Audio Normalizer

Command status: very experimental 🧪

Docs status: unreviewed ⚠️

• This doc is 100% AI generated. I haven't had the time to refine it yet. Use with precaution.

Ease of use: 2/5 🤓

Overview

Audio Normalizer is an audio processing tool that helps you adjusts the loudness of your music files to ensure consistent playback levels. If a track's level is too low or too high, it applies a correction and asks for your validation. Once validated, it updates your Rekordbox collection with the new normlized track.

Why use it? Different tracks are mastered at different loudness levels, which can cause jarring volume changes during DJ sets. This tool brings your most heterogeneous your tracks to a consistent loudness standard (measured in LUFS), ensuring smoother transitions between songs.

Parameters

Music Directory Path

• The folder containing your audio files
• Example: /home/user/Music or C:\Users\DJ\Music
• The tool will scan this directory and all subdirectories

Rekordbox XML File Path

• Your Rekordbox collection export file
• Usually named rekordbox-export.xml
• Found in your Rekordbox export directory

Target LUFS Level

• Recommended: -10.0 dB (industry standard for DJ music)
• Range: -20 to 0 dB
• Lower values = quieter, higher values = louder
• -10 dB works well for most electronic music

Playlist Folder

• Which Rekordbox playlists to process
• Use forward slashes: My Playlists/Electronic
• Leave empty to process all tracks
• Only tracks in specified playlists will be normalized

Minimum Adjustment Threshold

• Recommended: 3.0 dB
• Range: 0.1 to 10 dB
• Tracks requiring smaller adjustments are skipped
• Prevents unnecessary processing of already-balanced tracks

Step-by-Step Process

1. Setup Phase

• Validates your music directory and XML file
• Creates a new folder: [Your Music]-normalized
• Prepares a new XML file: [Original]-normalized.xml

2. Analysis Phase

• Scans your music collection for audio files
• Reads your Rekordbox playlists and track information
• Matches files between your folder and XML collection

3. Processing Phase

For each track:

• Measures current loudness using professional audio analysis
• Calculates required volume adjustment
• If adjustment is small (< your threshold), copies file as-is
• If significant adjustment needed, normalizes the audio
• Preserves original audio quality and bitrate

4. Review Phase

• Creates a special "Normalization review" playlist in Rekordbox
• Places original and normalized versions side-by-side
• Lets you compare and adjust timing if needed
• You control: accept, adjust timing, or skip

5. Finalization

• Updates your XML with any timing corrections
• Creates a "Validated normalized tracks" playlist
• Saves progress so you can resume later

Impact on Files

What Gets Created

• New music folder: [Original]-normalized containing processed files
• New XML file: [Original]-normalized.xml with updated metadata
• Review playlist: "Normalization review" for A/B comparison
• Validation playlist: "Validated normalized tracks" for easy access

What Gets Preserved

• Original files: Your source music remains untouched
• Audio quality: Original bitrate and format maintained
• Metadata: All track information, cue points, and beatgrids preserved
• Playlists: Your existing playlist structure stays intact

File Changes

• Audio levels: Volume adjusted to your target LUFS
• Timing offsets: Minor corrections applied to cue points if needed
• File paths: XML updated to point to normalized files

Safety Notes & Recovery

Built-in Protections

• Maximum adjustment limit: ±6 dB cap prevents over-processing
• Original file safety: Source files are never modified
• Temporary processing: Uses .tmp files during conversion
• Error handling: Failed files are copied as-is, processing continues

If Something Goes Wrong

• Graceful failures: Individual track errors don't stop the process
• Error logging: Detailed error messages saved to normalization_errors.txt
• Resume capability: Restart and continue from where you left off
• Manual recovery: Original files remain available for manual processing

Best Practices

• Backup first: Always backup your music collection before processing
• Test with small batch: Process one playlist first to verify settings
• Monitor progress: Watch the console for any error messages
• Review carefully: Use the review playlist to verify each normalization

Summary

AudioNormalizer safely brings your entire music collection to consistent loudness levels while preserving all your carefully crafted cue points, beatgrids, and playlist organization. The interactive review process ensures you maintain full control over the final result, and comprehensive error handling protects your valuable music files throughout the process.

Your original collection remains untouched - the tool creates a new normalized version that you can import into Rekordbox alongside your existing files, giving you the freedom to choose which version to use for each performance.