does re-encoding an mp3 lower the quality substantially?

[dpopiz]

I want to use one of those normalizing tools on my mp3s to get the volume the same on all one them. most are 192 or 256k, but recompressing (re-encoding) them amplify artifacts the way it does with movies?
also if anybody knows of a good normalizing tool, I'd like to hear it

 

[DaveSimmons]

The FAQs here and at www.hydrogenaudio.org should describe tools. If I recall correctly you can normalize without loss of quality. If you change the bitrtate then the quality will go way down.

 

[JACKHAMMER]

Yes, If you reencode them then you will lose quality. IMO normalizing should be done when ripping from the CD.

 

[mithrandir2001]

Yes, you will certainly lose quality.

You want a tool called MP3Gain. This will normalize your MP3s by scanning them and attaching a normalization value to their TAG and instruct your media player (e.g. Winamp) to adjust the volume automatically. No quality-killing reencoding necessary.

MP3Gain

Normalization during ripping is suboptimal because you can't undo your changes and you have to know what scaling value to use in your ripping program. MP3Gain makes everything painfree with almost no second guessing.

 

[dpopiz]

wow cool! I guess id3v2 tags really are of some use!

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: dpopiz
I want to use one of those normalizing tools on my mp3s to get the volume the same on all one them. most are 192 or 256k, but recompressing (re-encoding) them amplify artifacts the way it does with movies?
also if anybody knows of a good normalizing tool, I'd like to hear it

G.I.G.O.= Garbage in...... Garbage out.......

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: dpopiz
I want to use one of those normalizing tools on my mp3s to get the volume the same on all one them. most are 192 or 256k, but recompressing (re-encoding) them amplify artifacts the way it does with movies?
also if anybody knows of a good normalizing tool, I'd like to hear it

G.I.G.O.= Garbage in...... Garbage out.......

I think he meant the bitrate... I hope you're not saying that an MP3 with a 192 bitrate is garbage... Then again, there are a lot of people who can hear the difference between a CD and a CD with the edge colored in with a marker... as long as you tell them which CD you're playing first...