sandeep32 wrote:OK so I asked someone on my facebook about it, they mentioned MP3Gain. According to their site, the program can help with "peak normalization"
All "normalizing" does is find the loudest transient "peak" in an audio track, file, etc., and adjust that peak to the maximum (digital zero) and adjust everything else by that amount. Since the peak is the loudest point, nothing else will "clip". This can make a quiet track much louder, but then you start to lose the dynamics when everything is at a similar volume. Generally, the highest peaks will be with snare drums and other sound sources like that. In my opinion, using a brickwall limiter is a better option to increase volume on a track and stop transients from clipping. Use with caution so you don't lose the dynamic feel of the instruments.
sandeep32 wrote:How does normalizing/adjusting the AmpliTube of a file affect the volume of different files through headphones versus speakers?
I believe you are referring to the ampli-tude of a track or file? The dash was intentional because IKM is changing ampli-tude to Amplitube if I don't put the dash in the word...
If you're using an "app", like MP3Gain maybe is, it probably does this processing in realtime while the track is playing is my guess, but changing the ampli-tude of a file, either in realtime as it plays, or by altering the actual file, will not change any other files unless they are all changed at the same time using the same app. Most commercial music is already so compressed and limited that normalization won't make much of a difference with those kinds of files.
If you're looking for an app that can guarantee your music will sound great on headphones or any external speaker system, there is no such thing and no one can guarantee that. People make alot of money doing mastering for studios, and even with very expensive monitors
and experience, they can't make this guarantee. Lots of bands release albums and are criticized that the album is overly processed or compressed and they end up remastering it. I know that happened to Rush with their Vapor Trails album.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor_TrailsAlso, Metallica was criticized that their Death Magnetic album was overly compressed.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Magnetichttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamic_range_compressionWhat you're asking for is more art than science, and no single app, plugin, preset is guaranteed to sound great in every situation. If a touring band is lucky enough to be able to afford a good sound guy, they spend alot of time trying to get best sound because every venue is different, and depending on how big the crowd is, room dynamics, etc., can affect how good a band will sound on any given night, even when playing in the same venue.
Dave
