Audio Normalization
Audio normalization ensures that tracks in your library play back at a consistent volume, so you don't need to manually adjust the volume between songs.
Replay Gain
My Media supports Replay Gain, an open audio standard that stores a per-track (and optionally per-album) loudness correction value inside the audio file's metadata. When Replay Gain is enabled, My Media reads this value and applies a volume adjustment during transcoding before streaming to Alexa.
Requirements
Replay Gain requires transcoding to be active. When you enable Replay Gain, My Media forces all MP3 files through FFmpeg even if they would otherwise be streamed natively. This increases CPU usage on the server.
Make sure FFmpeg is installed and configured before enabling Replay Gain. See Settings → Enable Transcoding Support.
Enabling Replay Gain
- Open the My Media web console and navigate to Settings → General.
- Under Additional Audio File Formats, ensure transcoding is enabled and FFmpeg is configured.
- Scroll to Enable Replay Gain and toggle it on.
- Click Save.
Replay Gain values must be embedded in your audio files. If your files don't have Replay Gain tags, the setting has no effect. Tools such as MP3Gain, foobar2000, or MusicBrainz Picard can scan and tag your library with Replay Gain values.
Transcode Bitrate
When Replay Gain transcoding is active, you can control the output quality via Transcode Bitrate in Settings. 128–192 kbps is recommended for typical listening. Higher bitrates produce better audio but consume more bandwidth.
Troubleshooting
Replay Gain has no effect — Check that your audio files actually contain Replay Gain tags. Most tag editors and media players can show this. Files with no Replay Gain tag are streamed at their original volume.
Volume is still inconsistent after enabling Replay Gain — Some files may have been tagged with significantly different Replay Gain values. Use a tool such as MP3Gain or foobar2000 to re-scan and normalize your whole library with consistent target loudness (typically −89 dBFS or 0 dB relative).
High CPU usage — Enabling Replay Gain forces transcoding for all MP3 files. If CPU usage is a concern, consider using a lower Transcode Bitrate in Settings.