settings, or haven't figured it out yet. I'm happy with the result with the default settings.

[garym]

Thanks. That clears it up. I don't have the option to change my EBU R128 settings, or haven't figured it out yet. I'm happy with the result with the default settings.

default is good (-18). That's what I use.

[Partha]

default is good (-18). That's what I use.

Just one more thing. In the EBU setting, should the desired volume setting be at the default 0? I'm referring to any possible clipping issues while converting to MP3s....

[garym]

I don't see that option in ReplayGain advanced settings. Maybe that's a setting in "volume normalize"? I don't use that, but I'd assume the default is the best answer. That's why it is the default by the software author.

[Spoon]

On both (volume normalize and Replaygain) there is the option to change the -18 LUFS reference value.

[Partha]

On both (volume normalize and Replaygain) there is the option to change the -18 LUFS reference value.

No, I am not talking about changing the reference value but something very simple instead, without additional CLI.

For eg, transcoding a 24 bit 96 khz to MP3 V0, here are the settings:

FLAC to mp3 V0 256 kbps VBR (insane) quality q 0, CRC error protection, no additional CLI.
--------------------------
Bit depth 32 bit float
resample 44.1
volume normalise EBU R128 (track gain), followed by a desired volume box preset to 0 dB.

should this be changed to -1 or -0.5 or -1.5 depending on original master?

Maximum amplification x8 (default).