I don't like the fact that MP3Gain alters the MP3. Also don't like the fact that the CRCs don't match anymore. I also don't like that the MP3's are clipping when they are enconded.

Is my solution to convert with foobar applying the "none gain" and "prevent clipping according to peak" when I encode directly from the lossless source? Will all MP3 encoded be without clipping and as close as possible to the original?

Thanks for answering!

Edit: it didn't work, still clipping!

So, if i understand it correctly, you want your MP3s not to clip, by simply lowering the volume previous to creating them.

This will not work. For several reasons:

* A .wav is either already clipped, or does not clip (so peak detection won't do much).

* An mp3, when decoded, can generate peaks higher than the original .wav.

If you just want to play the .mp3's in foobar, (or any other replaygain aware player), i would just do the replaygain in foobar and forget about mp3gain.
Of course, the CRC won't match again, if you mean a CRC of the whole file.

when i replaygain in foobar... does it store on the database not messing with the file, or does it actually mess with the file writing the tag?

Current version writes tags. 0.8.3 could store it in the database without writing to the file. It had the "block tag update operations" option.

where do I find "block tag operation"? that's why I lost several of my MP3Gain APE tags...

preferences \ database

database is not present in 0.9.4.1 what's wrong

After 0.9 the old database is gone ... along with the option not to write tags