I see there's an option to normalize volume in deezer, but I'm skeptical to use it as I don't know exactly what it does. Will it normalize each track to a given volume target by simply adjusting the general volume of that track, thus keeping all the dynamics of the song intact? Or will it dinamycally adjust the volume in real time, leading to annoying moments, when you expect the music to get really loud or really quiet but it doesn't, as the normilizer algorithm is trying to compensate that volume difference by compressing the dynamic output of the track? It is annoying when you're listening to a playlist or to flow but and when the next track gets going your speakers suddenlly start distorting because of a big difference in levels but I'd really rather deal with that than to loose the dynamics of the songs I'm listening.

Guitar Hero

Answered

How does the "Normalise Volume" option work?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
April 24, 2019
23 replies
3387 views

I see there's an option to normalize volume in deezer, but I'm skeptical to use it as I don't know exactly what it does.

Will it normalize each track to a given volume target by simply adjusting the general volume of that track, thus keeping all the dynamics of the song intact?

Or will it dinamycally adjust the volume in real time, leading to annoying moments, when you expect the music to get really loud or really quiet but it doesn't, as the normilizer algorithm is trying to compensate that volume difference by compressing the dynamic output of the track?

It is annoying when you're listening to a playlist or to flow but and when the next track gets going your speakers suddenlly start distorting because of a big difference in levels but I'd really rather deal with that than to loose the dynamics of the songs I'm listening.

Best answer by Rudi

@meuvoy

That functionality is only available for mobile - if the phone is compatible.
So I guess for PC/Mac is best to find a 3rd party equaliser app, in order to control the output.
If you think this is a feature which should be present in the desktop app, perhaps start your convo in our ideas forum 😉

Rudi

Ultimate Superstar

Hi there @meuvoy

Are you referring to the equaliser function? In which device do you listen to Deezer on?

M

meuvoyAuthor

Guitar Hero

Hi there @meuvoy

Are you referring to the equaliser function? In which device do you listen to Deezer on?

Yeah, the equalise volume option. I primarily listen to deezer on a windows computer with the deezer desktop app. I also listen to deezer trough an Android phone but that's less of a problem since I have volume controls more easily accessible.

RudiAnswer

Ultimate Superstar

@meuvoy

That functionality is only available for mobile - if the phone is compatible.
So I guess for PC/Mac is best to find a 3rd party equaliser app, in order to control the output.
If you think this is a feature which should be present in the desktop app, perhaps start your convo in our ideas forum 😉

J

jordanmcclements

Rising Star

I’m using Deezer 4.17.1 on Windows 10. There is an ‘Equalise volume’ toggle switch in the audio menu under the audio options.

I think this is what they are referring to?

I can find no further info out about it at all.

But it was turned on as default for me, and when I turned it off the sound quality was *much* better for me. If you are using the Windows app I strongly recommend turning off ‘Equalise volume’.

Rudi

Ultimate Superstar

Yes, that's it @jordanmcclements. Is your quality setting set to HQ? It normalises the volume for tracks, it could be an impression on quality.

J

jordanmcclements

Rising Star

My audio quality is ‘Better 320kb/s’. It sounds a lot better to me with ‘Equalise volume’ turned off.

Rudi

Ultimate Superstar

That's interesting to know @jordanmcclements. Once our desktop app gets updated, I'd like to hear your feedback - to see if anything changes :thumbsup_tone2:

T

teqteq

Hitmaker

I’m still interested in the answer to the original question. For example, which of the following is the Windows Desktop “Normalize Audio” feature using?

Amplitude-normalization
Loudness-normalization(?)
Gain-boost with limiter
Gain boost with compressor
Other

It seems it’s using stock-standard amplitude-normalisation. And as a result it’s highly ineffectual. For example, play the below 4 x tracks and you will find that Morningstart by Baroness is significantly “louder”. Yet if I turn off “Normalize Audio” the “loudness” is fairly equal.

That said, actually given they’re all similarly-”loud” perceptually, maybe you’re actually using a loudness-normalisation method that isn’t very effective? Because I would assume the amplitude is already normalised after being compressed, in the mastering process (they’re all relatively-modern recordings).

It certainly doesn’t appear to be using compression or limiting, so to answer the original question, I don’t think you will experience unexpected variances in volume throught a track - it seems to apply it equally across the entire track (so it’s not like a TV or home theater system that flattens-out the volume dynamically and creates unexpected shifts in volume as the compressor tries to keep up).

Rudi

Ultimate Superstar

Hi there @teqteq

I've asked our devs and they came back to me to explain that it's a loudness normalization (as we target -15 dB LUFS) but indeed, this may change in the future. I've passed your feedback to them, thank you very much!

M

morifanty

Guitar Hero

Hi there,

just to add some questions:

As you target -15 dB LUFS, do you also increase the loudness for quieter tracks?
Is there a album normalization, when playing songs in album mode, so that all songs are in relative loudness to each other?
Is there a track normalization, so that all tracks in a playlist or using Flows play at the same level?
Oh and: Are there differences between Flac/HiFi and MP3/HQ?

I’m asking because I think that the normalization seems to be a bit inconsistent sometimes, especially if compared to your competitors (A,S,T ;-)).

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