Lose Volume when converting to MP3

Question

Level 1

15 points

Lose Volume when converting to MP3

On some older CD's (early 80's) when I copy a song from the CD into iTunes and then convert it to MP3, I lose considerable volume. When the song is then transferred to my iPod and I'm listening to a playlist with that song in it, the song will be much softer than the rest and I have to crank up the volume on the iPod or car radio (if listening through an FM transmitter). I can make the orginal AIFF file louder by normalizing it or amplifying it in some sound editing software, but as soon as I bring it into iTunes and convert it to an MP3 (or any format other than AIFF for that matter), I lose the volume that I want it to be at. This is a major irritation when listening to songs on the iPod and having to crank up the volume whenever a "softie" comes along.
Has anyone else had this problem? And, if so, were you able to resolve it and how? Thanks in advance for any solutions to this!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Dec 14, 2006 3:58 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 14, 2006 4:06 PM in response to Pat Boyd

I copy a song from the CD into iTunes and then convert it to MP3
One step too many. It should Import as MP3.

What bit rate are you converting to?

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Answer 2

Pat Boyd Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 16, 2006 4:45 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris,

Thanks for your post. No it doesn't automatically convert it to MP3. I've used drag and drop to get it from it from it's current location into iTunes and I have used File Import to get it in. In either case it comes in as AIFF. In order to convert it to MP3, I have to use the option from the Advanced menu called "Convert Selection to MP3" or whatever format that's been selected in Preferences. I've tried 192 kbps and 128 kbps. In either case, the song comes in way too soft.

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Answer 3

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 16, 2006 7:37 PM in response to Pat Boyd

've used drag and drop to get it from it from it's current location into iTunes
It's "current location" is on an old audio CD, correct?

Insert the CD.
Select the CD in iTunes and click the Import button.
It will be imported and converted to the format set in iTunes prefs -> Advanced -> Importing.

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Answer 4

Pat Boyd Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 20, 2006 2:16 PM in response to Pat Boyd

Chris,

Your are correct. It does convert it to directly to MP3 if I drag it from the CD. I had been dragging it from a folder on the hard drive where I had it saved for editing purposes using a program called Sound Studio. However, it still doesn't make any difference with regard to the volume. When I import it directly from the CD, it comes in way too soft. I can make it louder by normalizing it and/or amplifying it in Sound Studio and then when I bring it into iTunes it plays at the desired level as long as I leave it as an AIFF file. However, as soon as I convert it to MP3 or any other format, I lose the volume. This is very frustrating for the reasons that I mentioned in my original post. Thanks in advance for any ideas that you might have on how to deal with this.

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Answer 5

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Dec 20, 2006 2:30 PM in response to Pat Boyd

iTunes prefs -> Playback - tick Soundcheck.

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Answer 6

Pat Boyd Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 28, 2006 11:51 AM in response to Chris CA

Turning soundcheck on or off didn't seem to make any difference. It was on by default on my computer. However, I can make a difference in the volume by using File > Get Info > Options -- Volume Adjustment. This works fine when listening to the song on my Mac or on an iPod except when I move the iPod to my car. In my car, I am using an FM transmitter. The Get Info -- Volume Adjustment does not hold when playing through my car radio. Is there a way around this?

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