Yes. If I take a reference file in Audacity, which I believe uses LAME for
mp3 encoding, and export the file as Mp3 and Wav. The Mp3 files measure
about 0.4db quieter than the Wav version and original file.
If I perform the same test in other DAWs that uses LAME the results are the
same.
If I perform the test in Pro Tools which uses Fraunhofer IIS encoder the
results produce the same level file regardless of if it is an Mp3 or Wav
output.
Status: open Group: Compatibility Labels: Mp3 lufs levels loudness volume Created: Fri Apr 30, 2021 05:13 PM UTC by Dave Perry Last Updated: Fri Apr 30, 2021 05:13 PM UTC Owner: nobody
Mp3 exports appear to be quieter than wav exports across multiple programs
using LAME
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Registered Office: Unit 8 Jarmany Workshops, Jarmany Hill, Barton Saint
David, Somerset, TA11 6DA, UK
LAME reduces the volume on input. By default it applies "--scale 0.97", which reduces the volume slightly.
This default was implemented long ago, in order to prevent some distortions on some samples when decoding.
Nowadays, using decoders that either output in floating point and/or apply replaygain previous to clipping the audio to integer already solves the problem, so in that case, using --scale 1.0 should give what you want without a negative impact.
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Can you provide more details in order to make the issue repeatable?
Yes. If I take a reference file in Audacity, which I believe uses LAME for
mp3 encoding, and export the file as Mp3 and Wav. The Mp3 files measure
about 0.4db quieter than the Wav version and original file.
If I perform the same test in other DAWs that uses LAME the results are the
same.
If I perform the test in Pro Tools which uses Fraunhofer IIS encoder the
results produce the same level file regardless of if it is an Mp3 or Wav
output.
Kind regards,
Dave
On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 11:14 AM Elio Blanca eblanca76@users.sourceforge.net
wrote:
--
Dave Perry
Co-Founder & Technical Director
Audio Factory
https://mailtrack.io/trace/link/6b42a47e9fcff1f7a31a9ab8f41f06b902d060fe?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.audiofactory.co.uk%2F&userId=5508655&signature=151ac60a154a411b
Glastonbury, UK | Telephone: 07879 658502
Audio Factory LLP | Registered in England and Wales | Registration No.
OC391815 |
Registered Office: Unit 8 Jarmany Workshops, Jarmany Hill, Barton Saint
David, Somerset, TA11 6DA, UK
Related
Bugs: #509
This is expected behaviour.
LAME reduces the volume on input. By default it applies "--scale 0.97", which reduces the volume slightly.
This default was implemented long ago, in order to prevent some distortions on some samples when decoding.
Nowadays, using decoders that either output in floating point and/or apply replaygain previous to clipping the audio to integer already solves the problem, so in that case, using --scale 1.0 should give what you want without a negative impact.