ALSA software amplifier

[Marius Gedminas]

On Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 03:56:52AM +0000, Ken T. wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:43:56 -0400, H.S. wrote:
> 
> > I have not noticed that some movies are at different average volume. But
> > you might be looking at movies which are produced with different
> > techniques and volume difference is quite possible.
> > 
> > Which application are you using (totem, gxine, mplayer)? Anyhow, I would
> > first try in a terminal
> > $> alsamixer
> > 
> > and turn up the volume of the output devices in that GUI (note master
> > and pcm volumes).
> > 
> > Next, depending on your hardware, you might want to try $> alsamixer -c
> > n
> > 
> > where n is a digit(0,1, ...) denoting the sound card you want to control
> > (find out your output sound cards using "aplay -l" command), and turn up
> > the output volumes.
> > 
> > If the above doesn't help (it should though), you might want to give
> > pulseaudio a shot (though I am not sure if it would you any additional
> > benefits regarding the sound levels). PA apparently has an equilizer
> > too.
> 
> Just to note, alsamixer is already at full volume.  The problem, for me 
> anyway, is that the sound has been recorded at such a low level that even 
> turning alsamixer up to the loudest it can go won't help.  What we need 
> is to amplify the sound in the file before it ever gets to alsamixer.  

mplayer can do that; put

  softvol = yes
  softvol-max = 1000

into ~/.mplayer/config and use 9/0 to adjust volume.

I don't know whether alsa/pulseaudio has an equivalent solution.

Marius Gedminas
-- 
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                                -- Bill Gates, 1981
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