How to Increase Volume of MP3 File

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alex20850
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Dec 14, 2010 10:44 am

How to Increase Volume of MP3 File

Post by alex20850 »

I have a MP3 file recording. I would like to increase the playback volume.
When I play it on a MP3 player the volume is very low.
DougDbug
Posts: 2172
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:33 pm
Location: Silicon Valley

Re: How to Increase Volume of MP3 File

Post by DougDbug »

Short answer:
Run the Maximize Volume Effect (Effect -> Volume -> Maximize Volume).

In audio terminology this is called "normalizing", but GoldWave calls it "maximizing" and that's a better English word.
Last edited by DougDbug on Mon Apr 12, 2021 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
DougDbug
Posts: 2172
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 3:33 pm
Location: Silicon Valley

Re: How to Increase Volume of MP3 File

Post by DougDbug »

Longer answer:
The digital maximum is 0dBFS (zero decibels full scale). If you try to go over 0dB you can get clipping (distorted squared-off waves). Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs - recording), digital-to-analog converters (DACs - playback), regular WAV files, and audio CDs are all hard-limited to 0dB.

MP3 can go over 0dB (I don't know how much) but if it does you'll clip your DAC if you play back at "full digital volume".

GoldWave uses floating-point internally so there is virtually no upper (or lower) limit and it can also go over 0dB without clipping. But, if you do something that makes the peaks go over 0dB (such as boosting the bass, etc.) you should maximize/normalize to bring the peaks down before saving.

The peaks (which limit the "maximum") do NOT correlate well with perceived loudness. Perceived loudness is complicated. It depends more on the average level and the frequency content. If you maximize/normalize all of your files they won't sound equally loud.

As you may know MP3 is lossy compression. It can often sound identical to the original but data is thrown-away to make a smaller file. When you open an MP3 for editing in GoldWave (or any "normal" audio editor ) it gets decompressed. If you then re-save as MP3 you're going through another generation of lossy compression and some "damage" does accumulate. If possible it's best to start with an uncompressed (or lossless) original and compress ONCE to MP3 as the last step. Otherwise if you are stuck with MP3 originals try to minimize the number of times it's re-compressed. Or there is a specialized FREE program called MP3DirectCut that can do some limited editing without decompressing the MP3. It can normalize but MP3 volume can only be adjusted in 1.5dB steps without decompressing so worst case it might normalize to about -1.4dB.






* The 0dBFS digital decibel reference is the maximum so digital dB levels are usually negative . It's the highest you can "count" with a given number of bits. You can count higher with 24-bits than 8-bits but everything is automatically scaled by the software or drivers to match your DAC so a 24-bit file doesn't play louder than an 8-bit file.

Acoustic loudness (loudness in the air) is measured in dB SPL (sound pressure level). Here the 0dB reference is approximately the quietest sound that can be heard so dB SPL levels are positive.
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