How to Equalize a Song

Equalizing prevents you from having to manually adjust the volume frequently.

When songs are initially recorded, they are set at a certain volume. This volume level varies from song to song, so some songs are much louder than others. This can be a concern when listening to music on your computer as the volume changes after each song. If a song is too quiet, you may need to turn up the volume only to have the next song be much too loud. The default media players for Mac OS and Windows PCs, iTunes and Windows Media Player respectively, feature options designed to equalize the volume for all songs.

Instructions

iTunes

1. Open the "Edit" menu and select "Preferences."

2. Click on the "Playback" tab.

3. Check the "Sound Check" box, and click "OK" to save the new setting.

Windows Media Player

1. Press Ctrl+3 to access the "Now Playing" screen. If you are already in the "Now Playing" screen, Crtl+3 will have no effect.

2. Right-click any empty space of the Now Playing window, and expand the "Enhancements" submenu.

3. Click on "Crossfading and auto volume leveling."

4. Click "Turn on Auto Volume Leveling." If the text reads "Turn off Auto Volume Leveling," then song volume equalization is already active.

References

• Apple Support: About Sound Check
• Microsoft Answers: Volume Leveling in Windows Media Player 12 Does Not Appear to Work