Does iVolume work with Catalina Music app?

[steve62388]

Does anybody know if the app iVolume works with the iTunes changes in Catalina? It’s got some features that I haven’t found anywhere else (non destructive normalisation to Sound Check). I messaged the developer but they didn’t answer.

 

[lars666]

Hi everybody,

I am dependent on the "iVolume" normalizer (https://www.mani.de/de/ivolume/index.html) which wasn't updated for a long time – does anybody here can confirm that it won't work with Catalina anymore? It already is 64-bit, but I guess it needs to find the (now gone) XML file of iTunes to work ... I contacted the developer twice if he plans to at least release a last small Catalina fix so that iVolume keeps on working, but got no answer both times.

If anybody also uses it and can give me a short thumbs up or thumbs down (I'm afraid it is last), I would be grateful. Thanks for the efforts!

 

[lars666]

Does anybody know if the app iVolume works with the iTunes changes in Catalina? It’s got some features that I haven’t found anywhere else (non destructive normalisation to Sound Check). I messaged the developer but they didn’t answer.

Same question here, also emailed the developer twice – no answer. I'm afraid iVolume in its current version is dependent on the XML iTunes file to locate the music, but hope dies last ...

A small Catalina update fix would be so great, but the developer seems to have completely abandoned iVolume. 🙁

 

[steve62388]

Same question here, also emailed the developer twice – no answer. I'm afraid iVolume in its current version is dependent on the XML iTunes file to locate the music, but hope dies last ...

A small Catalina update fix would be so great, but the developer seems to have completely abandoned iVolume. 🙁

I don't know if it works with Catalina, but up until now I don't think it needed any update. It just worked.

If it has been abandoned do you know an alternative app that has the same features I mentioned? When I looked a few years ago everything either permanently modified the file or it didn't use Sound Check.

 

[lars666]

If it has been abandoned do you know an alternative app that has the same features I mentioned? When I looked a few years ago everything either permanently modified the file or it didn't use Sound Check.

You could try something like mp3gainexpress (http://projects.sappharad.com/mp3gain/) which also keeps the changes reversible, as far as I know (not 100% sure about that though!). However, I prefer iVolume a lot more because of its iTunes library integration. And I have a LOT of mp3s/AAC which makes the use of mp3gainexpress very sluggy for me – so for me, it unfortunately is no alternative.

 

[steve62388]

You could try something like mp3gainexpress (http://projects.sappharad.com/mp3gain/) which also keeps the changes reversible, as far as I know (not 100% sure about that though!). However, I prefer iVolume a lot more because of its iTunes library integration. And I have a LOT of mp3s/AAC which makes the use of mp3gainexpress very sluggy for me – so for me, it unfortunately is no alternative.

It uses the ReplayGain tag instead of Sound Check though, which makes it useless for playing through the Catalina Music app or the iOS Music app.

 

[lars666]

It uses the ReplayGain tag instead of Soundcheck though, which makes it useless for playing through the Catalina Music app or the iOS Music app.

Ah, damn ... I knew I was forgetting something why I didn't saw this as an alternative. You're perfectly right, of course – as I am also an Apple Music user with iCloud library, this is why I rely on iVolume, too!

 

[steve62388]

Ah, damn ... I knew I was forgetting something why I didn't saw this as an alternative. You're perfectly right, of course – as I am also an Apple Music user with iCloud library, this is why I rely on iVolume, too!

I have been researching for an alternative and there isn't any. I wish the developer would respond.

I read a comment from somebody that Foobar2000 can write into the Sound Check field, but I can't see any way to get that done (it might only apply to the Windows version).

 

[cheezmo]

Without the XML file there is no hope that the current version will work. I have also reached out to the developer several times over the last year and have never heard back, so I'm not holding my breath.

 

[lars666]

Without the XML file there is no hope that the current version will work. I have also reached out to the developer several times over the last year and have never heard back, so I'm not holding my breath.

Man, that really sucks. I really wish he would give us this last small fix for the future ... 🙁 iVolume also still available in the Mac App Store.

 

[cheezmo]

Maybe there is a workaround? I wonder if you Export Library to generate an XML file and put it where iVolume used to look for it (iTunes Library.xml) it would be able to read that and still work? You might also have to restore and old iTunes preference file since that would tell iVolume where to look for the XML, but there may be a way to trick it.

 

[CJ Scudworth]

I've also been using iVolume for years and am bummed that it may never be updated.

I've never used it, but another app beaTunes claims to do the same thing as iVolume as far as applying ReplayGain/AlbumGain values to the iTunes soundcheck field. In a forum post here, the developer claims he will work on updating it for the new Music app.

 

[BritPaul]

I just found out that I have the same problem.

Thinking outside the box.

Is there a Music app XML file? If yes, is it possibly compatible with the old iTunes .XML file, or maybe it could be made compatible with a workaround for converting a Music XML to an iTunes XML file?

 

[Hawkeye1889]

I have the same issue and won't update to Catalina for the time being until i decide what to do. As of right now there's no syncing xml support in the Music app you need to create a new xml file from Music app anytime you want to make changes from what I've been able to find via Google see details here https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/7/...ftware-breaks-xml-file-support-removal-update it was updated on the 10th with technical details.I've downloaded a trial of beaTunes and after taking time to figure out how it works I can say it does the job well though how it does it takes some getting used to. beaTunes can see the adjustments made by ivolume in the track replay gain field so all previous adjustments at least in Mojave. The thing I'm still trying to wrap my head around is that all adjustments made by iVolume so a positive ajustment i.e +7 dB for example whereas beaTunes will do roughly the same adjustment but in the negitive so -7 dB so I did some sound tests to see if I could hear a difference and I couldn't. So doing further experiments and reaching out to the developer of beatunes I found out that beatunes supports multiple algrythums for determining volume and they all have there own target for dB level and that a negative adjustment avoids clipping the audio I was very skeptical but decided to give beatunes adjustments a shot and so far so good iVolume is defensively easier to use but as it seems to no longer in development beatunes doesn't seem like a bad alternitive once you figure out how to use it.

Hope this helps and you can also test betunes adjustments as part of the free trial

Edit: Something I forgot to mention for those interested iVolume appears to be using Replay Gain 1 for those interested. I can't confirm this but given iVolumes age I don't think it could use anything else

 

[Jicenet]

"Great news. I reached out to iVolume lead developer Manfred Schwind on Twitter. He replied that he is working on an update to iVolume for Mac Catalina." (Atmospheric)

iVolume Catalina update on the way *

iVolume uses the iTunes XML file to locate song files. It looks like Catalina's new Music app breaks this. Dang, I went out of my way to update all my...

forums.stevehoffman.tv

 

[lars666]

"Great news. I reached out to iVolume lead developer Manfred Schwind on Twitter. He replied that he is working on an update to iVolume for Mac Catalina." (Atmospheric)

iVolume Catalina update on the way *

iVolume uses the iTunes XML file to locate song files. It looks like Catalina's new Music app breaks this. Dang, I went out of my way to update all my...

forums.stevehoffman.tv

Wow, that is awesome!!! I didn't believe that this will happen, so this is awesome news!

 

[steve62388]

"Great news. I reached out to iVolume lead developer Manfred Schwind on Twitter. He replied that he is working on an update to iVolume for Mac Catalina." (Atmospheric)

iVolume Catalina update on the way *

iVolume uses the iTunes XML file to locate song files. It looks like Catalina's new Music app breaks this. Dang, I went out of my way to update all my...

forums.stevehoffman.tv

Great news.

It seems so many people on many different occasions have tried to contact the developer and never got a response (including myself). I find it amazing the poster on the thread you linked got one. I tried Twitter too.

His support is pretty atrocious tbh.

 

[lars666]

His support is pretty atrocious tbh.

Unfortunately, I agree. I can totally understand that the day comes a developer discontinues his app and it would be even more understandable if this was a little free or $1,99 helper app. However, for such a pricey software, I am really happy to hear that he at least finally answered and intends to give iVolume the (probably final) Catalina compatibility treatment. I don't dare to dream that he even starts again to further develop/optimise it – this would be fantastic, of course, but I guess as long as it keeps doing its job, we should be happy under these circumstances.

 

[steve62388]

Unfortunately, I agree. I can totally understand that the day comes a developer discontinues his app and it would be even more understandable if this was a little free or $1,99 helper app. However, for such a pricey software, I am really happy to hear that he at least finally answered and intends to give iVolume the (probably final) Catalina compatibility treatment. I don't dare to dream that he even starts again to further develop/optimise it – this would be fantastic, of course, but I guess as long as it keeps doing its job, we should be happy under these circumstances.

I don’t think it needed much more development. In its most recent incarnation it was stable and fast and just did it’s job. Using multi cores gave it a big speed advantage. If I was being picky a graphical overhaul would be nice, but not critical.

I can’t speak to it’s algorithm as mentioned earlier in the thread, I don’t know what it uses. But if it’s an old less effective one than it would be nice to have an update.

 

[lars666]

I don’t think it needed much more development. In its most recent incarnation it was stable and fast and just did it’s job. Using multi cores gave it a big speed advantage. If I was being picky a graphical overhaul would be nice, but not critical.

I can’t speak to it’s algorithm as mentioned earlier in the thread, I don’t know what it uses. But if it’s an old less effective one than it would be nice to have an update.

Yeah, no real new features needed – would "only" be for a graphical overhaul, optimizations under the hood and – if possible – small bug fixes like the fact that some mp3s in a huge collection are mistakenly boosted up to maximum db volume. And, of course, it would be simply reassuring that he still at least gives iVolume the maintenance treatment – I really need this software and hope that it will keep running for many future macOS versions after the huge main problem at the moment – missing Catalina support without a XML file – is taken care for.

 

[Hawkeye1889]

I don’t think it needed much more development. In its most recent incarnation it was stable and fast and just did it’s job. Using multi cores gave it a big speed advantage. If I was being picky a graphical overhaul would be nice, but not critical.

I agree with you and from my research an update algorithm would be nice to avoid occasional cliping and minor distortion. I've learned more over the last week or so about audio volume adjustment than I ever thought I would and beatunes is a great piece of software tbat I will probably buy. However, I perfer iVolume because it is just one click and if iVolume does make any mistakes which doesn't happen often I can use beatunes to correct it.

 

[BuffaloJohn]

This was a very easy fix. I just added a new folder named iTunes in the ~/Music folder. I then exported the library out of the Music app. Make sure you name the exported xml file: iTunes Music Library.xml
All that needs done after that is you need to open the newly created iTunes Music Library.xml file and change the Application Version line of the xmlfile to be version: 12.9.5.5 instead of the current version 1.000.

iVolumeis looking for a current iTunes version. You will get an itunes update required window in iVolume if you don't change it.

I suggest you duplicate that xml file once you verify it works in iVolume as you will need to change the application version number everytime you export you music library if you want iVolume to work its magic on newly added songs.

Enjoy!

 

[BuffaloJohn]

Here is the hack I figured out to make iVolume work in Catalina. The PDF file includes
pictures... it is easy to follow.

 

[lars666]

Thanks for your instructions, appreciated. Although I still impatiently await an iVolume update (for obvious reasons - instead of always having to do all these steps again with newly added music), this at least is a workaround for now.

 

[BuffaloJohn]

I shared it with the dev. He thought it was cool... more importantly, he confirmed an update is in the works!
Obviously, the updated app is a better option... That being said once you do the initial setup it should take you seconds to update it.