ReplayGain

[simoncn]

I have discovered that it is possible to apply replay gain during transcoding without any change to MinimServer or MinimStreamer. You need to do the following:

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1) Convert your WAV files to FLAC with replay gain tags added but without changing the audio data (non-destructive)

2) Install MinimStreamer if you don't have this already

3) In the stream.transcode property, add:

flac:wav;

exactly as shown, including the semicolon

4) In the stream.options property, add: convOut=-af volume=replaygain=track
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This will play your files with the calculated track reply gain applied.

If you want to increase the bit depth from 16 to 24 before applying replay gain, do the following instead of steps 3 and 4:

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3a) In the stream.transcode property, add:

flac:wav24;

exactly as shown

4a) In the stream.options property, add: convOut=-af volume=replaygain=track
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Edit: removed -f s24le setting from convOut because the wav24 setting does the same thing.

[timster]

That sounds fantastic Simon, I'll give it a go tomorrow. One thing - mine are set to album gain. Is it a simple case of changing the above to replaygain=album?

[simoncn]

Yes, that should work.

[timster]

Perfect Absolutely brilliant, thank you!

[timster]

Simon, I have applied the ReplayGain with 24bit as per 3a and 4a above and it works like a charm. I also have a few mp3 and m4a albums which I was previously transcoding to wav. If I want the gain to be applied to these also, do they need to be passed through the converter as well?
Currently my stream.transcode is:
mp4:wav24, mp3:wav24, flac:wav24;
If I try using semicolons instead of commas, Watch complains. Or does the semicolon at the end pass everything through the converter?

[simoncn]

Your current setting is correct and will pass mp4 and mp3 through the external converter. The semicolon is needed for flac:wav or flac:wav24 because the default for FLAC to WAV transcoding is to use MinimStreamer's internal converter if the sample rate isn't changing. For other source types, transcoding always uses the external converter.

[timster]

I see, thanks for clarifying.

[ClausDK]

Thanks Simon, sounds like it could be exactly what I’m looking for !

Too busy to try it out for the next few days, but will do pretty soon, before I do any more converting with replay gain reducing the music content.

Claus

[ClausDK]

Just couldn't help trying this, so got up earlier than usual this morning! Btw, I'm going for 3a and 4a.

But when trying to applying the settings in the properties, I get this error code:
convOut setting requires a converter

From the manual I noticed that I need a stream converter program if the property ends with a ";". Is it possible to drop the ; and have this fix without adding such say ffmpeg ?

And if I install ffmpeg (how to do this is very well described, thanks!), then will all converting be done by this instead of the internal minimstream converter which I have used until now ?

Claus

[Wickie8166]

Thanks Simon,

setting up minim server works for me. My DAC shows the correct conversion
(WAV 44Khz/24Bit).

What I do not understand fully is how to set the replay gain tag.
I already have all my CDs ripped and saved as Flac. Where do I have to put this tag?

Thanks, Frank