Boosting the volume of sound file

First, back-up the file you want to experiment with...then you need a hex editor.

Open the VPM voice file with the hex editor, look for a string

< voice_volume>65< /voice_volume>

Note: in reality, the string will not have a space after the "<" - had to do that to make it show up for illustrative purposes

Change that number to something higher, and save the file to your GPSr...you should have a louder voice for the particular file you've changed.

Thanks for the help I will try this

Hi Jim313,
Not sure what platform you are using, if it is a Mac then do the following:
(1). High-lite the mp3 file in question that you already have saved and run it so that iTunes opens for you.
(2). From the FILE MENU GO TO: GET INFO
(3). Then slide over to the OPTIONS
(4). With the OPTIONS open you should see a VOLUME
ADJUSTMENT SLIDER or you can select one of the
EQUALIZER PRESETS, (or use both adjustments).
Hope this helps. I would like to also cross-file this response over to the Mac section, however, I am not sure how to go about it. Maybe Miss POI could help me?
JeffSh

I got ya covered, I made another post for the mac area;)

Miss POI

This was really an easy fix. I can't wait to get on the road and hear my gps and radio at the same time.

I wouldn't be touching the system files with a 100' pole but hey... that's me.
Anyway, here's another option: open www.radioshack.com and do a search for 40-1441.

I use Nero myself, but I was told there is a free version of wavepad that is a pretty nice program. It's at: www.nch.com.us/wavepad

Now does this make the Garmin speak streets and locations louder or is it just for MP-3 files. I have a Garmin c530, is it possible with this?

Glad to hear it worked for you.

Now does this make the Garmin speak streets and locations louder or is it just for MP-3 files. I have a Garmin c530, is it possible with this?

The modification of the VPM voice file works on any TTS model, and especially helpful on those models that only have a master volume control, and no separate controls for mp3 & navigation instructions like are available on the 7xx and others.

The C530 uses non-TTS sound files. The volume can be increased, but in a different method. See:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/3132

RT

I can confirm success. I can now have the radio and air conditioner on in my G35 and still hear the navigation instructions. I increased the volume on both Jack and Jill and they are both ample loud. I can tell it is possible to overdrive the little speaker but going from 65 to 90 is fine. Thanks again Keith! You saved me from returning my 650.

I measured the sound output of the C510 (same unit, less memory) at 94dBspl from about 1.2W. (That's MORE than the add-on Radio Shack 40-1441!)

What environment are you using it in, where it's not loud enough?

I purchased the 40-1441 radio shack speakers. One major benefit with the speakers is the tone improvement. No more "tinny" sound that you get with the small garmin speaker on the 660. For anyone interested in a better sounding system, the speakers are worth the price. I fasten them on my bean bag mount with velcro.

gusb

We've previously discussed them in the forum here...to summarize, one can use the built-in FM transmitter of your GPSr if so equipped...or, get an add-on FM transmitter to plug into the headphone port on the GPSr...both of those have their limitations...then there's the cassette adapter for cars with cassette players...direct line inputs on car audio systems.

While I have GPSrs with the FM transmitter, I find they are prone to static, and it's hard to find unused FM frequencies as you travel around - so I've gone the line input to the audio system method...adding an input on one vehicle - and another vehicle has one. MP3s sound fantastic, and the navigation directions come thru great too.

HI, Keith:
Which Hex Editor do you use for this modification? I want to use the same editor as yours in case I run into a problem. Don't laugh at a newbie.
Where do I get it?

Thank you for your tips and helps.

And it worked GREAT!

I suggest you use Hex workshop32
http://www.bpsoft.com/downloads/hw32v500.msi

A word of advice, setting the value to 99 will make your brain (and speakers) rattle.
I found that 85 was a good value. Loud as heck w/little distortion.

...JN

A good free one that some of us here use is 'Freeware Hex Editor XVI32' available at:
http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/freeware/xvi32/xvi32.h...

You can get more info on this program from POI Factory users at:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/3066

RT

It's the one I first used and have stuck with 'cause it's what I know...

I tried it. It worked very well. But listen to Johnny and stay below 85 or less. Anything above 85 will be too loud. (But you can adjust the volume through the MP3.) Sound will be distorted. Any word that ends with "s" will produce annoying hissing.

I have to give credit to everyone that posted.

what a great sound file hack for my new 260 ... impressively increases Jack at 85 -- without distortion! Any danger of blowing out the little speaker or was Garmin being very conservative at the 65 setting? Thanks again.

Hi - really cool to jack up the jack voice (75 didn't do much, 85 seems pretty good). Am curious why Garmin set to 65, since one can always turn down the volume.

Just a note that if, like me, you do not have a hex editor, that the edit was trivial in emacs.

thanks for the great hack!

neal

Is this a problem with some TTS models?
I have a 200W and it's plenty loud at 60%.
I just purchased a 750 and even at 100% its not as loud as my 200w at 60%.

I was thinking there must be something wrong with my new purchase and was considering returning it.
I guess I'll try this and see what happens.

Thanks for the post

I can't seem to find the string........
< voice_volume> 65

Can you post screen shots of the hex editor in action?

Thanks

Take out the spaces after the < and before the > when searching the string.

And then scroll up... At least thats where it was on american jill...

I wonder if it would be worth having someone post a volume adjusted file and be able to simply swap it out? It might cause less confusion and less chance of making mistakes while in the open file.

I found it.
My bad. I wasn't looking in a TTS file when I first tried.

Thanks

I am a newbie who borrowed a 200 before buying a 650. I thought I may have a defective device because I has so much trouble hearing it in a noisy car. This was not an issue with the 200. Followed the good advice above, set Jack and Jill at 85, and all is well again.

Really looking forward to testing this on the road when I get a loan for a tank of gas.

Good text and thank you for myself i used worpad
in windows and works fine to me boost it from 65 to 95
superb. by the way when you open the file its at the bottom of the page .. thanks again for that great
post

Assuming you mean 'WordPad', you may want to do more research before using a text editor to increase TTS volume, . Start here:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/3066

RT

Your tip worked out well on my 750, Thank you much.

That worked great on my 660. Thank you so much!!!

Forget the HEX editor. There is easy program you can use to change the voice volume. Read this:

http://turboccc.wikispaces.com/TTSVoiceEditor

You don't have to change the phrases if you do not want. Just play with the voice volume slider and save back.

This is a great fix, and solved my volume issue as well. Thanks!

File will not open with iTunes. Any other suggestions? Doesn't seem to be an MP3 file.

hey kch50428 I've looked in the hex editor at my voice files for the navigator voice and didn't see "volume" anywhere. Is that info old news? The only thing I can think of doing is to extract the .wav's with voice utility then amplify them and repack. Is there a better way? Thanks.

there is an easy way to change your voice volume i found that the best sofeware is made by turbo-ccc it only takes you five minutes to change the volume the software is call the tts voice editor you can also make it say i am lost instead of recalculating it works great

If you are using non-TTS voices, yes, you have to extract the WAVs and increase the volume on each WAV... if possible... If your wave files are alreay at the maximum digital level, increasing the level will cause clipping and the resulting sound will be bad. Otherwise, it could be possible to increase the volume a bit. Then, you have to merge the files back to the VPM file.

For TTS voices, use TTSVoiceEditor as posted above.

Turbo

Ditto on TTSVoiceEditor. Quick, easy fix for my Garmin 265T. Also, has other functions and the author has written other handy gps programs.

Worked great. Thanks for all the information.

I also boosted the .vpm sound file from 65 to 80 on my nuvi using TTS voice editor and i now hear a significant increase in Jills voice.
I am not trying to make jill bipolar

Try this free download Windows program for normalizing MP3 files. Very easy to use, and works on entire directory of MP3 files if you want it to. It will increase the volume of low volume files and decrease the volume of high volume files.

http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/download.php

The Garmin iQueM5 has a 12V adapter with amplifier speaker all-in-one. I wonder why Garmin does not have it anymore.

Depending on the surrounding noise levels I find that the volume goes from barely hearable to annoying blast of sound. Too bad there wasn't a quick VOL UP/DN on the average Garmin.

Increased my 765t from 65 to 85 works great.
Thanks for the info