MP3 Volume Control

Going crazy listening to different MP3 files, each of which is set at a different volume level? Do you find yourself adjusting the volume of your MP3 player each time the song changes? You need MP3Gain.

MP3Gain allows you to "normalize" or adjust the volume level of a batch of MP3 files so that, to the human ear, the volume remains uniform across all those sound files.

If you're doing a podcast which contains your voice, some intro/outro music, a telephone interview, and other sound sources, you'll realize that the volume can change significantly from one audio section to another.

True, you can use your basic sound editor software to normalize those different sections, but your program might just be doing "peak normalization" which is not as efficient as the technique used by MP3Gain.

Here's what you can do with MP3Gain when it comes to podcasting:

1. Record your audio sections as separate MP3 files (i.e., your regular podcast show, the phone interview).

2. Use MP3Gain on to normalize those separate MP3 files.

3. Use your sound editor (i.e., Audacity) to mix those files. You can do your fade in and fade out music with your sound editor.

4. Normalize again using your sound editor, if you wish.

Podcasters will gain the most from MP3Gain if you offer your podcasts as a playlist (i.e. dropdown menu of various podcasts or mp3 files), or even as downloadable mp3 files. When your fans transfer several of your files to their iPods or MP3 players, they'll thank you for saving them the hassle of reaching for the volume control knob/wheel.

Here's the MP3Gain homepage:
http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/
[ First posted on 07/28/2005 by Manuel Viloria ]