audio files

hi-
does anyone know how - if it is even possible to re-encode audio files to a higher decibel rate (thus making them louder)?

 

Well yes but there's more than to it than that.

You need to explain further what you are trying to do.
Many Cd burner programs (eg Nero) have associated audio processing software..

Before you finalise any audio file, destined for CD you should 'normalise ' it. This brings the audio to a suitable common level so although individual tracks will contain louder and softer passages you won't have to continually crank the volume control up and down.

Oh and welcome to Major Geeks

 

Certainly with Audacity you can.
Menu: Select - Amplify.

 

ok i have some mp3 files, that i downloaded to my pc. so i dont have the cd's... i just have an mp3 file. its not loud enough even with volume all the way up... i was thinking if i could re-encode them some how to make them louder, yes?

 

PS: i'd prfer freeware since i dont have a job LOL

 

Audacity is Freeware!

You will need to allow clipping if you wish to increase the Amplification greater than the suggested/allowed.

 

http://majorgeeks.com/google_search...f;S:http://majorgeeks.com;LP:1;FORID:11&hl=en

 

but it wont export to mp3?

 

You most certainly can!

Rather than us "to-an-fro" about this, here is a simple walk-thru example:

1. Download and install Audacity 1.2.6 from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

2. Download and unzip the free LAME encoder to export MP3 files with Audacity in a sub-directory under the Audacity directory, libmp3lame-win-3.97.zip from http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/

3. Import one of your MP3 files, use the mouse to select the entire track.

Now either:-
4a. Effect-Amplify, (say 3dB, allow clipping), Export as MP3 and save as "Song Title"3dB.MP3, Audacity will ask were the Lame Encoder, lame_enc.dll is installed so select the above sub-directory, listen to the track, and if not OK or you want to increase the Amplification, re-import original and repeat, saving it with a different name.

Or better still,

4b. Export as WAV, re-import that WAV file, Effect-Amplify, (say 3dB, allow clipping), Export as WAV and save as "Song Title"3dB.WAV, listen to the track, and if not OK or you want to increase the Amplification, re-import original and repeat, saving it with a different name.

Then use the program CDex, select the Lame Encoder version 1.32 (3.97MMX), with the following settings:- Version=MPEG1, Bitrate Min=256 kbps, Mode=J Stereo, Quality=Very High Quality (q=0), VBR Method=Disabled, Output Samplerate=44100, to produce a better quality MP3.

Hope this helps.

 

ok so i stand corrected... i used Audacity amplified and exported as mp3 but i lose a lot of clarity/song quality ((

 

ugh... i cant figure this out..

 

Cdev only seems to be for cd's.. i cant figure out how to open the audio file in it.

 

This might get you to where you want to go;

http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/index.php

 

thanks. i did see that.. my only question is that it is a normalizer so it makes all the songs the same loudness right? so does that mean loud songs are brought down?

 

"You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear".

If your MP3's are poor quality @ say 64 kbps there is very little you can do.

 

While CDex is primarily an audio CD extraction program, it is also converts WAV files to various compressed audio formats and has more options for conversion.

Assuming you have installed CDex v1.70 beta2,

1. Copy the lame_enc.dll from your previous libmp3lame-3.97 download for Audacity to the CDex program directory and overwrite the existing.

2. Set the MP3 Encoder: Options - Settings - Encoder as per the previous settings I suggested.

3. Either: press F11, use the WAV -> Compressed Audio Icon (4th Icon down on right), or the convert menu, to choose the WAV file to convert.

 

thank you all for replying. i tried mp3gain, and it does exactly what i want/need.. i can even do multiple files at once.