Wouldn't that be funny if you *did* like compression after I argued all the reasons why you wouldn't. Not the first time I made a horse's @ss outta myself. I'm glad I don't have a .jpg of myself attached to every post. Well, I always say, "Never stop just short of making a complete fool of yourself". So I did a little reasearch.

A guy at work has about 17G of mp3 on our Sun network. While I'm not saying I'm nuts about his selections, I think it represents a pretty broad variety of genres. Even a stupid f@rt like me can write C for command line use, so I wrote a tiny program to measure the RMS and PEAK levels of a data stream from stdin. A few lines of sed, xargs and a 10 hours of an dual processor Sparc later, decoded them into streams, concatenated by album then piped to my little program. Below are the results. As I opined earlier, the recording engineers cranked up the signal until the loudest passage of the entire album hit full scale or darn close to it. The average volume is therefore much louder if the peak to RMS ratio is small. Green day's average volume is 7dB below fullscale (I find that hard to believe, maybe I should double check my script), while anything classical is more than 20dB below fullscale. Even if you are unlikely to have Green Day and Tchaikovsky shuffled in the same playlist, it would be a little annoying if you were blasting Jethro Tull to the limit of deafness and then you empeg served up a Santana track that averaged a full 8.5 dB louder.

I have my own modest proposal (maybe the same as Tony's?), but I'm tired, so it will have to wait for tomorrow.

RMS PEAK group-album
-07.0dB 0.0dB green_day_nimrod
-08.1dB 0.0dB edwin_mccain_messenger
-08.2dB 0.0dB marc_anthony-marc_anthony
-08.3dB 0.0dB journey_greatest_hits_live
-08.5dB 0.0dB cowboy_mouth-mercyland
-08.5dB 0.0dB garbage-version2.0
-08.5dB 0.0dB vertical_horizon_everything_you_want
-08.6dB 0.0dB metallica-load
-08.6dB 0.0dB ultimate_dance_party
-08.7dB 0.0dB foo_fighters-the_colour_and_the_shape
-08.7dB 0.0dB macy_gray-on_how_life_is
-08.8dB 0.0dB jock_jams_1
-08.9dB 0.0dB santana-supernatural
-09.0dB 0.0dB tribe_called_quest_anthology
-09.1dB 0.0dB mos_def-black_on_both_sides
-09.2dB 0.0dB rage_against_the_machine_battle_of_los_angeles
-09.3dB 0.0dB jock_jams_2
-09.4dB 0.0dB megadeth-cryptic_writings
-09.4dB 0.0dB steve_perry_greatest_hits+five_unreleased
-09.5dB 0.0dB mtv_party_to_go_6
-09.6dB 0.0dB godsmack
-09.6dB 0.0dB shawn_colvin_a_few_small_repairs
-09.7dB 0.0dB swing_this_baby
-09.8dB 0.0dB indigo_girls_come_on_now_social
-10.1dB 0.0dB faith_no_more-angel_dust
-10.1dB 0.0dB joe_diffie-a_night_to_remember
-10.2dB 0.0dB sons_of_the_desert-change
-10.3dB 0.0dB john_lee_hooker_the_best_of_friends
-10.4dB 0.0dB dave_matthews_band-beyond
-10.4dB 0.0dB mtv_party_to_go_8
-10.4dB 0.0dB sinead_oconnor-gospel_oak
-10.6dB 0.0dB beastie_boys_hello_nasty
-10.6dB 0.0dB tool-aenima
-10.8dB 0.0dB harvey_danger-where_have_all_the_merrymakers_gone
-10.8dB 0.0dB mary_chapin_carpenter_party_doll_and_other_favorites
-10.8dB 0.0dB will_smith_big_willie_style
-11.0dB 0.0dB jake_trout_and_the_flounders_i_like_to_play
-11.0dB 0.0dB seal
-11.0dB 0.0dB tangerine_dream-tyranny_of_beauty
-11.1dB 0.0dB stone_temple_pilots-core
-11.2dB 0.0dB ally_mcbeal
-11.2dB 0.0dB beastie_boys_check_your_head
-11.2dB 0.0dB cowboy_mouth-word_of_mouth
-11.2dB 0.0dB eagles_hell_freezes_over
-11.2dB 0.0dB ll_cool_j_all_world
-11.3dB 0.0dB beastie_boys_ill_communication
-11.3dB 0.0dB dave_matthews_band_live_at_red_rocks_2
-11.3dB 0.0dB manhattan_transfer_swing
-11.3dB 0.0dB mtv_party_to_go_2
-11.3dB 0.0dB roomful_of_blues_under_one_roof
-11.6dB 0.0dB dave_matthews_band_live_at_red_rocks_1
-11.8dB 0.0dB david_wilcox-turning_point
-11.9dB 0.0dB boyz_ii_men_ii
-11.9dB 0.0dB tangerine_dream-le_parc
-11.9dB -0.2dB jimi_hendrix_woodstock
-12.0dB 0.0dB frank_sinatra_and_the_tommy_dorsey_orchestra_love_songs
-12.0dB 0.0dB sarah_mclachlan-mirrorball_disc_1
-12.0dB 0.0dB tangerine_dream-underwater_sunlight
-12.1dB 0.0dB jewel_spirit
-12.2dB 0.0dB dance_mix_usa
-12.2dB 0.0dB indigo_girls_shaming_of_the_sun
-12.2dB 0.0dB lilith_fair_1
-12.2dB 0.0dB metallica
-12.3dB 0.0dB johnny_lang_lie_to_me
-12.3dB 0.0dB reo_speedwagon-the_ballads
-12.4dB 0.0dB boston
-12.4dB 0.0dB lilith_fair_2
-12.6dB 0.0dB david_arkenstone_return_of_the_guardians
-12.6dB 0.0dB david_wilcox-big_horizon
-12.6dB 0.0dB sarah_mclachlan-mirrorball_bonus_cd
-12.7dB 0.0dB dixie_chicks_fly
-12.9dB 0.0dB pat_boone_in_a_metal_mood
-12.9dB 0.0dB phil_collins-hits
-12.9dB 0.0dB sling_blade_soundtrack
-12.9dB 0.0dB susan_tedeschi_just_wont_burn
-13.1dB 0.0dB vertical_horizon_live_stages
-13.3dB 0.0dB beatles_anthology_2
-13.3dB 0.0dB lyle_lovett_live_in_texas
-13.3dB 0.0dB mtv_party_to_go_3
-13.3dB 0.0dB robyn_hitchcock_moss_elixir
-13.3dB 0.0dB the_chi-lites
-13.5dB 0.0dB dar_williams_mortal_city
-13.5dB 0.0dB indigo_girls_rites_of_passage
-13.5dB 0.0dB shut_up_and_dance
-13.6dB 0.0dB george_strait_strait_out_of_the_box_3
-13.6dB 0.0dB marvin_gaye-the_master_disc_3
-13.6dB 0.0dB spin_doctors-pocket_full_of_kryptonite
-13.7dB 0.0dB coltrane_live_at_birdland
-13.8dB 0.0dB emerson_lake_and_palmer_best_of
-13.8dB 0.0dB george_strait_strait_out_of_the_box_2
-13.8dB 0.0dB jimi_hendrix_the_ultimate_experience
-13.9dB 0.0dB barenaked_ladies-maybe_you_should_drive
-13.9dB 0.0dB george_benson_the_best_of_benson
-13.9dB 0.0dB get_shorty_soundtrack
-13.9dB 0.0dB marvin_gaye-the_master_disc_4
-13.9dB 0.0dB the_commitments_vol_2
-14.1dB 0.0dB george_strait_strait_out_of_the_box_1
-14.1dB 0.0dB various-superhits_of_the_70s
-14.3dB 0.0dB bb_king_blues_summit
-14.3dB 0.0dB jars_of_clay
-14.3dB -0.0dB beatles_let_it_be
-14.3dB -0.1dB beatles_revolver
-14.4dB 0.0dB boyz_ii_men_cooleyhighharmony
-14.4dB 0.0dB shawn_colvin_cover_girl
-14.5dB 0.0dB spyro_gyra_morning_dance
-14.5dB -0.0dB cure-wish
-14.5dB -0.3dB gipsy_kings
-14.6dB 0.0dB muddy_waters_his_best_1956_to_1964
-14.7dB 0.0dB george_strait_strait_out_of_the_box_4
-14.7dB 0.0dB stevie_ray_vaughan_texas_flood
-14.8dB 0.0dB andrea_bocelli_romanza
-14.8dB 0.0dB bjork_debut
-14.8dB 0.0dB blue_note_story_of_modern_jazz_1
-14.8dB 0.0dB jimmy_buffett_bars
-14.8dB 0.0dB mtv_party_to_go_4
-14.8dB 0.0dB nando_lauria_novo_brasil
-14.8dB 0.0dB sarah_mclachlan_the_freedom_sessions
-14.8dB 0.0dB tori_amos-under_the_pink
-14.9dB 0.0dB greatest_disco_groups
-15.0dB 0.0dB barenaked_ladies-gordon
-15.0dB 0.0dB blue_note_story_of_modern_jazz_2
-15.0dB 0.0dB kate_bush-the_red_shoes
-15.0dB 0.0dB ray_charles_birth_of_soul_2
-15.0dB 0.0dB shawn_colvin-fat_city
-15.1dB 0.0dB anything_goes_the_cole_porter_songbook
-15.1dB 0.0dB don_henley_end_of_the_innocence
-15.2dB 0.0dB jazzmasters_volume_4_disc_4
-15.2dB 0.0dB kate_bush-hounds_of_love
-15.2dB 0.0dB nat_king_cole_unforgettable
-15.2dB -0.0dB 60s_hits_volume_one
-15.3dB 0.0dB george_winston_plains
-15.3dB 0.0dB ll_cool_j-mama_said_knock_you_out
-15.3dB 0.0dB ray_charles_greatest_hits_disc_2
-15.3dB 0.0dB the_generals_daughter_soundtrack
-15.3dB 0.0dB tori_amos-boys_for_pele
-15.3dB -0.0dB moody_blues_best_of
-15.4dB 0.0dB david_wilcox-east_asheville_hardware
-15.4dB 0.0dB john_coltrane_black_pearls
-15.4dB -0.0dB kate_bush-the_dreaming
-15.5dB 0.0dB karen_carpenter
-15.5dB 0.0dB reservoir_dogs_soundtrack
-15.6dB 0.0dB david_wilcox-nightshift_watchman
-15.6dB 0.0dB otis_redding_the_very_best_of
-15.6dB 0.0dB ray_charles_birth_of_soul_1
-15.6dB 0.0dB stan_getz_bossa_nova
-15.6dB 0.0dB us3
-15.7dB 0.0dB ella_fitzgerald_the_best_of_the_song_books_the_ballads
-15.7dB 0.0dB jazzmasters_volume_4_disc_5
-15.7dB 0.0dB righteous_brothers_very_best_of
-15.8dB 0.0dB arrested_development_3_years_5_months
-15.8dB 0.0dB jim_brickman_picture_this
-15.8dB 0.0dB vertical_horizon_running_on_ice
-15.8dB -0.0dB faith_no_more-the_real_thing
-15.8dB -0.1dB pink_floyd-the_dark_side_of_the_moon
-15.8dB -0.4dB stan_getz_and_the_oscar_peterson_trio
-15.8dB -0.6dB beatles_sgt_peppers_lonely_hearts_club_band
-15.9dB 0.0dB fugees-the_score
-15.9dB 0.0dB jazzmasters_volume_4_disc_3
-15.9dB 0.0dB jimmy_buffett_beaches
-15.9dB 0.0dB tis_the_season_celtic_christmas
-16.0dB -1.0dB jimmy_buffett_havana_daydreamin
-16.1dB 0.0dB jazzmasters_volume_4_disc_2
-16.1dB 0.0dB sly_and_the_family_stone-greatest_hits
-16.1dB -0.3dB ella_fitzgerald_the_best_of_the_song_books
-16.2dB 0.0dB david_wilcox-underneath
-16.2dB 0.0dB ella_fitzgerald_best_of_the_songbooks_love_songs
-16.2dB -0.0dB beatles_rubber_soul
-16.3dB 0.0dB abba-gold_greatest_hits
-16.3dB 0.0dB allman_brothers_dreams_1
-16.3dB 0.0dB club_mtv
-16.3dB 0.0dB readers_digest_easy_listening_jazz_classics_3
-16.3dB -0.1dB david_osborne_keys_to_the_heart
-16.4dB 0.0dB christmas_spirit
-16.4dB 0.0dB vonda_shepherd-its_good_eve
-16.4dB -0.2dB david_arkenstone_spirit_wind
-16.4dB -0.2dB roger_miller_king_of_the_road
-16.4dB -0.8dB neil_diamond_his_12_greatest_hits
-16.5dB -0.0dB bb_king_paying_the_cost_to_be_the_boss
-16.6dB 0.0dB ella_fitzgerald_ella_in_rome
-16.6dB -0.8dB al_green_im_still_in_love_with_you
-16.7dB 0.0dB allman_brothers_dreams_3
-16.7dB 0.0dB benny_goodman_essential
-16.7dB 0.0dB david_wilcox-home_again
-16.7dB 0.0dB jane_siberry_bound_by_the_beauty
-16.7dB 0.0dB john_lee_hooker_dont_look_back
-16.7dB 0.0dB ll_cool_j-radio
-16.7dB -0.0dB benny_goodman_yale_archives_volume_5_disc_1
-16.8dB 0.0dB jimmy_buffett_ballads
-16.9dB 0.0dB bonnie_raitt_luck_of_the_draw
-16.9dB -0.3dB kate_bush-the_sensual_world
-16.9dB -1.2dB stan_getz_luiz_bonfa_jazz_samba_encore
-17.0dB 0.0dB allman_brothers_dreams_2
-17.0dB 0.0dB jazzmasters_volume_4_disc_1
-17.0dB 0.0dB jimmy_buffett_changes_in_latitudes_changes_in_attitudes
-17.0dB 0.0dB miles_davis-love_songs
-17.0dB -0.1dB beastie_boys-pauls_boutique
-17.0dB -1.4dB christmas_carols_for_children
-17.1dB 0.0dB elton_john-greatest_hits_volume_ii
-17.1dB 0.0dB michelle_shocked-mercury_poise
-17.1dB -0.2dB tom_waits_closing_time
-17.1dB -0.3dB bread_anthology
-17.1dB -1.0dB america-history_america's_greatest_hits
-17.3dB 0.0dB allman_brothers_dreams_4
-17.3dB -0.4dB jimi_hendrix_experience-live_at_winterland
-17.3dB -1.2dB aretha_franklin_greatest_hits_1980_to_1994
-17.4dB 0.0dB jethro_tull_original_masters
-17.4dB 0.0dB muddy_waters_the_chess_box_3_1960_to_1972
-17.4dB 0.0dB sinead_oconnor-am_i_not_your_girl
-17.4dB -0.0dB bonnie_raitt_nick_of_time
-17.4dB -0.1dB david_wilcox-how_did_you_find_me_here
-17.4dB -0.7dB john_cougar_american_fool
-17.6dB 0.0dB beastie_boys_license_to_ill
-17.6dB 0.0dB danny_wright_christmas_by_candlelight
-17.6dB -0.0dB london_philharmonic-us_and_them-symphonic_pink_floyd
-17.7dB -0.2dB mary_chapin_carpenter_stones_in_the_road
-17.9dB 0.0dB david_osborne_upon_a_midnight_clear
-17.9dB -0.0dB benny_goodman_yale_archives_volume_5_disc_2
-17.9dB -0.3dB joplin_greatest_hits
-18.0dB 0.0dB tom_waits_franks_wild_years
-18.1dB -0.1dB dr_hook_greatest_hits
-18.2dB 0.0dB frank_sinatra_gold
-18.2dB 0.0dB sweet_honey_in_the_rock_i_got_shoes
-18.2dB -0.5dB george_jones_super_hits
-18.2dB -0.8dB david_osborne_introducing_david_osborne
-18.3dB 0.0dB greatest_of_the_guess_who
-18.3dB -0.0dB tom_waits_rain_dogs
-18.4dB 0.0dB tracy_chapman
-18.4dB -0.1dB wynton_marsalis_volume_3_standard_time
-18.5dB 0.0dB wynton_marsalis_crescent_city_christmas_card
-18.5dB -2.2dB styx_the_grand_illusion
-18.6dB 0.0dB simon_and_garfunkel_concert_in_central_park
-18.6dB 0.0dB this_is_jazz_32_billie_holiday
-18.7dB -0.4dB benny_goodman_yale_archives_volume_1
-18.9dB -1.8dB danny_wright_black_and_white_seven
-19.1dB -2.1dB david_osborne_especially_for_you
-19.2dB 0.0dB lyle_lovett_i_love_everybody
-19.3dB -0.6dB cowboy_junkies_the_trinity_sessions
-19.3dB -1.6dB herb_albert_and_the_tijuana_brass_christmas_album
-19.4dB -1.4dB elton_john_greatest_hits
-19.5dB 0.0dB tom_waits_swordfishtrombones
-19.5dB -1.2dB vince_guaraldi_trio_charlie_brown_christmas
-19.7dB -0.4dB sinead_oconnor_i_do_not_want_what_i_havent_got
-19.8dB -0.0dB emile_pandolfi_an_affair_to_remember
-20.2dB -0.3dB bert_and_i
-20.3dB -0.0dB 100_classical_masterpieces_vol_2
-20.3dB -0.3dB benny_goodman_yale_archives_volume_2
-20.4dB 0.0dB emile_pandolfi_evening_in_venice
-21.0dB -0.1dB david_osborne_my_heart_will_go_on
-21.2dB -1.0dB 100_classical_masterpieces_vol_3
-21.3dB -0.2dB 100_classical_masterpieces_vol_1
-21.3dB -0.2dB david_osborne_music_of_the_night
-21.4dB -1.1dB 100_classical_masterpieces_vol_4
-21.4dB -1.8dB erroll_garner_yesterdays_the_savoy_sessions
-21.7dB -1.2dB old_and_in_the_way
-21.8dB -0.2dB david_osborne_just_as_i_am
-22.2dB -0.4dB frederic_chopin-14_waltzes_and_4_impromptus
-22.2dB -0.7dB manheim_steamroller_christmas
-22.3dB -0.9dB 100_classical_masterpieces_vol_5
-22.8dB -0.2dB tchaikovsky_swan_lake

-jim 080000260 w/18G in a Carrera