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Topic: Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3? (Read 5159 times) previous topic - next topic
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Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3?

After I rip CD-A to WAV files, I sometimes use the "Process WAV" tool in Exact Audio Copy (EAC) to look at a graphic display of the signal amplitude.  This gives me a feel for how compressed the file is, and how much variation there is in loudness throughout the track.  I find this very helpful in estimating how various tracks will compare volume-wise when played as part of a collection.

I wish I could find a tool like this for mp3.  Is there any freeware out there that can show you a graphical analysis of the volume of an mp3? 

BTW, I process my mp3s with mp3gain.  It would be great to see what the amplitude graph looks like before and after applying mp3gain. 

I use Encspot to examine the bit rate distribution for my mp3s, and this is very handy for checking that LAME has encoded the way I intended.  But I haven't been able to find something equivalent for showing me the amplitude (volume)-versus-time graph.

Perhaps it's not technically feasible?

Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3?

Reply #1 –
Its feasible, it just wouldn't tell you much that wasn't in the RG value.

Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3?

Reply #2 –
MP3DirectCut can do this in a limited fashion:

- It doesn't show absolute levels, only relative ones, i.e. the top and bottom of the scale don't represent maximums or minimums of any kind (which I guess makes sense since MP3 data is floating point).  You can actually adjust the height of the histogram at will, but the relative levels for any given file are more or less valid.

- It can't zoom out to show the whole file at one time...well, maybe it can, it's just that it depends entirely on the length of the file and resolution of your monitor (at 1280x1024, it can show approx. 2 minutes worth).

- Also, if it's a VBR MP3 and there are any pure mono parts, those will show up as being "twice as loud", i.e. their level will often go off the top of the scale (this may happen with CBR, too, I just use it so rarely I've never seen it).

Again, it's limited, but it's the only program I've seen that can show the levels of MP3 data without decoding.
"Not sure what the question is, but the answer is probably no."

Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3?

Reply #3 –
Thanks, Mixminus1 - -

Sounds like that program might be of some help to me.  I'll definitely check it out.

I continue to search around for other choices.  I've found a few, but none are freeware.  A couple of them are $20, and a couple are $40.  I might do some free trials later this week, and I will report back in via this thread if I find something useful.  I'll need to figure out just what these programs are actually showing me, so that I can determine if it helps me understand my encoding and gain-adjustment results.

Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3?

Reply #4 –
Thanks to all for your replies.

I have finally found a freebie that does what I need: Audacity.  It is an open-source editor for WAV, mp3, and other formats.  I experimented with it last night, and it shows me very nicely the changes that are made when I apply mp3Gain to a file. 

I agree with Mike G. that the mp3Gain value by itself tells me most of what I need to know.  But as a newbie, I wanted to be able to see the entire length of an mp3 and how much of it is being clipped, or is close to being clipped.  The waveform gives me a sense of just how compressed some tracks really are.  And, yes, it helps me verify that mp3Gain has really eliminated all clipping, since I can check the file before and after applying mp3Gain. 

Audacity can also show you frequency spectra of your files - -  which I like - -  and a few other nifty features.  This is all probably nothing new to HA veterans, but it will be helpful to me in learning how to make transparent mp3s.

Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Iggy64 on
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Audacity can also show you frequency spectra of your files - -  which I like - -  and a few other nifty features.  This is all probably nothing new to HA veterans, but it will be helpful to me in learning how to make transparent mp3s.

I think that loudness/waveform/spectrogram analysis can not tell you if the mp3 is transparent or not.

Graphic Volume Analyzer for mp3?

Reply #6 –
I have to agree with you there.  The only way to determine transparency is to listen and compare with the original.  And this is very subjective, depending on the sensitivities of the individual, as well as his environment and equipment.

What I SHOULD have said was that these tools (like a wave-form analyzer or frequency-spectrum analyzer) can help me see whether I have successfully applied the LAME switches and mp3Gain adjustments that - in my experience - have usually made my mp3s transparent to me.  This won't guarantee their transparency, of course.  But it could tip me off that I still have clipping, or that my low-pass filter was inadvertantly set up wrong.

As your suggested, though, this won't guarantee transparency.

Thanks for your feedback.  It's a good reality check.