WaveGain V 1.2.6

WaveGain is an application of the ReplayGain algorithms to standard PCM wave files. Where it differs from the other applications of this principle is that the gain adjustments are applied directly to adjusting the scaling of the samples. In other words, the option to write tags that can be read by other applications to apply the gain adjustment does not exist, so the adjustments are made directly to the data within the file.

Therefore, in the strictest meaning of the word, this process is NOT lossless. However, with the application of dithering to the output, the losses can be minimized and are, in any event, unlikely to be audible to the human ear.

So in simple terms, the program reads in wave files, analyses them, calculates and displays recommended gain adjustments (track and album), and then applies the adjustments directly to the wave data, if requested.

Usage

wavegain [options] input.wav [...]

if WIN32 compile

wavegain [options] input.wav [...] [-e cmd [args]]

Options

-h,--help Prints the Help information

-a,--album Use ReplayGain Audiophile/Album gain setting

Analyses the ReplayGain values for each of the tracks (files) specified and collectively for the whole selection. The album gain value, if applied, ensures that all tracks are adjusted by the same scaling factor and so retain the same relative level of loudness.

-r,--radio Use ReplayGain Radio/Single Track gain setting (DEFAULT)

Analyses the ReplayGain values for each of the tracks (files) specified on an individual basis.

-q, --adc Apply Album based DC Offset correction.

DEFAULT is Track based DC Offset correction.

-p, --no_offset Do NOT apply DC Offset correction.

-c, --calculate Calculates and prints gain settings, and DC Offsets BUT DOES NOT APPLY THEM - This is the DEFAULT.

-x, --scale Writes scale values to stdout in the format: n.nnnnnn

In Album mode it only writes the Album Scale value, and in Title mode it only writes the Title Scale values.

ONLY works in Calculation mode.

-y, --apply Calculates and APPLIES gain settings, and applies DC Offset correction. DC Offset correction is not an option as there is no reason for not correcting it.

-s, --fast Calculates and prints gain settings - DOES NOT APPLY THEM.

NOTE: This method does NOT process all samples, it only processes 200 x 16k chunks of samples. Results will NOT be as accurate as a full analysis but, with most material, will be within +/- 0.5db. Files of 8,192,000 real samples, or less, will be analysed in full. DC Offset is neither calculated nor corrected in FAST mode.

-z, --recursive Search for files recursively, each folder as an album

Recurses through subdirectories/folders, and the route directory/folder, treating each directory/folder as a separate album.

-l, --log Write log file.(Default filename = WGLog.txt)

Writes the screen displayed information to a log file.

-f, --logfile Specify log filename. (Assumes -l if present.)

-n, --noclip NO Clipping Prevention.

Normally clipping prevention is applied by default.

-d, --dither X Dither output, where X =

0 for dither OFF (DEFAULT).

1 for dither without Noise Shaping.

2 for dither with Light Noise Shaping.

3 for dither with Medium Noise Shaping.

4 for dither with Heavy Noise Shaping.

Whenever the values of samples are altered, it is advisable, as a final stage before writing out, to apply dithering to the amended values. This process aids in preserving information in the low order bits that would otherwise be lost. In some cases, the application of noise shaping also aids this process. (I am not including any detail of the whys/wherefores or hows here as there are sources of information on the web that cover these far more eloquently and capably than I would be able to provide!) If the output is to be used for subsequent processing such as encoding to a lossy format, then dithering is not recommended. If dithering is applied, it should be in the last stage of processing.

-t, --limiter Apply 6dB Hard Limiter to output.

This option would normally be expected to be used in conjunction with the next one, --gain, when an increase in the recommended gain is required.

-g, --gain X Apply additional Manual Gain adjustment in decibels, where

X = any floating point number between -12.0 and +12.0.

Clipping Prevention WILL be applied UNLESS '-n' is used.

Normally used in conjunction with the hard limiter when an increase in gain is to be applied. This gain figure is added to the value recommended by the ReplayGain calculation. Where an increase in gain is required, application of the hard limiter provides a smooth compression of the peaks and troughs rather than simply applying a crude hard cutoff at full peak scale.

-s, --fast Calculates and prints gain settings - DOES NOT APPLY THEM.

NOTE: This method does NOT process all samples, it only processes 200 x 16k chunks of samples. Results will NOT be as accurate as a full analysis but, with most material, will be within +/- 0.5db. Files of 8,192,000 real samples, or less, will be analysed in full. DC Offset is neither calculated nor corrected in FAST mode.\n");

-o, --stdout Write output file to stdout.

FORMAT OPTIONS (One option ONLY may be used)

-b, --bits X Set output sample format, where X =

1 for 8 bit unsigned PCM data.

2 for 16 bit signed PCM data (DEFAULT).

3 for 24 bit signed PCM data.

4 for 32 bit signed PCM data.

5 for 32 bit floats.

6 for 16 bit 'aiff' format.

Wave file output can be specified in any one of the above formats regardless of the input file type.

NOTE: By default, the output file will be of the same bitwidth and type as the input file.

if WIN32 compile

-e, --exec Cmd Execute a command after WaveGain.

The following environment variables are available:

INPUT_FILE, INPUT_FDIR, INPUT_RDIR, INPUT_NAME,

TRACK_GAIN, TRACK_PEAK, TRACK_SCALE, TRACK_NEW_PEAK,

ALBUM_GAIN, ALBUM_PEAK, ALBUM_SCALE, ALBUM_NEW_PEAK,

DC_OFFSET_L, DC_OFFSET_R.

INPUT FILES

WaveGain input files may be 8, 16, 24 or 32 bit integer, or floating point wave files with 1 or 2 channels and a sample rate of 48000Hz, 44100Hz, 32000Hz, 24000Hz, 22050Hz, 16000Hz, 12000Hz, 11025Hz or 8000Hz.\n"); Wildcards (?, *) can be used in the filename, or '-' for stdin.

CHANGES WITH THIS VERSION

With 1.2.4, all header data was copied through to the processed file including ‘bext’ and ‘cart’ chunks. As of this version, all trailers are now also copied through regardless of content. This ensures that any chunks appearing after the ‘data’ chunk are not lost as a result of ‘wavegaining’ the file. These changes have been implemented primarily to meet the needs of the broadcasting industry but will have no impact when processing regular wave files that contain the minimum chunk requirements.