IPod/iTunes Sound Check Sync

Half the music on my iPod comes from my own computer that originally had Sound Check enabled in my iTunes. But the other half of my iPod music comes from my friends' computers, and I know that not every one of them used Sound Check. So the obvious problem is that the volume levels for the music on my iPod are not all normalized. I know that you can't directly Sound Check songs on the iPod, and that it only happens in iTunes. I also know that the solution is for me to import the iPod music into iTunes (with iPodRip), thus Sound Checking anything that wasn't originally normalized, and then updating it back to my iPod. But I don't want to import my entire iPod library if I don't have to.
So my question is this: Is there any was to know which of the music on my iPod was originally encoded with Sound Check? I only want to fix what needs fixing.
Thanks.

I can't remember the exact phrase as I'm not near a Mac with any sound checked files on it... It is at the bottom of the left column when it's present.
<TABLE CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0 WIDTH=100%><TR><TD>It was a joke about life...
Dave</TD><TD ALIGN="RIGHT">U</TD></TR></TABLE>

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Balancing volume/gain across clips - anything like iTunes Sound Check

I am now in charge of a pretty large pile of pre-cut FCP clips captured in less than ideal circumstances, but with reasonably clear narrated voice overs. There are hundreds of short similar clips, but the volume varies tremendously, and I am trying to assemble them into longer sequences.
So - since they are all speech at a similar volume, is there any batch operation I can run on my clips to raise or lower the gain on each one to the same final level? I am looking for something similar to iTunes' sound check.

You could TRY (try) the normalize feature by sending it to Soundtrack after you edit.
Might work ok for you.
CaptM

ITunes / iPod EQ & Sound Check

I searched iPod help, and it told me to look at iTunes help, and that didn't answer my question.
Personally, I think the iPod EQ presets suck donkeys. How do I or can I adjust the iTunes EQ & save it as a preset....then apply it to the iPod so I can use that preset?
Also, while I'm at it: If I use the Sound Check in iTunes, does it physically change the .mp3 file...meaning if iTunes adjusted the volume DOWN on a song, would that song play at a lower volume if I open it with another program. Does that make sense??
-Bryan

*How do I or can I adjust the iTunes EQ & save it as a preset....then apply it to the iPod so I can use that preset?*
You can't.
Only the iTunes presets are used on the iPod. Any custom EQs are not.
*meaning if iTunes adjusted the volume DOWN on a song, would that song play at a lower volume if I open it with another program*
No it will not play lower. The Sound Check adjustment is set in one of the ID3 tags. It does not adjust the music itself.

ITunes Sound Check

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It should if it's checked when syncing

IPod/iTunes Sound Volume problems

I listen to my iPod Mini on my car radio, and used to enjoy turning the music up loud sometimes. Now I cannot GET it loud, even though I have the volume on my radio and iPod set to the maximum. For audiobooks, I can no longer hear the words clearly over the sounds of traffic. The volume on the iPod used to match the volume of the radio. Now it doesn't -- if I should flip to the radio without lowering the volume, I get hit with a blast of sound.
I think I might have done something in iTunes that is causing this. I cut off Sound Check and the equalizer. I also raised the volume using the Get Info options. It doesn't seem to have made any difference for the iPod when I updated. I still can't hear it very well through my tape adapter on the car radio.
Have I done anything mentioned above to cause or fix this problem? If so, do I need to delete everything from the iPod and re-load it?

Gary,
There is a lot I don't know yet, but I definitely managed to raise the volume by cutting off the sound check and the equalizer when importing new stuff. As a test, I can now hear the words in an audiobook, although the volume is still on maximum for my iPod and car tape player. Unfortunately the old stuff still sounds too faint. (Is this iPod actually updating?)
There is a problem with my car tape player. I haven't bought a head cleaning kit yet, but plan to do so. I connected an FM transmitter and tested the sound -- it was a lot louder. (In my area, I cannot use an FM transmitter in the city because of FM interference. No empty stations. So I either need earphones or to make the tape player work. Or a new car
I don't know yet whether it's the Sound Check or Equalizer that makes the difference. I don't think I ever used Sound Enhancer.
You can raise the volume by selecting songs, going to "Get Info" and resetting the volume bar. This seems to make it louder on the Mac speakers. I cannot tell that anything is getting through to the iPod -- I simply don't hear it yet.
I don't know yet if importing when using Sound Check does anything permanent to the volume of the song. I hope not.

Ipod nano sound check

I have a new Ipod Nano (5ht gen) and although I have 'Sound Check' on in ITunes, the volume levels of music played on my Ipod varies by song and/or album and is very frustrating. How do I set or upload the 'Sound Check' attributes to/on my Ipod?

From iPod main screen, do you find a Settings item?
If so, select it, look for Playback item. Do you see *Sound Check* option (on or off)?

Is iTunes "Sound Check" better than five years ago?

I got into iTunes (briefly) about five years ago. I got all excited about mixed playlists and what-all ... but I burned out quickly because the Sound Check feature that would regulate the volumes from different CDs was mostly worthless. Most songs averaged out, but that one track in ten would still sneak in there, too loud or too soft, and ruin the listening vibe in the house.
I ditched iTunes and went back to my CD player.
Now I'd like to get back into iTunes again and I'm wondering if Sound Check ever had any significant improvements in the last five years? Did Apple finally perfect it?
Do we finally have mix playlists that play consistently, like one properly re-mastered compilation CD? Or are occasional tracks still showing up too loud or too soft?
-John

John_Neumann wrote:
Thanks for the replies, Wolf and Sanjampet.
Yep, both of you are spot on correct about some of the dynamics that affect Sound Check. The only thing I know is that, five years ago, I didn't like it. I also remember not really being able to make manual adjustments work for me because I have music playing constantly and jumping up and running over to the Mac while an offending song is on my mind got mighty inconvenient. That's why I stuck with my CD player. ...
I think you answered my question for me. No, Sound Check is no different than it was five years ago.
Not quite what I said. I certainly expect it has improved over 5 years, I can only tell you it will never be perfect. And that is relevant because of your expectations.
The fact is, CD players do not have SoundCheck at all. But when your CD mismatches song volumes, that does not "offend your ears". And yet, oddly, iTunes does. Listening sequentially to a CD you already know, you are accustomed to those particular mismatches, so they "sound right" to you. What I'm speaking of here is cognitive bias, which is human and normal, and the thing to do is simply be aware it's there.
I too have tried playlists and was not impressed. I remember when the level adjustment (in Song Properties) came out and thought "about time". And I've never spent the time to actually try playlists again. But I did not abandon iTunes entirely simply because one of its features "is not for me", i.e. sucked. Digital playback is still the Best Jukebox Ever, with instant and searchable access to my music. CDs are in every way inferior.*
It sounds like you jumped into digital playback with both feet, found some of its features were not ready for prime time, and jumped back out. I would suggest easing back in with one foot, remembering that setup is a one-time task and it's pure profit from there.
* purposefully ignoring the question of musical fidelity, some believe compression is bad, others believe digital is bad. Not this thread.

Reinstalled iTunes - "Sound Check" option no longer effective

I've always used and liked the "Sound Check" option in iTunes. Recently, due to 13-year-old hijinx, my library became corrupt. I uninstalled iTunes, downloaded the most recent version, and reinstalled it. I assumed the "Sound Check" option defaulted to "off", so I proceeded to add all my music folders to create a new library in the newly installed iTunes. Then I realized the "Sound Check" option was actually turned on - why I don't know, since I hadn't switched it on. I had assumed after the "add music folders" process I would turn on "Sound Check" and iTunes would read the music files to obtain the volume (usually a several hour process with my 6000+ songs). But it never did read the files. And now, even though "Sound Check" is on, it doesn't seem to me that the songs play at the same level. I've tried switching "Sound Check" off and then turning it on again to no avail. Is there a way to manually force iTunes to re-listen to the music files to re-set the levels for "Sound Check"? -Murray

hmmmmm. this is going to be experimental. (because i've never seen the problem i'm checking on manifest in quite this way before.) but in theory, it could help identify the cause.
Sound Check is an itunes preference. sometimes we get cases of preferences refusing to change for folks because one of the itunes preference files has gone skunky in some way. so it's plausible that you've got a preference file gone bad here.
let's try an experiment aimed at seeing if this might be the cause of the problem in your case.
quit itunes.
head into your user accounts control panel and create a new user account with full administrative rights. (there's help documentation on how to do that at the left of the control panel screen.) while you're in that control panel, switch off "fast user switching" in your logging-on preferences.
now log out of the old account and log into the new account.
launch itunes.
import some music into the (currently empty) library in the user account. (perhaps a couple of different albums with fairly wildly different recording levels.) listen to them with Sound Check on, and with Sound Check off.
does sound check make a difference in the new account?
(there's a different set of preference files in the new account and the old account, which is why a preference problem in one account usually doesn't affect preferences in a different account, and why this experiment may indicate the preference files are at fault in the old account.)

IPod iTunes won't sync with computer iTunes - please help

Hi,
I recently purchased an album on iTunes wireless (Maroon 5 - highly recommended) and when I connected my iPod to iTunes to sync the songs did not transfer to my computer's iTunes. Nothing happened basically.
I've read the manual that says that they should sync automatically but nothing that I've tried works.
My setting is for manual sync and transfer of songs and I would really like to keep it like that since I don't want all my iTunes library to be dumped into my newly purchased iPod Touch. PLEASE HELP
Thanks,
Tal

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go to:
iTunes
preferences
advanced
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look at the second to last line
uncheck the box
i think that should do it for you
DY
the box is unchecked thanks for the help though

Used Sound Check on my iTunes library-did I make a mistake?

Hi all,
I have some rudimentary questions about iTunes, and the "Sound Check" feature in particular.
I've just completed converting my 18K FLAC song library into ALAC, mainly to use iTunes Genius mixes and to be more compatible with my iPhone and Touch. My library was ripped a few years ago when I bought my Sonos system to get whole-house music. At that time, I ripped my CD's into the FLAC to maintain the highest sound quality possible. No equalization was applied during the ripping.
Once I loaded my new ALAC songs into iTunes (converted using XLD), I began experimenting with Sound Check to normalize the volume among my songs, especially where the Genius mixes are concerned (I have quite a bit of classical music). While iTunes started the long conversion of my music to use Sound Check, I started reading about volume normalization and the effects of the quality of the sound. I read that Sound Check was really not the right way to go if I wanted to just normalize the volume; that it also affected the sound quality.
After reading this, I stopped the iTunes Sound Check conversion. Luckily, iTunes had only converted around 400 songs into Sound Check. But now I'm worried about those songs that iTunes did convert, and if I have compromised the sound quality of my ALAC tracks.
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Does Sound Check store its parameters in a tag(s)? Or does it physically change the songs themselves? I hope that it does not change the songs, or I'll have to reconvert those 400 songs again.
Is there another program that I can use to just normalize the volume of the songs across my library? In the discussions I read, iVolume was mentioned, but I don't (obviously) have any experience with this program nor any others that affect song playback. Any suggestions as to other apps to investigate would be appreciated.
Thanks for your time.
Mike

Thanks for the reply Jim and for the link to the KB article. I looked through all the tags by showing each one, but I didn't see any that looked like they were populated by Sound Check. I'll read the link you provided to find out more.
Jim VanLeeuwen wrote:
I have used iVolume for some time and have been very satisfied. Of course, at age 64 I no longer have audiophile hearing. You can get information here: http://www.mani.de/ivolume/index.html
I have 52 year-old ears, both of which have tinnitus, so I know about my lack of audiophile hearing I just want to make sure that I don't mess up the audio quality of my songs for the next generation
Thanks again. I'll look at iVolume more closely.
Mike

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I have the 60GB video iPod. Sound check does not function when using the dock connector, i.e. plugged into my Belkin Autokit or a Kensington SoundDock. However, it functions as intended when used with the headphone jack. I previously used a 4G iPod, and sound check did function with the dock connector using those same products.
I am wondering if this could be:
a) a compatibility issue between the 5G connector and the older accessories
b) a firmware issue (I am using the 10-12-05 updater)
c) a bug in the 5G units
d) a bad unit (i.e. mine only)
If there is someone out there who has the same setup and could test this, it would help me. I could eliminate (a), (b), and (c) if yours works, and then I would try an exchange of my unit.
Thanks in advance if you can help.

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