I want to decode mp3s to wav (16-bit, ready to be burnt to cd audio). But I've got a (maybe rather stupid) question here. I am still stuck at thinking about what is better:

a) Use MAX-NO-Clip in mp3gain and then decode with foobar2000, without Replaygain processing.

or

b) Just Analyze (to have RG values in mp3 tag) and then decode with foobar2000 with Replaygain processing set to +12dB and "apply gain and prevent clipping according to peak".

I never want to re-rip the burnt cd's, I archive the "original" mp3s - the cd's are just for listening purposes.
Also, should I apply dither in foobar when decoding?

Thanks very much!

why the hell would you want to apply a 12 dB gain? yes, use foobar but set the track gain to between 3 to 5 dB MAX and yes you i would recommend to use dither.

and btw, in some cases, even a +3 dB gain can still result in a file that clips. in that case reduce the gain even further.

He wants to apply a large gain so foobar2000 boosts it as much as possible, runs into clipping, and reduces it so it just doesn't clip.

This looks like a good procedure, and yes, you want to use dither in this situation.

However, note that ReplayGain and "Max NoClip Gain" are diametrically each others opposite. You can't have equal loudness (ReplayGain) and equal maximum peaks (Max noclip gain) at the same time, in the general case.

When doing what you describe, ReplayGain won't do anything.

Thanks, guys!

Yes, that's it, Garf I set it to the maximum (+12dB) because I want to "normalize" the track/album to 100%. If I would set it to +3dB or so there would quite a lot of tracks/albums not reach the full scale.

So, I'll always use foobar2000 decoder with RG set to +12dB and "apply gain and prevent clipping according to peak" and dithering turned on. Thanks for the help!

EDIT because of Garf EDIT: Yes, I know. I don't want to use Replaygain for making the volume of each cd equal in this case. I just want to use it's peak values to boost it to 100% without clipping. I have a lot of original cds that are not at all at the same loudness (RG ranges from about +2dB for some classical/good soundtracks till -10dB for some crappy pop) so I don't want a special loudness for my burned cd's either, I'm used to resetting the volume level with each new cd I pop in .

EDIT2: Why should replaygain not do anything? I pull it up to +12dB so it should just increase peak to 100% while reaching the maximum possible loudness without clipping.