Volume normalization (ReplayGain) when playing to Chromecast devices

[Hi-Fi Cast Help Forum]

The Hi-Fi Cast app can apply volume normalization when playing to Chromecast devices (enable this via Settings > Chromecast).

At present, volume normalization only works with FLAC files containing ReplayGain tags. Track-gain tags take precedence over album-gain tags.

During playback, gain/peak information will be shown on the Now Playing screen if volume normalization is in effect.

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I recently purchased the full version of Hi-Fi Cast and am using it with my flac library because a recent Sonos update disabled the ability to read/index ID3v2 tags in flac files.

Actually, Hi-Fi Cast with a Chromecast Audio may have the same issue because I get errors unless I transcode flac:wav in Minimserver.

So, my question is whether Hi-Fi Cast volume normalization with Chromecast works on wav that were transcoded from flac, which contained track-gain tags?

Would the track-gain tags get lost in the flac:wav transcode in Minimserver?

The Chromecast is doing the volume normalization (gain adjustment), I assume.

[Hi-Fi Cast Developer]

>> I recently purchased the full version of Hi-Fi Cast and am using it with my flac library because a recent Sonos update disabled the ability to read/index ID3v2 tags in flac files.

>> Actually, Hi-Fi Cast with a Chromecast Audio may have the same issue because I get errors unless I transcode flac:wav in Minimserver.

The CCA stopped working with these sorts of files earlier this year after a firmware update (around March I think). Interestingly, they work with the Chromecast Video devices (well, last time I checked they did).

If you have either the volume normalization or gapless setting in the Hi-Fi Cast app set to 'Always', it should work (because the files are decoded by the app, not the CCA - and so the CCA doesn't see the ID3v2 tag). But it sounds like it's not working with your files. Strange - could you send me one of the files that won't play when the volume normalization setting is on (to hifi...@findhdmusic.com) and I'll see if I can fix it. Thanks.

>> So, my question is whether Hi-Fi Cast volume normalization with Chromecast works on wav that were transcoded from flac, which contained track-gain tags?

Hi-Fi Cast volume normalization only works with flac files.

>> Would the track-gain tags get lost in the flac:wav transcode in Minimserver?

I think so, but I'm not 100% sure. You might find a definitive answer on the Minimserver forum.

>> The Chromecast is doing the volume normalization (gain adjustment), I assume.

Nope. It's all done in the app.

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Wow!  I never tried normalization or gapless on with native flac files (without flac:wav tanscoding in Minimserver).

I just tested this and the flac files play!  

However, there is some stuttering/pausing during playback.  I'll keep testing.

With the app decoding and handling normalization/gapless, is more phone battery consumed?  Also, is wifi strength to the phone more critical?

Because I am just curious...

I always assumed that the app was just a controller, just telling the CCA which files to grab from the server.  Without normalization or gapless on, is this the case?

With normalization or gapless on, is the app acting as the server and controller?

Obviously not an expert in DLNA/UPnP workings, so would appreciate a brief explanation, if you are willing.

Thanks,

Adam

[Hi-Fi Cast Developer]

>> With the app decoding and handling normalization/gapless, is more phone battery consumed?  Also, is wifi strength to the phone more critical?

Yes, more battery will be consumed but I've never had any reports of it being excessive. And again yes, a stable wi-fi connection is required. And in this mode more of your wi-fi bandwidth will be used because of the extra hop (from server to phone to CCA rather than directly from server to CCA).

>> Because I am just curious...

>> I always assumed that the app was just a controller, just telling the CCA which files to grab from the server.  Without normalization or gapless on, is this the case?

Yes, That's correct. Your UPnP media server has a HTTP server running on it and so the app just sends the CCA a url for each file - and then the CCA sends HTTP request(s) to the server to grab the data.

>> With normalization or gapless on, is the app acting as the server and controller?

It's still a controller but all the data flowing from the server to the CCA goes through the app, so guess I would describe it more as a proxy.

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Thanks for the continued replies and support.

So if I understand correctly, when gapless or normalization are on, the file URL provided to the CCA would be a phone URL, rather than a PC server URL.

I will continue to test native flac files (without transcoding to wav) with gapless or normalization on.  If I experience stuttering or errors, I will report back.

[iid...@gmail.com]

I play flac files all most exclusively to cca's with the volume norm turned on and have experienced no problems .

My cca's firmware is 1.32.124602 (I elected to be in the 'Preview Program')

[Hi-Fi Cast Developer]

>> Thanks for the continued replies and support.

>> So if I understand correctly, when gapless or normalization are on, the file URL provided to the CCA would be a phone URL, rather than a PC server URL.

Yes. That's exactly what happens.

[Igor Nikolic]

I have replaygain in my mp3 library. Can it be supported as well or is the support limited to FLAC and wav only?

[Hi-Fi Cast Developer]

I have replaygain in my mp3 library. Can it be supported as well or is the support limited to FLAC and wav only?

Replaygain is only available when playing FLAC to a Chromecast device. I might add support for more formats and devices in future versions of the app.

[Igor Nikolic]

It really is not a priority because I realized yesterday browsing this forum that replaygain and gapless both set HiFi as proxy so the battery life would be impacted. My S6 is still weak in that department and I would rather use it like now all the time. Thanks for clarifying.

[gsa...@sanft.com]

On Sunday, July 23, 2017 at 9:37:52 PM UTC-4, Hi-Fi Cast Help Forum wrote:

Track-gain tags take precedence over album-gain tags.

Would very much like to have this precedence be exposed to choice in the settings.  Even better than simple exposure would be to have "by genre" and/or "by playback mode" selectability between the two tags.

Thank you.

[sols...@gmail.com]

Lack of replay gain was the only reason I bought a competing app.