[IDEA] equalise volume output from different 'sources'

[Mattt]

I have my volume setting at fixed 0dB.
Radio stations on moode play a lot louder than my personal collection of music files. It's annoying and if I forget to alter the volume first, has the potential to cause damage when switching between the two. I'm often not in the same room as the amplifier which also means I have to stop what I'm doing go to the amp and mess around with getting the volume right.


Would it be possible to implement something to remedy this?

[Tim Curtis]

Post a few station URL's from your collection that are "a lot louder" than typical audio files.
I'll see if I can repro on my end.

[Mattt]

Using a calibrated spl meter, there is typically 5dB difference between the radio and and a modern (loudness wars) album. Older albums there can be a 10dB difference. +10dB is perceived as twice as loud.

here's a couple of radio streams I use.

https://digitalstreams.mediaworks.nz/roc...ylist.m3u8

http://api.somafm.com/metal.pls

http://ais-sa2.cdnstream1.com/1989_128.mp3

[DRONE7]

Interesting question, though I am unsure that any player can auto-adjust for different radio stream volume.

Then, consider streams such as https://ancientfm.com/ where the volume of tracks is wildly different !
What would that take to 'normalis/ze" Maybe some 'read ahead' setting but what overhead ?

@Tim, this seems to be a stream problem rather than something that MoOde can resolve...was there not in the past a 'normalize' setting for MoOde that did the read ahead but limited output to 44.1 ? Don't find it in current MoOde...but maybe not looking in the right place :-)

cheers,
bob...up a ladder, replacing a roof. :-(

[the_bertrum]

Another consideration is the source of the local files. Are they bought downloads, or digitised physical? If the level was set too low during digitisation (either by you or the firm you buy them from) that would have the same result.

[Tim Curtis]

In the Gain and Normalization section of MPD Config there are some settings for ReplayGain and Volume normalization but I've never used or tested them.

There are no such options for radio stations but possibly some sort of of ALSA plugin could perform volume normalization on the PCM stream being output (this would also cover song files). Another possibility might be to use CamnillaDSP for this?

For the OP's issue I would definitely set the Amp volume down so that the loudest radio station does not affect the equipment and then I'd prolly change moOde Volume type to Hardware or Software and use moOde to remotely control volume. Something like that.

[Nutul]

In the Gain and Normalization section of MPD Config there are some settings for ReplayGain and Volume normalization but I've never used or tested them.

There are no such options for radio stations but possibly some sort of of ALSA plugin could perform volume normalization on the PCM stream being output (this would also cover song files). Another possibility might be to use CamnillaDSP for this?

For the OP's issue I would definitely set the Amp volume down so that the loudest radio station does not affect the equipment and then I'd prolly change moOde Volume type to Hardware or Software and use moOde to remotely control volume. Something like that.

Could it be possible to add a parameter to the radio stations - defaulting to 0 of course - which would do the attenuation by a specified number of dBs when selected to play, and restore it when leaving the stream?

[Tim Curtis]

You mean adjusting MPD volume before the station starts playing?

[Nutul]

You mean adjusting MPD volume before the station starts playing?

Exactly. IF the radio has a value other than 0 in that new attenuate / boost parameter.. (yes, why limit ourselves... a boost could also be necessary)

[Mattt]

Interesting question,  though I am unsure that any player can auto-adjust for different radio stream volume.

I'm not asking for that, just being able to set radio streams output at perhaps 5dB less than 'normal'

Then, consider streams such as https://ancientfm.com/  where the volume of tracks is wildly different !
What would that take to 'normalis/ze"   Maybe some 'read ahead' setting but what overhead ?
  
Once again, that's not the issue I have nor what I'm asking for.

@Tim, this seems to be a stream problem rather than something that MoOde can resolve...was there not in the past a 'normalize' setting for MoOde that did the read ahead but limited output to 44.1 ?  Don't find it in current MoOde...but maybe not looking in the right place :-)

cheers,
bob...up a ladder, replacing a roof. :-(

Another consideration is the source of the local files.  Are they bought downloads, or digitised physical?  If the level was set too low during digitisation (either by you or the firm you buy them from) that would have the same result.

A combination of both, maybe 25% downloads and the rest my own/friends rips. I didn't consider this when I was doing my own rips and generally wanted them to be exact copies, low level or not.

In the Gain and Normalization section of MPD Config there are some settings for ReplayGain and Volume normalization but I've never used or tested them.

There are no such options for radio stations but possibly some sort of of ALSA plugin could perform volume normalization on the PCM stream being output (this would also cover song files). Another possibility might be to use CamnillaDSP for this?

For the OP's issue I would definitely set the Amp volume down so that the loudest radio station does not affect the equipment and then I'd prolly change moOde Volume type to Hardware or Software and use moOde to remotely control volume. Something like that.

Could it be possible to add a parameter to the radio stations - defaulting to 0 of course - which would do the attenuation by a specified number of dBs when selected to play, and restore it when leaving the stream?

That sounds like the sort of thing I was hoping may be possible