Big difference of volume of an audio file in Sonar and an audio player

Hi,

I recorded a guitar throught a MIC just for a test. I had a headphone for monitoring and could hear the "chunk" of my attack. When I listened the take, I had to put the volume of my track @ +6 to hear the "chunk" again (output of the guitar track is not routed to a bus) . When I listen the file throught VLC or WMP, the volume is here.

My audio card is a Fireface UC and volume of software playback are identical for Sonar or audio players.

Where does it come from ?

Thanks.

Along with Mike's question I would ask what was the peak recording input level in SONAR?

I tried this :

I exported my clip to make a comparison. I exported it @ 24 bits/44,1 Khz (with no dithering, I recorded @ 24 bits/44,1 Khz). The volume when I play the exported file in WMP or VLC is exactly the same of what I hear in Sonar (a good thing) but lower than the audio file associated directly played in WMP or VLC.

All Volume/Gain/Pan of the track are at 0 in Sonar X1 and output of the track is an output of my soundcard (not a bus).

Peak is -11.3 in Sonar or in the TotalMix with the exported file and -4.3 with the audio file in my audio folder (played both in WMP). 7dB difference. The Pan law is the first choice (0db center) so I don't think it comes from this.

In my first sentence of your quote, the "file" is the audio file stored in my audio folder. I don't have Sonar X1 on this PC but if I remember well, you can find the associated audio file of a clip by right clicking on the clip -> properties (or something like this).

Ah, so the difference is between two computers, not between SONAR and WMP.

If you re-import the file into the SONAR project and play it, you should be able to confirm that it sounds the same. That will tell you that you haven't done anything wrong in SONAR, because the exported file is just what you expected. If that's the case, then it's something with WMP on that other PC. WMP has its own volume control, graphic equalizer and effects that might be enabled.

But if it does sound louder after bringing it back into the project, then there is a plugin or a volume offset or something on your master bus that's causing the exported file to be louder. For example, if you were sending directly to the audio interface for monitoring but exporting through the master bus, or vice versa, that could cause a volume difference.

Perhaps Media Player is using the default system audio driver and not the best driver on your system?

If I import the associated audio file in Sonar and play it in Sonar, I have the same volume of the step "3-" above.

That's as good an answer as you're going to get: the file is fine. The difference is WMP.

Question #1: what do you have WMP's volume control set to?

Question #2: what do the number values in WMP's volume slider even mean? It's not calibrated in decibels, just numbered from 1-100. If that's a percentage, then I'd expect it to play back at the original volume when set to 100.

Question #3: how did you determine the 7db value? Did you record your speakers during playback, or maybe use an SPL meter?

Later today I will do a test to try and answer #2. I will play the same test signal from SONAR and WMP, record the output from the speakers, and adjust WMP's volume control until they match - assuming that's possible.

Manolo


As the exported file from the clip played in WMP is about 7 dB lower than the associated audio file of the clip also played in WMP, I don't think it comes from driver.

If anyone could make the litle test described above please ?

You can easily open a actual file using Tools/*some wave editor of your choice*

You can easily see if the data in the file is somehow misrepresented within SONAR.

As you have suggested, you may also simply open any audio file that you find in the audio files folder to see if the data is somehow misrepresented.



The actual SPL, or Sound Pressure Level that you experience as a listener at some fixed listening position is the result of a gain structure. If you perceive a difference between SONAR and WMP then you should track down the place where it is happening.

If you take some time and calibrate your playback system using reference tones and a SPL meter than you will probably discover all the places where gain or attenuation can occur.

You can also use a calibration protocol to document any difference in playback SPL between various applications.



Possible reasons why you may hear the difference you describe might end up being pan laws, bit depth, hidden bus, stereo interleave button status...





or as we have suggested... "100" in WMP may simply produce the equal SPL as "+6dB" in SONAR on your hardware... You really need to find out what "100" is intended to mean within the context of WMP's dialog before any consideration can be taken too seriously.


Good luck!


best regards,
mike

Me too, exported file from the clip played with WMP and clip played in Sonar have the same volume.

When you play your white noise sample in WMP from the folder you store it, do you read 77 dB ?