# Introducing Voice Boost 2: Remaster your podcasts

DevFeed: [Introducing Voice Boost 2: Remaster your podcasts](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/introducing-voice-boost-2-remaster-your-podcasts-38587.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://marco.org/2020/01/31/voiceboost2>)

Author: Marco Arment

Published: 2020-01-31T18:46:32Z

Content type: release

Language: en

Sources: [Marco.org](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/marco-org.md>)

Topics: [Compression](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/compression.md>), [C](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/c.md>), [Streaming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/streaming.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>)

Tags: [c](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/c.md>), [compression](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/compression.md>), [signal-processing](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/signal-processing.md>), [streaming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/streaming.md>), [update](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/update.md>)

## AI overview

Overcast's Voice Boost 2 is a new audio engine for podcast loudness normalization. It analyzes incoming audio and applies more subtle, adaptive processing than the original Voice Boost, aiming for more consistent volume and improved sound quality while operating as a streaming process.

## Source excerpt

The latest update to Overcast includes a feature that I'm especially proud of that took over a year to build. Voice Boost 2 is an all-new audio engine that includes professional-grade, mastering-quality loudness normalization. When I first introduced Overcast in 2014, Voice Boost was one of its headlining features: Voice Boost is a combination of dynamic compression and equalization that can make many shows more listenable and normalize volume across all shows. This makes amateur-produced podcasts (including many of my favorites) more listenable in loud environments, like cars, where you'd otherwise need to crank the volume so loudly to hear the quiet parts that you'd blow your ears out when the loudest person spoke. Voice Boost 2 achieves the same goal as the original Voice Boost, but with dramatically more sophisticated methods, leading to more consistent results and much better sound quality. Goals When I wrote the original Voice Boost with only a rudimentary understanding of audio processing, it was a single configuration of Apple's AudioUnits that applied a fixed set of parameters to all podcasts, regardless of their audio characteristics. It was an effective but blunt tool, relying on aggressive level compression and a strong EQ to make the compression less noticeable. Since then, I've edited over 500 podcasts, learned a lot more about how to master them properly, and developed a much better understanding of audio signal processing. I set out to develop a better, smarter, and more refined Voice Boost that took advantage of everything I'd learned, with these audio goals: The effect should be much more subtle: mostly just consistent volume, plus slightly smoother tone. It should analyze the input audio and apply just enough processing to achieve a consistent volume level, modifying already-good audio as little as possible. It should sound good, and consistent, regardless of the volume dynamics of its input. Quality should be so good that I can even play high-qua