April 18, 2004

Curious George: Creating Mp3s I'm looking for a new way/plugin to create Mp3s.

I like to rip my CDs to listen to them on my laptop etc, except that I've been noticing that the plugin I've been using makes very quiet Mp3s, noticibly quieter than Mp3s from elsewhere, though the sound quality is otherwise fine. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good program or plugin, preferrably free, to create better Mp3s? (I would like to stick to this format).

posted by jb 20 years ago
  • Oh - I did just have a thought - would the fact that I am mostly ripping classical cds make a difference? Are they recorded more quietly than most pop or rock? Listening to a pop CD I did a while ago, it doesn't seem to be as quiet as the classical one I just did today. (And thanks for any help you can give)
  • I'm repeating experience here, but you want to normalize the tracks you're ripping.
  • right now, how does the volume compare to when you play the disc in the laptop's cd drive? This will tell you if it's the music itself -- the volume on the disc should be similar to the mp3. If it's comparable, how's the volume from other things, like window alerts and such? If that volume is also kinda quiet, you'll need to raise the PCM/ wave volume within windows. If Windows' noises louder than the mp3s, then Gyan's suggestion of normalization is a good idea. Shameless plug : I ripped 300 CDs with CDex and they all sound good.
  • I use the same tool.
  • jb - classical cds are indeed recorded at a lower volume. Actually, I think classical cds are created with an ear toward maximizing the dynamic range, the way the CD format was intended to be used. Pop and rock CDs are louder because the producers realized that rock sounds better when it's loud, distortion notwithstanding.
  • boo: Thanks for the reccomendation - I will check it out. I should also listen to the CDs straight too, to compare. I've fallen out of the habit of playing them except as Mp3s (so much less bother). Gyan: Thank you too - but I have to ask - how do you normalise the tracks? Is that a feature of CDex? exppii: That definately makes sense - But how are people supposed to head band to Vivaldi if they can't blast it out their car speakers? (the last movement of winter is perfect head banging music)
  • Provided, and I'm not too sure on this point, you have a MP3 encoder integrated with CDEx.
  • iTunes seems to work fine for ripping to mp3, in my experience. Simple and free.
  • The music industry has been continually recording music louder in order for it to "stand out in the crowd." This also effects the dynamic range of the music - the difference between the loudest and quietest sound you can here - compressing the audio into a smaller range of frequencies. I would imagine that most classical CD producers are more concerned with highlighting the subtleties of their music over standing out from the other guys. And I will add my vote for iTunes also. Ripped my entire collection with it with nary a issue. I am considering redoing them as AAC, as apparently that format has a better range and will only gain support as more systems become MPEG 4 happy.
  • the last movement of winter is perfect head banging music Ear piercing you mean? I really hate to continually be changing the volume just to listen the softer parts and then prevent my ears to be mauled by sudden raggin' violin outbursts.
  • Zemat, there are winamp plugins that modulate the volume at a constant level.
  • Nice! To bad I can't use 'em in my old stereo.
  • Volume is like spice - you don't want it all, but sometimes a shock is good. (I love the moment in Carmina Burana when it comes back full force - that would be worth getting a real stereo for.)
  • Zemat, you could pass a song through such a plugin, write the output to a file and then burn an audio CD.
  • LAME has worked well for me in ripping a crapload of classical music for a class I am taking on Beethoven. I used EAC to work with it, and have nothing but pleased.
  • Related: Editing MP3's. I need to cut some crap from the beginning and end of a track. I have a mac, but cannot get my hands on a copy of garage band. Anyone know any free/nag/trialware that I can use? I just need it for this once ATM.
  • Captain: QuickTime Pro can cut be used as a MP3 editor - works great for simple edits like you are trying to achieve. There is also audacity. I have not used it, but it is free. I have used Sound Studio which reminded me a lot of SoundEdit 16. Not the most powerful application on the block, but does the job.
  • Pop and rock CDs are louder because the producers realized that rock sounds better when it's loud, distortion notwithstanding. Um, none of that is digital distortion, which sounds absolutely horrible. Overdriven valves and tape saturation (of simulacrum thereof) are what sound good, but that all goes down before the disc is mastered.
  • Orsimlacrum, or, dammit!
  • simulacra
  • holy crap, what happened there?