Combining tracks from different sources hurts Volume Leveling
My local library partners with Freegal to provide its patrons with the ability to download 7 mp3 files each week. It seems that when I download some of these tracks and supplement content already in Plex (I ripped the CD in ITunes and Freegal has bonus tracks available), the volume level between the ripped cd and the downloaded tracks are different. The downloaded tracks are louder and therefore forcing the cd ripped tracks to play softer.
This is the last track that was ripped from CD.
This is the first bonus track that was downloaded from Freegal.
So the question, is Plex finding the loudest track in the group and making that the reference track and adjust the others based on the reference loudness? All of the ripped tracks are significantly quieter when played as an album or in a playlist with other tracks from other albums. I have not found a way to get Plex to accommodate for the discrepancy. I am going to try to download the entire album, if available, and see if the loudness issue resolves itself.
What would the consequences be to having each track have its own level based on a single reference point?
