My MP3 is too quiet

> > > My MP3 is too quiet

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Member Since: Oct 30, 2007

I'm using Audacity. I've got the final mix to sound like I want it to, but then when I export to MP3 and play it on Windows Media Player, it sounds super quiet. If I play any other MP3 (professional ones ripped from CD) they sound way louder.

Is there something I need to do to get my MP3 up to some sort of industry "standard" volume?

I'm planning on distributing this song in MP3 format on the internet and I don't want people to have to crank up their volume to hear it and then get blasted by whatever song comes on after mine. I already tried "normalizing" all the tracks to 0 dB before exporting from Audacity, but that didn't make any difference. Any ideas?

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I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Mar 15, 2008 03:30 pm

Put a compressor, multiband compressor, or limiter on the master bus. Or mix down the .wav, load it into its own project and apply compression or limiting to it there.

I like the Classic Series compressor and Master Limiter for this job, although I've started using Steinberg's Multiband Compressor included with Cubase SE a lot more lately. There are a bunch of freebie compression and limiting VST plugins so have a look at www.kvraudio.com and find a few to play with.

All that normalizing does is take the highest peak in your track and make it 0dB...its no different than adjusting your sliders so that your tracks peak at 0dB.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Mar 16, 2008 02:54 pm

Yep, its kind of pre mastering. You simply need to bring the level to its maximum before creating the mp3.

Tadpui has it right as far as what you would need to use.

Member
Since: Oct 30, 2007

Mar 16, 2008 06:13 pm

Thanks guys, I'll try exporting the whole project to a wav file and then running it through a compressor or limiter. I'll be on the lookout for some new software to use because I don't know if Audacity's built in compressor is going to do the trick.

Master of the Obvious?
Member
Since: Jun 29, 2004

Mar 28, 2008 12:44 pm

Screw audacity man, get Reaper! It's got a free, unlimited, full version with a bunch of really nice plugins :)

www.cockos.com/reaper/


As for an "industry standard" volume, while it probably won't change your viewpoint much, you should read this article:

www.rollingstone.com/news..._fidelity/print

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004

Mar 28, 2008 01:10 pm

er, it's not free. It's shareware. 30day trial is encouraged, as well as purchasing a license, as per their licensing disclaimer.

But yes, it does work well. I export from reaper often to MP3 and they're the same level as what my project is.

Master of the Obvious?
Member
Since: Jun 29, 2004

Mar 29, 2008 06:04 pm

I meant to say a free unlimited trial version hah

> > > My MP3 is too quiet

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