How to normalize MP3 files to play at the same volume android?

Audio normalization is the process of adjusting the volume of an audio file so that it plays back at a consistent level compared to other audio files. This is especially useful for MP3 files on Android devices, as MP3 encoding can often produce inconsistent volume levels between songs.

Normalizing MP3s helps prevent the need to raise and lower the volume when switching between songs in a playlist. It can also improve the listening experience by ensuring soft and loud parts in a song are not too drastic. This makes the audio more pleasant to listen to at any volume level.

On Android devices, inconsistent MP3 volume can be particularly problematic as people often listen on the go in noisy environments. Normalizing the files before transferring them to an Android device is an easy way to improve the playback experience. This article will cover multiple methods for normalizing MP3 files for Android.

(1) “What Is Audio Normalization? | iZotope”. May 23, 2023. https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/audio-normalization.html

Check Android Version

Different versions of Android have varying capabilities when it comes to normalizing audio volume. Newer versions like Android 10 and above have more advanced built-in normalization features compared to older versions.

For example, Android 10 introduced a new volume leveling option under Sound settings that can help normalize volume across different media apps. This feature is not available on Android 9 and below.

Some manufacturer skins like One UI by Samsung have additional audio settings beyond stock Android. Checking your specific Android version and manufacturer overlay can help determine if any native options are available.

Alternatively, third-party apps may be able to provide normalization on older Android versions. But it’s still useful to check your Android version first to see what built-in capabilities already exist.

Use Third-Party Apps

There are several Android apps available on the Google Play Store that can help normalize the volume of your MP3 collection. Some top options include:

• Volume Normalizer – Allows you to analyze and adjust volume levels of audio files. Has options to normalize volume, boost volume, or apply ReplayGain.
• Normalizer Music Player – Music player that normalizes volume across tracks and can boost quiet audio files.
• Equalizer & Normalizer – Combines a 10-band equalizer with audio normalization features.
• Rocket Music Player – Feature-rich music player with built-in volume normalization.

These apps scan your music library and adjust the volume gain levels so songs play at a consistent loudness. This helps prevent having to manually adjust volume between tracks. Many also let you tweak the target loudness level.

Use Audio Editing Software

One of the best ways to normalize MP3 files is by using audio editing software on your computer before transferring the files to your Android device. Popular free options include Audacity, Ocenaudio, WavePad, and mp3DirectCut. These programs analyze the volume levels of your MP3 files and adjust the gain to make the loudness consistent across tracks.

In Audacity, you can select all the tracks you want to normalize, then go to Effect > Normalize to apply volume normalization. The default settings normalize to -3 dB, which is recommended to avoid distortion. In Ocenaudio, go to Effects > Normalize, set the target level to -3 dB, and check the box for “Normalize each audio individually.” Then click Apply to normalize the selected tracks.

The process is similar in other editing software. The key is to avoid over-normalizing, which can degrade the audio quality. A target level of -3 dB or -1 dB works well for most music collections. Once normalized, you can transfer the MP3 files to your Android device knowing they will play back at a consistent volume.

Adjust Equalizer Settings

The built-in equalizer on Android devices can be used to boost the volume of quieter tracks. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Sound & vibration > Advanced sound settings. This takes you to the equalizer.

2. Adjust the equalizer sliders to boost the low and mid-range frequencies. This will help amplify the quieter parts of songs.

3. You can also try adjusting the “Volume boost” setting to boost overall volume.

4. Once you’ve tweaked the equalizer to your liking, switch to any music app and check if the volume is better balanced across songs. You may need to tweak the equalizer more for optimal results.

The key is to boost the low and mid-range frequencies equally so the relative volume between songs gets normalized without changing the sound quality too much. It may take some trial and error to find the right equalizer settings for your particular audio setup.

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Adjust Volume Limit

One way to normalize MP3 volume is by setting a maximum volume limit on your Android device. This prevents tracks from playing excessively loud if their volume levels are inconsistent. Here’s how to set a volume limit:

On Samsung devices, go to Settings > Sounds and Vibration > Volume, tap the 3 dots in the top right corner, and select Media Volume Limit. Toggle on the setting, then drag the slider to your desired maximum volume level (1).

On Android 9 and above, go to Settings > Sound > Advanced > Volume > Media Volume Limit. Toggle on the setting and adjust the volume limit slider (2).

Some devices may not have a built-in option, so you may need to use a third-party volume limiter app instead. This will allow preventing any songs from exceeding a set decibel level (3).

Setting a maximum volume limit can help normalize all your tracks and prevent loud surprises when shuffling playlists or podcasts.

Use Volume Booster Apps

There are several volume booster apps available for Android that can help normalize the volume across your MP3 files. Some popular options include:

Volume Booster – This app has a simple interface and provides a volume boost up to 200%. It works with your device’s built-in audio engine for a seamless listening experience.

Super Loud – With Super Loud you can increase the volume on your Android device up to 300%. It has preset profiles for different types of audio and an equalizer for custom tuning.

Other options like Boom, BlackPlayer, and Wavelet also provide volume boosting and equalizer features specifically for normalizing audio volume across MP3s.

The key when using these apps is to first check the volume levels of your MP3 files, then apply volume boosting uniformly across the files that need it. Start with a moderate volume increase, test on several tracks, and adjust as needed until your MP3 collection plays back at a consistent volume.

Check Metadata

One cause of inconsistent volume levels in MP3 files is incorrect or missing metadata, especially the album gain tag. The album gain indicates how loud an album or group of files should be played relative to other albums. If this tag is missing or incorrect, files may seem quieter or louder compared to other MP3s.

To fix this, you can edit the metadata of your MP3 files using a program like Mp3tag. Open your files in Mp3tag, then go to the ID3v2 tab. Look for the album gain tag and make sure there is a value filled in, typically around 89-95dB. If not, enter an album gain value manually. This will adjust the perceived volume of the files when played in supporting media players. You can also use Mp3tag to analyze MP3s and normalize or maximize the volume across files based on peak levels.

Checking and adjusting the album gain metadata is a lossless way to help equalize volume levels in MP3 collections. Just be careful not to boost the gain too high, which can cause clipping and distortion. A value of 89-95dB is recommended for most albums.

Convert to AAC

One way to help normalize the volume of MP3 files is to convert them to the AAC audio format. AAC is an audio coding format that was designed to be the successor to MP3. A key difference between AAC and MP3 is that AAC encodes audio at a consistent volume level [1]. This means that converting MP3 files to AAC can help standardize the volume across multiple audio files.

There are a few different ways to convert MP3 files to AAC on an Android device. One option is to use a free online audio converter tool like Movavi to batch convert MP3 files to AAC. You can also find apps on the Google Play Store, such as OGG MP3 AAC Audio Converter, that allow converting MP3 files locally on your device.

The process of converting to AAC re-encodes the audio at a standardized volume level. This can help minimize drastic volume differences when playing back converted MP3 files.

Summary

To summarize the main methods for normalizing MP3 volumes on Android:

• Use third-party apps like MP3Gain or MP3 Volume Normalizer that can analyze and adjust audio levels.
• Try audio editing software like Audacity to manually adjust volume levels across tracks.
• Adjust the equalizer built into Android’s settings to boost quieter tracks.
• Install volume booster apps that can amplify audio in real time.
• Check the metadata tags on your MP3 files and edit volume information.
• Convert your files to AAC format which supports volume normalization natively.

The best practices are to use dedicated normalization software for batch processing or do manual adjustments in an audio editor. Avoid simply amplifying volume as this reduces audio quality. Test your normalized files to ensure consistent perceived volume across tracks for the optimal listening experience.