Disable software-amplification of volume by default

[fiftydinar]

Currently, maximum volume is at 150%.

Use 100% maximum volume by default & make software-amplification of volume the option in preferences.

Reason?

• Audio quality degradation, which can be heard as distortion.
• In long-term usage, listening to software-amplified volume can damage/degrade listening hardware

When user accidentally uses mouse scroll-wheel & increases the volume, he will notice this unpleasant experience.

Ideally, volume slider in Clapper would gather Gnomes schema related to that & dynamically enable/disable software-amplification of volume according to schema:

org.gnome.desktop.sound allow-volume-above-100-percent

But what about having this functionality in other DEs?

So I think that it's better to just make this an option & use 100% maximum volume by default.

[Rafostar]

Reason?

Audio quality degradation, which can be heard as distortion.
In long-term usage, listening to software-amplified volume can damage/degrade listening hardware

While I agree with the first, the second not so much. Software amplification changes waveform programically. It does not increase current in the amplifier. Worst case can be harmful for your ears.

Ideally, volume slider in Clapper would gather Gnomes schema related to that & dynamically enable/disable software-amplification of volume according to schema

This setting is for the desktop. App should not try to read and assume that if user set something elsewhere for another app (including desktop/gnome-shell), that this will affect some video player slider. Also it should be possible to have amplified video player only (without desktop).

When user accidentally uses mouse scroll-wheel & increases the volume, he will notice this unpleasant experience.

First thing that player currently lacks is some sort of clear OSD indication that scale went above 100%. Especially when controls panel is hidden.

[fiftydinar]

Reason?
Audio quality degradation, which can be heard as distortion.
In long-term usage, listening to software-amplified volume can damage/degrade listening hardware

While I agree with the first, the second not so much. Software amplification changes waveform programically. It does not increase current in the amplifier. Worst case can be harmful for your ears.

Ideally, volume slider in Clapper would gather Gnomes schema related to that & dynamically enable/disable software-amplification of volume according to schema

This setting is for the desktop. App should not try to read and assume that if user set something elsewhere for another app (including desktop/gnome-shell), that this will affect some video player slider. Also it should be possible to have amplified video player only (without desktop).

When user accidentally uses mouse scroll-wheel & increases the volume, he will notice this unpleasant experience.

First thing that player currently lacks is some sort of clear OSD indication that scale went above 100%. Especially when controls panel is hidden.

1. You're right
2. You're also right, I didn't assume non-desktop usage of this app
3. Agree

But one question is left unanswered:

• Should we default to 100% volume & integrate the option for allowing above 100% volume (150%) in preferences?

or if you don't agree with the above, then:

• Should we keep 150% volume maximum as it is & integrate the option to use 100% volume as maximum?

I think the 1st option is better.

Take a note that even if OSD is implemented for volume change on scroll-wheel, I would not want video player to cross 100% of volume ever, hence those 2 questions above.

[Rafostar]

As surprising as it is... this request here needs more careful design planning then probably you initially imagine. I am gonna take it as our upcoming API request/related stuff.

Considering Clapper will have separate widgets that either change or show current volume level. Implementing what requested here is gonna need:

• Each widget would need API method + property to allow/disallow volume amplification
• API user will have to take care of making sure all enable/disable values are in sync himself

2nd one seems most problematic from the ease of use point. For now safest bet is probably to introduce new APIs without this functionality and we can always add this in the future once we reach a conclusion. Open for further discussion.

[sp1ritCS]

I wonder if were possible to paint the volume level widgets red if the level is > 100%, similar to what VLC is doing (just without the gradient)

[Rafostar]

I wonder if were possible to paint the volume level widgets red if the level is > 100%

This is already done in the new UI OSD:

I think this is clearly visible (especially with separation at 100%), but the feature request here seems to be about not going above 100% even when user keeps on scrolling.

[sp1ritCS]

ah yes, thats what also imagined. I personally find it unnecessary to disable it by default it should be obvious that the audio quality will degrade in this case.