Audio Leveling - Combining Manual & Automatic (Sound Check)

Question

Audio Leveling - Combining Manual & Automatic (Sound Check)

These answers might seem obvious, but I'd like to throw these in the forum anyway, if anyone could confirm.

If I manually tune the volume down on a track in Itunes, and then play it on an Ipod with Sound Check enabled, am I "double-dipping" with the volume control? The volume on some of the songs I've manually tuned come out really low.

And on my Ipod, with Sound Check enabled, some of the louder songs start out loud, and then the volume decreases for about ten seconds and stays at that level. Is that the Sound Check activating on the Ipod?

Thanks,

Zack

iPod nano, Windows 7

Posted on Feb 3, 2012 5:59 PM

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Answer 1

ed2345

Level 9

63,626 points

Feb 3, 2012 6:52 PM in response to zzinkmetairie

Zack,

SoundCheck takes the file it is given and adjusts playback volume accordingly. If that file has already been doctored with a volume adjustment program, SoundCheck should take the file as it is and work with its actual volume.

Unfortunately, SoundCheck does not actually work, so this discussion is largely theoretical. Most people get better results from a 3rd party volume normalization program such as iVolume or MP3Gain. Feel free to experiment and use what works for you.

FYI, you may wish to consult this document: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2425

And on my Ipod, with Sound Check enabled, some of the louder songs start out loud, and then the volume decreases for about ten seconds and stays at that level. Is that the Sound Check activating on the Ipod?

That is iTunes's idea of volume normalization. See above.

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Answer 2

Feb 3, 2012 7:39 PM in response to ed2345

Thanks ed2345, for the helpful information about the volume leveling. I appreciate the quick response too. I will definitely be checking out those third party normalizers.

Zack

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