HT201724: Use Sound Check in iTunes to make song volume consistent

Learn about Use Sound Check in iTunes to make song volume consistent
Patrickh60

Q: How do I adjust the recording volume in itunes.

Some songs play back at normal volume in the car. Others, I have to turn the car volume way up.

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jul 5, 2016 1:19 PM

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Q: How do I adjust the recording volume in itunes.

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  • by Rysz,Apple recommended

    Rysz Rysz Jul 5, 2016 1:33 PM in response to Patrickh60
    Level 7 (20,475 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 5, 2016 1:33 PM in response to Patrickh60

    In addition to Sound Check. Which you already discovere, you can change sound volume individually for each song.

     

    Select the track, Command+I to open Get Info window. Switch to Options tab, then adjust the Volume Adjust slider.

     

    Not all apps honor this setting, so test with your workflow first, before spending too much effort on this.

  • by Patrickh60,

    Patrickh60 Patrickh60 Jul 5, 2016 1:33 PM in response to Rysz
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 5, 2016 1:33 PM in response to Rysz

    So, after doing this, the volume of everything in my library will be the same?

  • by Limnos,Apple recommended

    Limnos Limnos Jul 5, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Patrickh60
    Level 9 (53,914 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 5, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Patrickh60

    I don't think you mean the recording volume I think you mean the playback volume. ITunes Soundcheck supposedly helps with this but some people have problems with it.  Soundcheck is a feature of the playback software, it does not adjust the actual files.  If you are playing back in your car without using software that supports audio normalization you will have to investigate altering the actual files.

     

    iTunes: About Sound Check - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2425

     

    Playback on iDevices - https://discussions.apple.com/message/30043348#30043348 - Soundcheck is device specific.

     

    Some takes on Sound Check and alternatives - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4997972

     

    http://www.apple.com/itunes/mastered-for-itunes/

     

    http://www.mani.de/en/ivolume/ (commercial)

  • by Patrickh60,

    Patrickh60 Patrickh60 Jul 5, 2016 1:37 PM in response to Limnos
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 5, 2016 1:37 PM in response to Limnos

    Thank you!

  • by Rysz,

    Rysz Rysz Jul 5, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Patrickh60
    Level 7 (20,475 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 5, 2016 1:38 PM in response to Patrickh60

    This is song-by-song, not a global setting. Sound Check is global.

     

    Most songs will benefit from this adjustment, but some are so different in volume, that even moving the slider all the way to the edge, won't help.

     

    Experiment on a few songs to see the effect.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 5, 2016 2:26 PM in response to Rysz
    Level 9 (53,914 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 5, 2016 2:26 PM in response to Rysz

    To summarize there are three techniques of which I am aware.

     

    1- There is Soundcheck where the iTunes software tries to standardize or normalize the volume of tracks being play. There is no special setting for each file, this is applied to any file played back in iTunes.

     

    2- You can get info on a track in iTunes and manually adjusts the playback volume in options. This adjusts the volume by a given amount but it requires a media player which recognizes this feature.

     

    3-  There are ways to adjust volume by changing the waveform of the audio signal. This is a semi-permanent change but will work with any playback platform.