Getting consistent volume on AIFF files

Question

Getting consistent volume on AIFF files

How do I get consistent volume from the tracks done with GarageBand and burned as AIFF files on a CD? I set the master volume on all tracks to 0 decibels, but the listener would still need to turn the volume up (and then sometimes down) when starting a new track.

Thanks in advance,
George Bartley

iMac G4, Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Posted on May 29, 2007 6:36 PM

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Answer 1

Schneb

Level 5

4,957 points

May 30, 2007 10:09 AM in response to George Bartley1

After you have mixed down your project, use an audio application like AmadeusPro and then "normalize" the audio. that will set the volume to the maximum it can be without distortion.

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Answer 2

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

May 29, 2007 6:41 PM in response to George Bartley1

what you need to do is called "mastering", it is much more complicated than setting the master volume (and 0 is not the correct value, whatever setting is needed is the corrected value).

do some web searches on "mastering" and "mixing and mastering" to learn more ... it is, unfortunately, not a simple subject.

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Answer 3

HangTime

Level 9

53,853 points

May 30, 2007 10:12 AM in response to Schneb

even normalizing will not get a consistent volume between different songs.

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Answer 4

Schneb

Level 5

4,957 points

May 30, 2007 3:26 PM in response to HangTime

Yeah, I know, but it will get him close. Like you said, there is a lot to learn about mix-down.

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