MP3 Volume problems

[DBDAN]

When converting a pro tools song to MP3 using avids mp3 option, or itunes, volume on the song drops dramatically to the point of not being able to hear details of the song. Master track volume can be pegged as high as it can go with no improvement in volume. When converting to wav or burning to cd volume is as it should be. It is only a problem when converting to MP3. The MP3 option is basically worthless. Can anyone help?

Whats Up?

[zedhed]

Go to Pro Tools>Setup>I/O>Output Tab and make sure Default Output Bus and Audition Paths is set to 'Main out'. Should be same in bus Tab.

MP3 option works perfectly for me so it's definitely not worthless.

I am somewhat confused as to why a bounced Wav file is at different volume than a bounced MP3 file though.

[DBDAN]

Setting in I/O is as they should be. Except instead of "mainouts" they are set to analog L/R. I became aware of this "volume" problem After converting a tune to MP3 and emailing it to a friend. He complained he could not hear it clearly using headphones on a laptop. When listening on both his laptop and mine via headphones, the volume problem was the same.....With volumes turned up to max on laptops, you could still barely hear the details of the song. Its a real mystery to me as I have used a number of different MP3 conversion options to convert song including Audacity, and ITunes. Avids MP3 pluggin option produces the same result. Of course to get support from Avid will cost me $30. Thought that maybe someone else had expeirenced the same problem.

[zedhed]

Forget about 'converting' files for a moment.

Bounce a song in Wav then bounce the same song in MP3 from Pro Tools. Is the volume different on both bounced files?

BTW, what interface are you using & what version of Pro Tools?

In Pro Tools>Setup>I/O click 'Default' button on both the Input & Output tabs.

Then check Default Output Bus and Audition Paths. The output should correspond to the bus you're using for monitoring ie. the Main bus. With this setup you should be bouncing exactly what you're hearing in the session whether in Wav MP3 or any other format.

[DBDAN]

I am using protools version 8.4. Been using PT for years. Interface is the 003 rack. When I bounce to wav volume is as it should be. When I bounce to MP3 volume is significantly lower. Go figure. The i/o setup is set to default in both input and out put, the Default output bus and the audition paths are set to analog left and right.