I would like to begin archiving my CD collection with the use of Flac Frontend 1.1.0, but I'm a little confused as to the application of replaygain values. If these values are implemented into the tags, this should have absolutely no impact on the original wav file itself, correct? Seaching these boards have given me the impression that some view the use of replaygain as virtually identical to nomalization of wav files. I believe it was insinuated that the wav file is actually altered prior to its compression into the flac format, thus producing a negative element unsuitable for the purpose of archiving. If the replaygain values are discarded after decompressing the flac file back to its original wav, how is this so? I would very much like a bit of clarification here: Is the replaygain function in the FLAC frontend completely safe to use?

Replaygaining FLAC files just changes the volume foobar will play them back at. And only if you tell foobar to use replaygain values. If you turn off replaygain or use an app that doesn't use replaygain, the files will be exactly the same as the orginal wav.

You're probably thinking of wav gaining files BEFORE encoding to FLAC. In this case you will not be able to get the orginal wav back (just the wavgained one).

Thanks for the confirmation, Mike.

I'm currently ripping CDs with EAC encoding to FLAC. I'm planning to use WinAmp to play them. Is there a tool I can use to apply album replay gain to the files I've ripped so that WinAmp will recognize it instantly with not hassle?

you could use metaflac:



if you're encoding while ripping, just include --replay-gain in the flac command line arguments.

Josh

Thanks, I'll look up the metaflac command for whole albums/folders

Does --replay-gain in the command line take calculate the gain for the whole album?

Yes; of course you have to replaygain all files at once (e.g. replaygain --add-replay-gain 01.flac 02.flac 03.flac ...)

I tried it now, but it added a value for both album and track gain. Is there any way to only add the album gain? I'm not interested in the track gain at all, and I want players to use the album gain by default.

it always add boths gains. to remove:




Josh

Thanks a lot! WinAmp recognized it and used the album gain now.

I am ripping CDs with EAC and encoding them using flac. What command line argument do I need to input to get flac to get the album replaygain? Right now I think it is treating each track as an individual album (the track and album replaygain values are the same).

Here is the command line I am currently using:

--best --replay-gain -V -T "title=%t" -T "artist=%a" -T "album=%g" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "genre=%m" %s

I don't think you can. This is becuase the encoder opens and closes after each file so it does not know to treat a group of files as an album. You can use foobar to apply repalygain info (both album and track at the same time) to your flac files.