IVolume
Encyclopedia
iVolume is an application for Mac OS X
and Windows
that implements ReplayGain for iTunes
by updating the metadata
that iTunes uses for Sound Check volume normalization
.
iVolume aims to improve upon Sound Check by instead applying the ReplayGain algorithm. It replaces the settings computed by iTunes with new values computed via the ReplayGain algorithm. These volume adjustment settings supposedly result in perceptually more consistent playback volume levels than those produced by the iTunes algorithm.
While the CPU consumption of the algorithm employed by iTunes is nearly negligible, iVolume requires a few moments to process each track. This computation can be performed once and the results will be retained in the audio file metadata.
iVolume provides the capability to compute volume adjustments on a per-album basis, whereas iTunes does not. In this mode, iVolume scans all of the tracks in an album to determine the adjustment setting to apply and then it applies the same adjustment to each of the tracks in the album.
iVolume is incapable of processing protected
files purchased via the iTunes Music Store and, for these files, only the built-in iTunes Sound Check volume adjustments can be used.
Though iVolume is capable of being configured to operate without oversight, unlicensed iVolume will periodically cease processing and display a dialog box soliciting a registration in return for uninterrupted operation. This can have an adverse effect on processing large libraries of music as the dialog box may not be dismissed until a set time has elapsed, the length of which increases by several seconds each time the dialog box is displayed.
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
and Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
that implements ReplayGain for iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
by updating the metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
that iTunes uses for Sound Check volume normalization
Audio normalization
Audio normalization is the application of a constant amount of gain to an audio recording in order to bring the average or peak amplitude to a target level ....
.
- Sound Check background: If the iTunes Sound Check preference is activated, iTunes scans audio files to determine a per-track playback volume adjustment. Sound Check is designed so that the playback of multiple tracks with inherently varied relative volume levels will be at a consistent volume level.
iVolume aims to improve upon Sound Check by instead applying the ReplayGain algorithm. It replaces the settings computed by iTunes with new values computed via the ReplayGain algorithm. These volume adjustment settings supposedly result in perceptually more consistent playback volume levels than those produced by the iTunes algorithm.
While the CPU consumption of the algorithm employed by iTunes is nearly negligible, iVolume requires a few moments to process each track. This computation can be performed once and the results will be retained in the audio file metadata.
iVolume provides the capability to compute volume adjustments on a per-album basis, whereas iTunes does not. In this mode, iVolume scans all of the tracks in an album to determine the adjustment setting to apply and then it applies the same adjustment to each of the tracks in the album.
iVolume is incapable of processing protected
Digital rights management
Digital rights management is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. DRM is any technology that inhibits uses of digital content that...
files purchased via the iTunes Music Store and, for these files, only the built-in iTunes Sound Check volume adjustments can be used.
Though iVolume is capable of being configured to operate without oversight, unlicensed iVolume will periodically cease processing and display a dialog box soliciting a registration in return for uninterrupted operation. This can have an adverse effect on processing large libraries of music as the dialog box may not be dismissed until a set time has elapsed, the length of which increases by several seconds each time the dialog box is displayed.