Levelator
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| The Levelator | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | The Conversations Network |
| Stable release | 2.1.1
|
| Operating system | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Type | Audio Editing Software |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | Levelator Homepage |
The Levelator is a free application distributed by The Conversations Network and developed by Bruce and Malcolm Sharpe, Norman Lorrain and Doug Kaye. It was unveiled to the public at the first Podcast and New Media Expo in 2005. The Levelator adjusts the audio levels within an audio segment as opposed to traditional compression, normalization and limiting. It creates a new copy of the audio sample which has balanced levels and a standard overall volume. By taking a global view of the data in various time segments (both long and short), the Levelator automatically balances various audio levels such as multiple microphone levels in an interview or panel discussion. The underlying code was originally used only for The Conversations Network's own podcasts (for example, IT Conversations), but was then released to the public, free for commercial and non-commercial use. The adjustments and Drag-And-Drop workflow of the program has made it a great boon for professional and non-professional broadcasters and podcasters.
The program only supports PCM audio (WAV or AIFF files) since the ultimate goal of the program is to “improve audio,” and not sustain the audio sample to multiple lossy compressions (a 64-kbit/s MP3 file exported again as a 64-kbit/s MP3 file sounds similar to a 32-kbit/s MP3 file). Each processed audio file is exported in the same format as the original, but with ".output " inserted into the filename.
Originally distributed by GigaVox Media, Inc (a for-profit company), those rights were transferred to The Conversations Network (a California 501(c)(3)) in 2008.
Example of Levelator
Screenshot of before and after renderings of an audio sample adjusted by the Levelator as seen in Audacity.