Portable music player support for replaygain

[swhite58]

I've ripped my CDs to FLAC using EAC, including the replaygain tags, for use with my SB3. I then created mp3 versions using the terrific flac2mp3.pl script (it took 3 days!), so I could load them into my Creative Zen portable music player.

However, I don't think the Zen supports replaygain. Does anyone know of a player that does?

I assume that an alternative is to normalise the mp3 files themselves, which would involve recoding. Can anyone suggest a reliable method of doing this?

Thanks

Shane

[andyg]

Rockbox, but it doesn't work on a Zen unfortunately.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/vie...tureComparison

[swhite58]

From the Rockbox Wiki it seems that a port for the larger Zens with a HDD is being developed, but not for my little V Plus.

In any case, I wonder if the replaygain tags survive transcoding from FLAC to mp3.

What about normalisation then?

[cliveb]

In any case, I wonder if the replaygain tags survive transcoding from FLAC to mp3.

That would depend on the transcoder you use. In theory the required Replaygain values could change after transcoding (although in practice the original FLAC-based ones would be close enough), so a transcoder probably should not retain the RG tags.

What about normalisation then?

Your best bet is probably to use MP3Gain. It uses the Replaygain algorithm to compute the required volume change, then rewrites the headers of all the MP3 frames with the new volume level. This works on *all* MP3 playack devices. One drawback is that it can only write Track Gain *or* Album Gain, not both. This may or may not be an issue for you.

[elziko]

Your best bet is probably to use MP3Gain. It uses the Replaygain algorithm to compute the required volume change, then rewrites the headers of all the MP3 frames with the new volume level. This works on *all* MP3 playack devices. One drawback is that it can only write Track Gain *or* Album Gain, not both. This may or may not be an issue for you.

Slightly aside but I'm using MP3Gain - from what you say above the adjustment in gain will be automatic when using my Squeezebox. Therefore I needn't, in fact shouldn't, use ReplayGain option on the Squeezebox since that will effectively adjust the gain twice.

Is that true or have I got this all wrong?

Thanks!

[cliveb]

Slightly aside but I'm using MP3Gain - from what you say above the adjustment in gain will be automatic when using my Squeezebox. Therefore I needn't, in fact shouldn't, use ReplayGain option on the Squeezebox since that will effectively adjust the gain twice.

Correct. If you have applied MP3Gain adjustments, then Replaygain should be switched off.

[Mark Lanctot]

Slightly aside but I'm using MP3Gain - from what you say above the adjustment in gain will be automatic when using my Squeezebox. Therefore I needn't, in fact shouldn't, use ReplayGain option on the Squeezebox since that will effectively adjust the gain twice.

Is that true or have I got this all wrong?

Thanks!

Yes, if you have used MP3Gain's "Track Gain" tool, don't use SC's Automatic Volume Adjustment feature. If you only used the "Track Analysis" tool then only the tags have been written, no adjustment has taken place and you need to use the Automatic Volume Adjustment setting in SC.

[elziko]

Correct. If you have applied MP3Gain adjustments, then Replaygain should be switched off.

Yes, if you have used MP3Gain's "Track Gain" tool, don't use SC's Automatic Volume Adjustment feature. If you only used the "Track Analysis" tool then only the tags have been written, no adjustment has taken place and you need to use the Automatic Volume Adjustment setting in SC.

Thanks for the replies - it looks like I need to decide between changing the headers in the MP3 files or using tags and SC's Automatic Volume Adjustment feature. Any advice on which would be better?

I suppose by just using the tags I can then switch the gain adjustment on/off as I see fit. With altered headers I am stuck with it until I un-do it using MP3Gain again.

[Mark Lanctot]

Thanks for the replies - it looks like I need to decide between changing the headers in the MP3 files or using tags and SC's Automatic Volume Adjustment feature. Any advice on which would be better?

Probably adjusting the gain is the way to go, but you need to make sure SC's volume adjustment is turned off.

Myself, I maintain two libraries - FLACs for the SB players and MP3s for my portable player. I have RG tags on the FLACs, the MP3s have gain adjustment but they are never played on the SBs.

[cliveb]

Thanks for the replies - it looks like I need to decide between changing the headers in the MP3 files or using tags and SC's Automatic Volume Adjustment feature. Any advice on which would be better?

If you only use the MP3 files on the Squeezebox, then I'd go for the tags. If you want to play the MP3s on a variety of players (most of which probably won't support the tags), adjust the actual gain so they work on any device.