eq

[johnkthedj]

ok. thanks for the edit. it does read a lot better! the mp3 files are 192.

[steve]

1) Normalize the volume.
This is easy.

How to do it one file at a time:

• Import the file, (File menu > Import > Audio)
• Ensure that the track is selected (http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/au ... ction.html), then from the Effect menu select "Normalize".
• Recommended setting:
  • Remove DC offset: Enabled (selected)
  • Normalize maximum amplitude to: -3.0 for best quality or 0.0 for maximum loudness.
  • Normalize stereo independently: Disabled (not selected)
    More info about Normalize: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/normalize.html
• Export (File menu > Export). More information here: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/fi ... ialog.html

Normalize can also be used in a "Chain" for batch processing.
See here for more details: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/ch ... ation.html

[steve]

edit the silence in the intro and outro of each track;

There is a plug-in available here that can automatically delete silence from the start and end of tracks:
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 12#p151412

Instructions for installing plug-ins: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Downl ... g_Plug-ins

This plug-in can be used in a Chain.

[steve]

In my second post I asked how I could "batch EQ" several tracks at once. I really did not understand the answer.
I want to do this because as a DJ, I need to have the EQ about the same when I am playing live. This has been a constant problem for me, going all the way back to the 1970's when I first started. It would be much easier to EQ the music BEFORE it was played than attempt to adjust it once I start playing it.

This one is difficult, but also it begs the question, why do you need to do this?
Professionally produced recordings should be already correctly equalised so that they have the tonal balance that the artist/producer want. There should be no need to equalize tracks other than to compensate for deficiencies in the playback system or room acoustics.

If you are using bad recordings or amateur recordings that have not been correctly "mastered" then to get the EQ right they should be individually EQ'd.

[johnkthedj]

thank you so much Steve for your help. I understood, and did, your first two responses - worked like a charm. Just one question here: How do you load multiple songs to apply the chain too? (and how many can I do at a time?)

to answer you question about the EQ - cd's are produced differently, mostly by genre. I play everything from 1950's to hard rock. There can be dramatic swings in eq, mostly in the low end. when playing live, if i set the eq for a disco song, which is bass heavy, and then play a classic rock song; there is no bass. the difference in the low end db can be damaging as well, and "clip" the speaker off. (especially if i eq to the rock song and then play the disco song). if you listen to kanye west's new cd, and then listen to ac/dc dirty deeds; you will instantly see what i am talking about; and that difference is amplified by the loud volume i play at. i control this at the board currently with an eq, but it can be tricky changing tracks and eq-ing at the same time. this is why i would like to try to get all the music eq-ed about the same.

[kozikowski]

mp3 files are 192.

That's a good thing. Audacity default is 128. Terrifically excellent would be 256 or higher.

You can prevent the sound from getting any worse by exporting to WAV and not back to MP3. The trip back to MP3 creates the problems.

"How come my song sounds honky and bubbly when I make a new MP3...?"

There's a WAV export setting you need to change. We discovered you can make WAV files sound even better than they do already by changing the dither to "Triangle."

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Quality > High Quality Conversion: Best Quality, Triangle.

Koz

[steve]

If it's just the bass end that you're concerned about you could use a multi-band, or side chain compressor in your signal chain (as a "channel insert" effect) to limit the amount of bass before it hits the EQ section.

[johnkthedj]

ok Steve. How would I do that?

[steve]

A multi-band compressor is able to apply different amounts of compression/limiting according to the frequency that is passing through it, thus a multi-band compressor between the audio source and the EQ section of your equipment can be used to reduce the level of excessive bass so that it is more in keeping with other types of music.
Whether or not this is a viable option will depend on what equipment you already use, and what your budget is.

[Shaky]

John, a word of advice from a fellow - albeit former - DJ who has considered not only a digital comeback but also normalising my collection of music; don't make any hasty knee-jerk global changes to your music collection without researching the implications much more deeply.

I can see you want to get this done quickly, but the reality is that the unintended consequences of your contemplated actions are likely to pose a whole new set of new problems with sound quality. Furthermore, if you don't work off backups what you are trying to do will quite likely casue irreparable damage to you collection.

I don't know what software you are using and where you play, but I use Traktor software along with the S2 controller. That has simple hi/mid/low EQ that you can quickly set on the fly, and Traktor's playlist management features will automatically normalise levels for you using something called replaygain, which is worth your time looking into.

This requires some investment up front, but will allow you to protect your major investment in your music collection; think of it as an insurance policy.