mlb32704

Q: Volume Normalization Alternatives to iVolume and SoundCheck

Several years ago, I found SoundCheck's volume normalization capabilities to be inadequate when playing a large number of tracks via playlists, or simply shuffling "all".  I have roughly 7000 tracks in my iTunes library, most of which originated from ripped CDs and non-iTunes downloads, but there are some iTunes downloads in there as well, so volumes are all over the place. Too often I was reaching for the volume adjustment on whatever I was using to play music via some iPhone wired/wireless connection and manually adjusting up/down as appropriate.  So I purchased an iVolume license, and I've been very happy with the product ever since.  It does a great job of volume normalization across a large number of iTunes tracks, very quickly and easily.

 

Unfortunately, I have been unable to install iVolume on a brand new Windows 7 64-bit computer.  The iVolume installation routine keeps telling me that I don't have iTunes installed when clearly I do, and I've followed the advice of the developer to simply follow iVolume's advice - that is, reinstall iTunes, and reboot, over and over again, with no luck whatsoever.  I have seen at least one more example on these boards of someone posting the exact same installation issues on a Windows 10 system, with at least 15 other "followers", so I know that I am not alone on this installation issue. As of now, no one is stepping up to acknowledge, own or resolve these installation issues. The developer is shaking his head, saying "that's odd", and asking me to reboot my computer.

 

This is the last piece of software in a long line of applications installed on my computer over the past week and change, and I can't sync my iOS devices to this new computer for other more important personal and professional purposes until I get this iVolume/volume normalization thing straightened out.  That is because right now, my unsynced iPhone still has all of of my tracks on it, with the volumes already adjusted by iVolume.  My plan all along was to wipe out that iPhone and set it up as new, synced with my brand new iTunes library, which is all set and ready to go with the exception of iVolume.  So if I sync, I will lose the iVolume volume normalization changes and go back to whatever is provided by SoundCheck alone. 

 

So once again, years after a previous request, I need to look into alternatives to iVolume for Windows, for volume normalization across a 7000 song iTunes music library.  And years later, there still don't seem to be any alternatives out there.  Hats off to iVolume for cornering the market.  About the only thing I've run into is MP3Gain with an AAC plug in, which looks ancient, scary, anything but user friendly, somewhat irreversable, difficult to use, need I go on?  I need a reliable easy to use Windows based volume normalization application like iVolume, or an iOS app that can do volume normalization at the device level.  I am shocked that after all this time, no one seems to have raised volume normalization as a continuing issue in the iTunes environment. SoundCheck alone is not a sufficient solution. There have got to be some big time audiophiles out there shaking their heads (and ears) every time they play some playlist or shuffle large amounts of tracks in their iTunes library and have to adjust volume.  Someone has had to either come up with a Plan B here that I'm missing, or they are running something on Macs that I can't take advantage of in my Windows environment.

 

Sorry for the rant, but I am not happy about this iVolume situation and the lack of support to resolve it.  I'm out of ideas, maybe someone else out there has something.  Thank you for reading my message, and my rant, I welcome any and all constructive responses.

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.2, null

Posted on Apr 7, 2016 7:00 PM

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Q: Volume Normalization Alternatives to iVolume and SoundCheck

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  • by ed2345,Helpful

    ed2345 ed2345 Apr 7, 2016 8:13 PM in response to mlb32704
    Level 7 (24,801 points)
    Apr 7, 2016 8:13 PM in response to mlb32704

    I am shocked that after all this time, no one seems to have raised volume normalization as a continuing issue in the iTunes environment.

     

    Actually, complaints about the poor performance of iTunes SoundCheck were common on this Forum several years ago, but have been minimal lately.  It actually appears that Apple has improved it.  Although the official Apple document is just as anodyne as ever (see Use Sound Check in iTunes to make song volume consistent - Apple Support ), some audio sleuths have detected improvement.  See http://productionadvice.co.uk/sound-check-album-mode/ .

  • by mlb32704,

    mlb32704 mlb32704 Apr 7, 2016 8:19 PM in response to ed2345
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 7, 2016 8:19 PM in response to ed2345

    This is a tremendous, extremely useful reply. I had no idea that Apple had made such improvement to SoundCheck. My new game plan appears to be forget about iVolume and give SoundCheck alone another try. Thank you SO MUCH!

  • by ed2345,

    ed2345 ed2345 Apr 8, 2016 4:03 AM in response to mlb32704
    Level 7 (24,801 points)
    Apr 8, 2016 4:03 AM in response to mlb32704

    MLB,

    You are welcome.  Sure, give it a try and let us know what you think.

    Ed

  • by mlb32704,

    mlb32704 mlb32704 Apr 8, 2016 6:24 AM in response to mlb32704
    Level 1 (9 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 8, 2016 6:24 AM in response to mlb32704

    Update - in the FAQ section of the developer's Web site for the iVolume product, it clearly indicates that I "have to turn on 'Share iTunes Library XML' with other applications.  I have no idea why I spent a week exchanging emails with the developer and he never brought this possibility up.  As soon as I turned that option on, iVolume fired up and it's been working ever since.  FYI, I reached out to several experts referenced in ed2345's post and each of them responded back (quickly, I might add) that SoundCheck is "OK", "has its weaknesses", etc. so I'm kind of glad that I didn't have to go that route exclusively.

  • by ed2345,

    ed2345 ed2345 Apr 8, 2016 11:04 AM in response to mlb32704
    Level 7 (24,801 points)
    Apr 8, 2016 11:04 AM in response to mlb32704

    FYI, I reached out to several experts referenced in ed2345's post and each of them responded back (quickly, I might add) that SoundCheck is "OK", "has its weaknesses", etc.

    Knowing audiophiles and their general disdain for iTunes, those words actually constitute high praise!

     

    I do believe that SoundCheck has been improved quite a bit in recent years.  (For comparison, see my opinion several years ago => Re: Is there a program that levels out the volume of mp3 tracks on itunes, other than just the standard 'sound check'? )

     

    BTW, good that you solved the issue with iVolume, and glad to see in another thread that you have already been helping others on the Forum with the similar issue.   Kudos to you!