I have a track that is maximized so the highest peaks hit just below 0 dB. I have simply opened the track in Audacity, applied loudness normalization to -23 LUFS, and exported the track.
When I play back the new track, it sounds muffled like it has a low pass filter applied. There are no other effects applied in the Audacity project. The project is set to 32-bit float. I have tried exporting a .wav at 48k and 24-bit PCM, and I have tried exporting an mp3 at 48k and 320 mbps. I have also tried this with different source tracks. All of the exported tracks sound muffled on multiple playback devices and multiple speakers.
Wondering if anyone knows why. It seems there should be a straightforward explanation but I’m not sure. Thanks much.
Hmm thanks, I wonder if it’s something else then. Is it a thing that gaining down audio negatively affects higher frequencies? I have not heard of such a thing though.
Are you sure you are lowering the volume? …I don’t know what your LUFS was when your peaks were about 0db so I don’t know if you are making it louder or quieter.
If you are boosting you could be clipping (which shouldn’t sound muffled unless it’s clipping very badly).
How does it sound after loudness adjustment but before exporting?
FYI - When you compare “sound quality” you should be adjusting so you are listening to “A” and “B” at the same volume, but lowering the volume with Loudness Normalization shouldn’t make if muffled.
Thanks, after loudness normalization the audio is lowered about 14 dB. When I compare the original track to the new one, I raise the volume on my speakers so the new track is at the same perceived volume as the original (but the new track sounds as if it has the low pass filter applied). Unfortunately it is tough to compare the difference in Audacity directly since I have a poorer quality speaker on the PC (but I suppose I could try connecting the PC to a better speaker).
Double-check the muffled file with MediaInfoOnline to make sure it’s 44.1 or 48kHz. Lowering the sample rate is the only way I know of to “accidently” low-pass.
