Playback Volume Control
Introduction
With Raven Pro 1.6.2 we introduced a playback volume control that allows users to hear playback for low-intensity sounds without resorting to a headphone pre-amp or the amplify filter in Raven. This new control is not intended as the primary volume control for playback.
Discussion
Most computer sound systems are unable to reproduce the full dynamic range of digital audio files, particularly for 24-bit and 32-bit formats. This can be a real problem in passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), where analyzing low-intensity sounds is required.
To reduce the need for specialized audio hardware, we introduced a volume control in the “Play” toolbar starting with Raven Pro 1.6.2. When analysts can see sound events in a Raven sound view that is inaudible during playback, they now have the option of increasing playback volume using this new volume control.
Tip: We recommend setting system volume and headset/speaker volume to maximum before setting the new volume control in the “Play” toolbar to values above zero. Failure to follow this advice may result in seriously distorted audio playback, even at low volume.
As an alternative, some experienced analysts use a USB DAC for convenience and improved audio quality. These devices are intended for audiophiles, but many USB DACs with built-in amplifiers are also suitable for PAM.