Wavosaur

[oldronruns]

I am trying to listen to classical music on an MP3 player while walking in traffic. As you know classical music can be deafeningly loud one moment and then so soft you cannot hear it the next moment. Is there any way to level out the music so I can hear the quiet sections and not be deafened by the loud parts?

Thanks.

[Rex]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.
You can use the "pop-music method" : compression, compression and more compression + maximization
Even if some says this would be sacrilege, the only way to have a more constant level is to compress your classical tracks.

Here are some VST effects that you can use in Wavosaur for that task:

http://www.wavosaur.com/vst/multiband-compressor-plugins.php
http://www.wavosaur.com/vst/compressor-plugins.php

limiters could be useful too (after the compressor in the chain)

http://www.wavosaur.com/vst/limiter-plugins.php

Download these VST's, these are .dll file you can use with Wavosaur :
- load your track in Wavosaur
- check the "processing" checkbox next to the VST "Rack" button
- click the "VST rack" button
- click "load VST" and choose a dll file
- open the VST interface

Now you have to find the right balance with the parameters depending on the sound of your track.
You may have to set a low threshold and a high ratio to lower the loudest part and make them approxymatively the same level as the quietest part.
After that you have to normalize (or not, if the VST plugins you use have a auto-gain feature)

[oldronruns]

Thank you so much, Rex. I will have time this afternoon to give it a try.

I am having a ball learning more about music and how to tweak it.

Maybe someday I will be smart enough to help others.

Thanks again.

[oldronruns]

Hurrah!!!! It works just like you said. I was able to listen to Rachmaninoff without silence or deafening sound during my six mile walk this afternoon, even when there was loud traffic noise. The multiband compressor did the trick although I had to apply three times to each track. I'm sure there is much more for me to learn. I used Switch and MP3Gain to finish.

So many thanks, again.

Now if you could just stop the rain.

[Wavosaur Main Developer]

Rain during winter... Not so strange! :)
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Wavosaur Main Developer
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http://www.wavosaur.com

[Rex]

me too, i can't stand the rain

[poivre]

I understand that, in my country it's raining again