ReplayGain: Difference between revisions

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(Update instructions for latest version of Audacity. Now pretty well the same for all platforms)
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It is helpful to know whether your volume is correct ''before'' exporting your recording to an MP3 file. There is a Nyquist plug-in for Audacity called '''ReplayGain''' which allows you to do this. It also provides a facility for Equal Loudness Normalization (ie for amplifying to the required level).
It is helpful to know whether your volume is correct ''before'' exporting your recording to an MP3 file. There is a Nyquist plug-in for Audacity called '''ReplayGain''' which allows you to do this. It also provides a facility for Equal Loudness Normalization (ie for amplifying to the required level).


===ReplayGain: installation===
==ReplayGain: installation==


'''<font color="red">First</font>''', download the latest version from [http://forum.audacityteam.org/download/file.php?id=4685  '''here''']. You may need to right-click on the link and select Save Link As. Save the file (called ''ReplayGain.ny'') somewhere, then follow the relevant instructions below:
'''<font color="red">Important:</font>''' first download the latest version of Audacity from [https://www.audacityteam.org/download '''this page''']. You may need to right-click on the link and select Save Link As. Save the file (called ''ReplayGain.ny'') somewhere, then follow the relevant instructions below. It's important that you start with the latest version, as earlier versions used a different method of installing plug-ins. These instruction should work for Windows, Mac and Linux.


====Installing on MacOS 10.14 Mojave====
=== Basic installation ===


First, make sure you are running the latest version of Audacity, 2.3.2 or later, obtainable from [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/mac/ here].
* In the Audacity '''Tools''' menu, select '''Nyquist Plug-in installer'''
* Browse to the place where you have saved ''ReplayGain.ny'', and select it


Ignore older instructions telling you where to save the ''ReplayGain.ny'' file: it actually needs to be stored ''within'' the Audacity.app package itself. You'll probably find that in ''~/Applications'', called Audacity, and though it looks like a single file it is in fact a package that can be opened.
Then, you need to enable the plug in:


* Go to the ''~/Applications'' folder, and find Audacity
* In the '''Tools''' menu, select '''Add/remove Plug-ins''' which will take you to the Manage Plug-ins window
* Right click on it, and select Show Package Contents
* Select the '''New''' radio button
* Double-click on the contents folder, and go to the ''plugs-ins'' subfolder
* Scroll down to ReplayGain, and click Enable. Then OK
* Copy ''ReplayGain.ny'' there
* Restart Audacity
* You should find ''ReplayGain'' as one of the items under the '''Effect''' menu (towards the bottom, under the horizontal divider).


If you can't see the entry, make sure that ''ReplayGain'' is enabled via the '''Effect | Add/Remove Plug-ins''' menu option (right at the top).
You should find ''ReplayGain'' as one of the items under the '''Effect''' menu (towards the bottom, under the horizontal divider).


====Installing on earlier versions of Mac OSX====
=== Advanced ===
You mostly don't need to worry about where Audacity actually stores the plugin, but in case you are interested, it's here:


First, make sure you are running the latest version of Audacity, 2.3.2 or later, obtainable from [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/mac/ here].  
==== Windows ====
* Browse to the folder within ''This PC.'' in which Audacity is installed: it's probably under ''OS (C:)'', and within that ''Program Files (x86)''. There, you should find an ''Audacity'' folder at the top, or near it. In older versions of Windows you may need to look in  ''C:\Program Files\Audacity'' or ''C:\Program Files (x86)''
* Browse to the ''Plug-Ins'' subfolder.


* Browse to ''~/Library/Application Support/audacity/Plug-Ins''
==== Mac ====
* Copy ''ReplayGain.ny'' there
User plugins are stored in ''~/Library/Application Support/audacity/Plug-Ins''.
* Restart Audacity
* You should find ''ReplayGain'' as one of the items under the '''Effect''' menu (towards the bottom, under the horizontal divider).


If you can't see the entry, make sure that ''ReplayGain'' is enabled via the '''Effect | Add/Remove Plug-ins''' menu option (right at the top).
==== Linux ====
Probably in somewhere like ''/home/USERNAME/.audacity-data/Plug-Ins''). Note that ''.audacity-data'' is a hidden folder.


====Installing on Windows 10====
== Using the plugin ==
 
First, make sure you are running the latest version of Audacity, 2.3.2 or later, obtainable from [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/ here].
 
* Browse to the folder within ''This PC.'' in which Audacity is installed: it's probably under ''OS (C:)'', and within that ''Program Files (x86)''. You should find an ''Audacity'' folder at the top, or near it
* Go to the ''Plug-Ins'' subfolder and copy ''ReplayGain.ny'' there
* Restart Audacity
* You should find ''ReplayGain'' as one of the items under the '''Effect''' menu (towards the bottom, under the horizontal divider).
 
If you can't see the entry, make sure that ''ReplayGain'' is enabled via the '''Effect | Add/Remove Plug-ins''' menu option (right at the top).
 
Installation on Windows 10 is also discussed [https://forum.librivox.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=63102 here].
 
====Installing on earlier versions of Windows====
 
First, make sure you are running the latest version of Audacity, 2.3.2 or later, obtainable from [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows/ here].
 
* Browse to the folder in which Audacity is installed (it's probably in somewhere like ''C:\Program Files\Audacity'' or ''C:\Program Files (x86)''), and go to the ''Plug-Ins'' folder
* Copy ''ReplayGain.ny'' there
* Restart Audacity
* You should find ''ReplayGain'' as one of the items under the '''Effect''' menu (towards the bottom, under the horizontal divider).
 
If you can't see the entry, make sure that ''ReplayGain'' is enabled via the '''Effect | Add/Remove Plug-ins''' menu option (right at the top).
 
====Installing on Linux====
 
First, make sure you are running the latest version of Audacity, 2.3.2 or later, obtainable from [https://www.audacityteam.org/download/linux/ here].
 
* Go to the folder in which the Audacity plugins are installed (it's probably in somewhere like ''/home/USERNAME/.audacity-data/Plug-Ins''). Note that ''.audacity-data'' is a hidden folder, so make sure that View Hidden Files is checked in your file manager. If there is no such folder, create it.
* Copy ''ReplayGain.ny'' there
* Restart Audacity
* You should find ''ReplayGain'' as one of the items under the '''Effect''' menu (towards the bottom, under the horizontal divider).
 
If you can't see the entry, make sure that ''ReplayGain'' is enabled via the '''Effect | Add/Remove Plug-ins''' menu option (right at the top).
 
===Using the plugin===


The author explains use of the plugin in the Audacity forum [http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?p=167758#p167758 here].
The author explains use of the plugin in the Audacity forum [http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?p=167758#p167758 here].
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'''<font color="red">N.B.</font>''' Please be aware that this plug-in does not warn you if amplification will cause [http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Setting_Recording_Input_Level#Peaking_.28Clipping.29 clipping] when you Normalize. Check by '''View | Show Clipping''' and then '''View | Fit in Window'''. If red vertical lines are showing, this means that the audio has reached a level of volume where your voice may be distorted. If this happens, click Undo to undo the Normalization, and use the '''Effect | Amplify''' feature ''without'' the Allow Clipping box checked.
'''<font color="red">N.B.</font>''' Please be aware that this plug-in does not warn you if amplification will cause [http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Setting_Recording_Input_Level#Peaking_.28Clipping.29 clipping] when you Normalize. Check by '''View | Show Clipping''' and then '''View | Fit in Window'''. If red vertical lines are showing, this means that the audio has reached a level of volume where your voice may be distorted. If this happens, click Undo to undo the Normalization, and use the '''Effect | Amplify''' feature ''without'' the Allow Clipping box checked.


===Old versions===
== Further reading ==
In old versions of Audacity the plugin was accessed via the '''Analyze''' rather than the '''Effect''' menu. If you see that, you are running outdated software; please upgrade.
* More technical details for the ReplayGain plugin can be found [http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=ReplayGain here] (the installation instructions are out of date).


===Further reading===
== See also ==
* More technical details for the ReplayGain plugin can be found [http://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=ReplayGain here] (the installation instructions are out of date)
* [https://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Download_Nyquist_Plug-ins This official Audacity page] gives more information on downloading and installing plugins generally.
* General instructions on installing various plugins within Audacity are [https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_effect_generator_and_analyzer_plug_ins_on_mac_os_x.html here] (some of these instructions are also out of date)

Revision as of 19:19, 6 February 2021

ReplayGain, showing how to access it from the Effect menu

It is helpful to know whether your volume is correct before exporting your recording to an MP3 file. There is a Nyquist plug-in for Audacity called ReplayGain which allows you to do this. It also provides a facility for Equal Loudness Normalization (ie for amplifying to the required level).

ReplayGain: installation

Important: first download the latest version of Audacity from this page. You may need to right-click on the link and select Save Link As. Save the file (called ReplayGain.ny) somewhere, then follow the relevant instructions below. It's important that you start with the latest version, as earlier versions used a different method of installing plug-ins. These instruction should work for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Basic installation

  • In the Audacity Tools menu, select Nyquist Plug-in installer
  • Browse to the place where you have saved ReplayGain.ny, and select it

Then, you need to enable the plug in:

  • In the Tools menu, select Add/remove Plug-ins which will take you to the Manage Plug-ins window
  • Select the New radio button
  • Scroll down to ReplayGain, and click Enable. Then OK

You should find ReplayGain as one of the items under the Effect menu (towards the bottom, under the horizontal divider).

Advanced

You mostly don't need to worry about where Audacity actually stores the plugin, but in case you are interested, it's here:

Windows

  • Browse to the folder within This PC. in which Audacity is installed: it's probably under OS (C:), and within that Program Files (x86). There, you should find an Audacity folder at the top, or near it. In older versions of Windows you may need to look in C:\Program Files\Audacity or C:\Program Files (x86)
  • Browse to the Plug-Ins subfolder.

Mac

User plugins are stored in ~/Library/Application Support/audacity/Plug-Ins.

Linux

Probably in somewhere like /home/USERNAME/.audacity-data/Plug-Ins). Note that .audacity-data is a hidden folder.

Using the plugin

The author explains use of the plugin in the Audacity forum here.

There is an explanatory video here.

N.B. Please be aware that this plug-in does not warn you if amplification will cause clipping when you Normalize. Check by View | Show Clipping and then View | Fit in Window. If red vertical lines are showing, this means that the audio has reached a level of volume where your voice may be distorted. If this happens, click Undo to undo the Normalization, and use the Effect | Amplify feature without the Allow Clipping box checked.

Further reading

  • More technical details for the ReplayGain plugin can be found here (the installation instructions are out of date).

See also

Retrieved from "https://wiki.librivox.org/index.php?title=ReplayGain&oldid=31734"