Normalizing a large amount of files

[bornyank1]

Hello, I would like to volume normalize the entirety of my somewhat massive (20,514 songs @ 160 VBR OGG, 84.4 gigs) music collection. I opened up my drive, searched for .ogg, and got 20,514 results. So far, so good. I hit ctrl+a and highlighted them all. Then I right-clicked on the highlighted songs, intending to hit "convert to" to open up dbpoweramp. However, all I got was an hourglass for 5 minutes or so, which then went away without anything happening. I assume this is because of the large number of files, as dbpoweramp opens when I select "convert to" with a smaller number. I really would like to normalize the whole collection, is there any way I can do this, or can anyone select an alternative method or normalization? Thank you.

[Deano]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Have you tried doing this using the File Selector?

[LtData]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

When you right-click and select "Conver to" I believe it opens up a separate instance of dMC for each file. Try the File Selector as Deano said.

Also, remember that volume normalization just makes quiet files louder, it doesn't quiet loud files.

[bornyank1]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

What do you mean by file selector? Do you mean opening up the music converter and selecting what I want to convert through it? The problem with that is that I have my files arranged in folders, artist-->album-->track. And I couldn't make the converter let me select all the tracks within the greater music folder, for instance. Is there a way to do that? And I know it just makes the quiet ones louder, that's fine with me. I just want all of them to be the same volume, so I don't have to reach for the volume knob after every couple songs.

[bornyank1]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Ah, I see I have an old release of the converter with the file selector, I'm getting the new one now. Will let you know how it goes.

[petriburg]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Bornyank1, there is another option you could try. This is a small, free, program which I've used for ages and does exactly what you want, except that I'm not sure how many files it will normalise in each batch. MP3 gain is found at http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/re:

Good luck!

Tony

[wolf333]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Since your files are ogg files, you would need Vorbisgain http://sjeng.org/vorbisgain.html

Works the same as mp3gain. Much better than simple normalization.

[petriburg]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Wolf, good pick up! I wasn't thinking when I recommended MP3 gain - of course, it won't work with OGG, but is brilliant with MP3. My error, sorry! :o

[LtData]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Also, no matter what program you use, don't normalize all of your files at once. Try it with a small batch of about 20 at first, then slowly increasing it but I wouldn't recommend doing more than 1,000 at a time and even that is high.

[bornyank1]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Thanks Wolf, but is dbpoweramp compatible with VorbisGain? It says the effects will only show up in compatible players, and only mentions a few, not including dbpoweramp. But if it is supported, this is a great find; I was unimpressed with even adaptive normalization, it resulted in fluctuating volume levels and loss of quality. Please let me know and I will try VorbisGain, thanks.

[bornyank1]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

I went ahead and downloaded the .exe...when I try to run the program, a black box opens up for a second and then it closes and nothing else happens. Does anyone know why that's happening?

[bornyank1]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Never mind. I downloaded foobar2000 because it's easier to use, and I'm currently apply replaygain to all my files. I know my Rockbox'ed iriver H340 supports this, but will dbpoweramp be able to read it, and if so, is there anything special I have to do to set up dbpoweramp to read it?

[LtData]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

dAP and dMC don't yet support ReplayGain, it will take dMC r12 before dMC supports it which should add support to dAP also, but again Spoon has the final word on this.

[bornyank1]

Re: Normalizing a large amount of files

Ah that is a shame. So there's no way to volume normalize that's supported by poweramp except for its own imperfect methods? Guess I'll have to use some other audio player till r12, then. What otiher dap's support it?