Enable.
Tick this option to enable use of the Shibatch mpg123
decoder. This provides several useful features over
Nullsoft’s decoder. Should you wish temporarily to use a
different MPEG decoder, Untick this option.
Thread priority.
This drop-down menu determines the thread priority level for
the Shibatch mpg123 decoder, and it’s recommended to leave
this set to default unless experiencing choppy playback, in
which case try increasing the priority level. You might find
it useful to lower the priority level if you have more
critical processes running (Though only if faultless
playback is maintained).
Output format.
The drop-down menu here specifies the output bit depth used
during playback. Generally speaking this limits us to 16bit
and 24bit options, which will be determined by the Audio
device being used. Higher bit depths allow for a greater
Dynamic Range (The difference between the quietest and
loudest signal), as indicated beneath.
Bit Depth
Dynamic Range
16bits
96dB
24bits
144dB
32bits
192dB
64bits
384dB
This allows for
greater precision and more headroom when processing a track.
For example, MP3s are not encoded with a specific bit-depth.
For 24-Bit Soundcards (e.g.
Audigy 2 ZS,
Revolution 7.1) 24bits is recommended as the preferred
mode to select.
Users of 16-Bit
Soundcards (e.g. Audigy 1, nForce APU) should select 16bits.
Full buffering.
Ticking this option sets that tracks are fully buffered in
order to avoid playback hitches. If you’re playing tracks
solely from your hard drive it should be fine disabled.
Suppress zero
samples at the beginning.
Ticking this option allows you to remove the silence at the
beginning of tracks. This is a matter of personal taste,
although in many cases the silence at the beginning of
tracks is intended to be there. Untick this option if you
wish to experience the track(s) as encoded.
Reverse L/R.
Tick this option to reverse left and right audio channels.
This is useful for troubleshooting purposes, e.g.
incorrectly wired speakers. If you’ve no such issues then
leave this option Unticked.
Invert polarity.
Polarity problems can result in audio quality issues, as
discussed
here. If you find yourself affected by this Ticking this
option may help fix the problem, otherwise leave this option
Unticked.
Alternate volume
setting method. Ticking this
option specifies that Winamp’s volume control operates
independent to the Windows/Soundcards Mixer – allowing you
to adjust volume at will without having any effect on other
applications, although this may introduce
performance/latency weirdness on some systems. Untick this
option to allow Winamp’s volume slider to control the
Windows Volume level.
Display average
bitrate. Ticking this option
enables the display of the overall average kbps of VBR
(Variable Bit Rate) encoded MP1/2/3s playing in Winamp’s
Main Window, while Unticking this option enables the kbps
display to be updated to reflect the actual kbps during
playback of VBR encoded MP1/2/3s, e.g. the images beneath
indicate the kbps at during playback of a VBR encoded MP3.
Average
Actual
Now select the Replay
gain tab.
Enable.
Detailed information on Replaygain can be
found here, but basically it allows for a gain
adjustment to be stored in a track, the point being to
reduce the need to adjust the volume level during music
playback due to varying loudness levels in different
tracks/albums. Some of the benefits to using Replaygain are
that the Replaygain information doesn’t actually alter the
track itself, unlike, say, normalizing a track while
encoding – Replaygain info can be removed/changed as needed
(Similar to ID3 tags). Additionally, this also tends to
resolve clipping issues with many tracks. Ticking this
option allows the use of Replaygain info stored in tracks as
described above (recommended). Two modes are available as
regards the application of Replaygain during playback.
Track gain.
This selects the track gain adjustment which is recommended
for maintaining a constant volume level between tracks,
regardless of any intended loudness variation between
tracks. This may function best when playing tracks from a
variety of albums.
Album gain.
This selects the album gain adjustment which is recommended
to maintain the intended loudness variation between tracks,
particularly if playing from a single album.
Unticking this option
disables applying ReplayGain adjustments in tracks. This
isn’t particularly recommended as it can exaggerate volume
differences between tracks and increases the chances of
clipping.
Files with replay
gain info. A preamp is used to
boost/reduce signal strength before being sent to an
amplifier. As previously discussed ReplayGain scanned tracks
will (or likely are) set to a level whereby clipping issued
have been resolved/minimized. As such it would be
counterproductive to apply a signal boost to such tracks and
you’d be best served leaving this set to 0.0dB or if you
must, a negative value.
Files without
replay gain info. This
functions as per the previous option, albeit applies to
tracks which have not been ReplayGain scanned. Given most
ReplayGain adjustments will be of a negative value, you
should similarly give this a negative value for a more
consistent volume level when playing a mix of ReplayGain
scanned and unscanned tracks (and of course as it may reduce
clipping issues in those tracks). Personally I’ve set this
to -6.0dB, for a more accurate value, try calculate the
average Replaygain adjustment of your collection and use
that.
Hard limiter.
Ticking this option applies a 6dB limit to audio playback,
which eliminates clipping from occurring although can cause
noticeable distortion when active (though not as bad as
clipping). Again, bear in mind that ReplayGain scanned
tracks should have clipping issues resolved in the first
place.
