# melcom's FFmpeg Audio Normalizer - Help

## Table of Contents

- Requirements
- Steps for Using Version 3
- Additional Notes
- About This File

## Requirements

- To use melcom's FFmpeg Audio Normalizer, you need the complete FFmpeg suite. This includes:
  - `ffmpeg.exe` (for normalization and analysis)
  - `ffplay.exe` (for the audio preview feature)
  - `ffprobe.exe` (to read track duration for the player's time display)
- You can download the latest builds from here. For Windows, we recommend a file like ffmpeg-master-latest-win64-gpl.zip.
- After unzipping, you must specify the path to the `bin` folder (which contains the executables) in the program's options.

## Steps for Using Version 3

1. Start the application (`AudioNormalizer.exe`). If it's your first time, go to "File" -> "Options" and set the path to your FFmpeg `bin` folder.
2. Use the "Add Files" or "Add Folder" buttons to populate the list on the left with the audio files you want to process.
3. (Optional) To preview a track, select it in the list and press the "▶" (Play) button. You can use the "«" and "»" buttons to navigate through the entire list like a playlist.
4. On the right side, select your desired LUFS Preset and True Peak Preset. Choose "Custom" to enter your own values.
5. Select the Output Format (e.g., WAV, MP3). An info box will show you the technical details of the output.
6. Click "Start Normalization" to begin processing all files in the list. If an output file already exists, you will be asked if you want to overwrite it.
7. The progress bar and the process log at the bottom will show the real-time status of the batch operation.
8. The normalized files will be saved in the same folder as their original source files, with "-Normalized" added to the filename.

## Additional Notes

About the LUFS and True Peak Presets:

- LUFS Presets: These are predefined loudness targets optimized for various platforms. "-14 LUFS" is a common standard for many streaming services like YouTube and Spotify, while "-23 LUFS" is the EBU R128 standard for broadcast.
- True Peak Presets: These set a ceiling for the audio signal to prevent clipping after conversion. "-1.0 dBTP" is a safe standard for most digital audio.

'Single Log Entry' Option (in Options):

- Enabled by default: Each time you start a new batch process, the previous log file is cleared. This keeps the log clean and relevant to the last operation.
- When disabled: Every process is appended to the log file, creating a running history of all your normalizations and analyses.

## About This File

This program was created by melcom (Andreas Thomas Urban) and is open-source software, licensed under the MIT License. You are free to use, modify, and distribute it. For full details, see the `LICENSE.txt` file.

If you have questions, feel free to get in touch via the contact form.