ReplayGain tags are like tiny instructions on how to play a set of audio files so that the overall volume (or, more precisely, the perceived loudness) of any heterogeneous selection of tracks is as homogenous as possible. Mp4Gain 2017 has inherited the concept that made Mp3Gain so successful with MP3 files and Winamp to develop an audio and video normalizer suitable for a longer list of formats and media players. It will check the original mean and maximum dB values and will provide you with alternate ones (which you can customize) so that all the tracks selected are played back at the same volume level.
Yes, you read it right – Mp4Gain can not only normalize audio files following the ReplayGain specifications, but also video files. Apparently, this is the only tool out there capable of performing such operation on an audio stream embedded on a video file, and it does it with all the most common video formats available, such as MP4, FLV, AVI, MPEG, or 3GP. As for normalizing audio, Mp4Gain works seamlessly with renowned lossy and lossless codecs, such as MP2, MP3, AC3, AAC, FLAC, Ogg, WAV, and M4A.
While normalizing your audio tracks, the app allows you to perform some other useful editing tasks in parallel. Thus, you can equalize and enhance the sound of old or poorly-recorded tracks either manually or by applying any of the various presets provided. You may also want to trim your audio tracks to get rid of whatever silence there is at the beginning or the end of each track, or change the tempo and/or the pitch of some or all of your tracks. On top of these editing features, you can also tell the program to convert your video or audio files into a different format, all in one single operation and without losing any of the original metadata, as the app will transfer all Ogg Vorbis, APE, and ID3 tags from the original file to the resulting track.
Clearly, most of the effort required to develop this tool went to the more technical aspects of its extensive functionality, which resulted in a somehow less attractive interface. It is perfectly functional and usable, though not as greatly organized as expected, given the limited list of functions it deals with.
As seen, and unlike most similar tools, Mp4Gain offers you much more than potential users would expect from the average audio normalizer. Its video normalization capabilities make this tool a pioneer in this field. Add to that its conversion functionality and editing features, and you will understand why this is a tool at least worth trying.
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