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Topic: MP3 with FLAC - volume variations (Read 4078 times) previous topic - next topic
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MP3 with FLAC - volume variations

Mixing MP3 and FLAC files in my Foobar2000 (v0.8.3) playlist ends up being very frustrating. From one song to the next, the volume is never the same. I know that the second I convert a FLAC file to MP3 via LAME AP Standard, it'll be the same volume as the other MP3s.

The FLAC files are always noticably quieter than the MP3 files (or, rather, the MP3s are louder, as I always turn up the FLAC songs and cover my ears when an MP3 starts playing).

Is there a solution to this other than converting my FLACs to MP3s?


On an unrelated note, I'm constantly getting annoying console popups saying something about a FLAC CRC error (ERROR (foo_flac) : FLAC__STREAM_DECODER_ERROR_STATUS_FRAME_CRC_MISMATCH). The split-second "skip" while playing a seemingly "flawed" FLAC file is nothing compared to the annoying "beep" notification and the popup. Is there a way to disable this, or do I need to somehow update my FLAC plugin?

I searched the forums and couldn't find any topics relating to this problem, so I apologize if this has been asked before.

Thanks in advance!

MP3 with FLAC - volume variations

Reply #1 –
Regarding your first problem, what are your ReplayGain settings in Foobar2000 (for playback and for converting), and do your FLAC and/or MP3 files have ReplayGain tags?  I think the official FLAC encoder adds ReplayGain tags by default.

MP3 with FLAC - volume variations

Reply #2 –
I didn't even know Foobar can write files (I don't have a "Converting" section in Preferences, if that's what you were asking), so I didn't encode these with it.

My ReplayGain "playback" selection is "Use Album Gain", though the option doesn't make any difference. I slide the sliders back and forth, select "disabled", "use track gain", etc., and it doesn't increase or decrease the volume.

I don't know how the FLACs were encoded, but I have 4 FLAC albums from 4 different sources that all come out at the same low volume...

MP3 with FLAC - volume variations

Reply #3 –
[removed]

MP3 with FLAC - volume variations

Reply #4 –
Quote
I didn't even know Foobar can write files (I don't have a "Converting" section in Preferences, if that's what you were asking), so I didn't encode these with it.

Well, in 0.8.3, the options would be under "Diskwriter", but since you didn't use it, we don't need to worry about it.

Quote
My ReplayGain "playback" selection is "Use Album Gain", though the option doesn't make any difference. I slide the sliders back and forth, select "disabled", "use track gain", etc., and it doesn't increase or decrease the volume.[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Did you stop and restart playback each time you changed a setting (moved a slider, changed to "use track gain", etc.)?

If there's still no change, then I suggest adding Replaygain info to your files.

[a href="http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=Foobar2000:Intermediate_User_Guide#ReplayGain]http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?ti...uide#ReplayGain[/url]

MP3 with FLAC - volume variations

Reply #5 –
Wow, I can't believe I didn't think of that. I set ReplayGain to "disabled" and started playing a FLAC, and now it's loud, just like the MP3s! That's funny, why does ReplayGain *decrease* the volume, isn't it called ReplayGain?

I'll search around for more info on ReplayGain (errrr, I mean, Replaygain), and figure out what they're all set at.

Thanks for clueing me in on the obvious!


edit: This is odd... why is track_gain set to -9.51 dB? This is from one of my FLAC files...
Code: [Select]
replaygain_track_peak = 0.98925781
replaygain_track_gain = -9.51 dB
replaygain_album_peak = 1.00000000
replaygain_album_gain = -9.63 dB

MP3 with FLAC - volume variations

Reply #6 –
That's the difference between the target volume (89 dB) and the current volume (98 dB.)

The playback software needs to alter the volume by -9 dB to get the target volume.