Subject:AC-3 lowered volume

Posted by: MrMikeC

Date:6/10/2004 8:01:23 PM

I've been doing research up to my eyeballs as to this lowering of volume in an encoded AC-3 file. Has anyone come up with a solution? Someone told me to just set the DRC settings to None yet it's still the same lowered volume after doing that. Someone else said it is probably the free AC-3 Filter from sourceforge.net that is causing it to sound lower but in reality it's the same - One way I'd be able to tell is if I could open it up onto the timeline in Vegas and look at the output meter, but of course Vegas won't open an ac3 onto the timeline - does anyone have a solution?

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: B_JM

Date:6/11/2004 4:16:07 AM

well for one the free ac3 filter is still not producing 100% compatable / compliant ac3 files .... plus - it's not legal so says dolby ..


set to -31 and none

keep all tracks to -3 below clipping (as shown on the vegas mixer) max levels

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: MrMikeC

Date:6/11/2004 11:30:06 AM

well I'm only using the AC-3 Filter to playback the files since you can't open them up in Vegas..., ok I will try -31 for the dialogue normalization and set the dynamic range compression to none for both,,,we'll see what happens

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: SonyEPM

Date:6/11/2004 2:19:01 PM

You can, alternatively, uncheck the input filtering options in the preprocessing page. If you do this, your levels will more closely match the levels of a PCM wav file created from the same timeline.

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: MrMikeC

Date:6/12/2004 11:38:57 AM

alternatively or additionally to setting the DRC options to none? and should the dialogue normalization be set at -31 if I disable these options?

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: jltzd

Date:6/28/2004 1:52:37 PM

Dolby would tell you that you should only use -31 for Music DVD's....is that what this is? Are you trying to match a PCM track?

JL

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: Phil_Predo

Date:7/18/2004 6:52:23 AM

I have found the level of a Sony AC-3 encode is low as well. About half compared to levels of other material in general.
No matter what the level of input, the output doesn't change.
There must be something I don't know yet.
I've looked at the Scenarist encoder too requiring wave file inputs. Same is happening there too. But I need to play some more.
I looked at BeSweet to try to increase level but odd things happened there.
The ac-3 files import to Adobe Encore ok to make a video DVD but compared to ensuing mpeg files on the disc, ac-3 is unbearably low.
Is there a solution? I don't know.

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: BJ_M

Date:7/19/2004 4:33:25 PM

did you read this thread ?

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=290690&Page=0

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?MessageID=290825&Page=0

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: Phil_Predo

Date:7/19/2004 6:43:10 PM

Hi BJ,
Yes I did see the previous messages.
I have taken note to set Dialog Normalization to -31 and set Pre-processing to None.
I will try all tracks to -3 below clipping in AcidPro (I don't use Vegus).
As for the quote "the free ac3 filter is still not producing 100% compatable / compliant ac3 files .... plus - it's not legal so says dolby .. " I assume the AC-3 encoder is not encoding within proper specs.
So when and if the custom button works for me in Render As AC-3, I will try these suggestions.
Thanks, appreciate it.

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: Phil_Predo

Date:7/21/2004 2:42:57 AM

Stop Press!

I now have the custom button working, so all is well.

Thanks for everyones feedback, much appreciated.

Cheers.

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: B.Verlik

Date:7/30/2004 12:20:47 AM

I have one added question regarding this subject. I finally found my settings for my AC3 and noticed that these settings can only be acheived if you are going to purposely render an AC3 file only. I thought you guys were talking about a permanent setting that would take place in the DVD software, when you went to make a DVD and it re-compresses the audio into an AC3.
If I have to make a separate AC3 file, will the DVD section know how to import it and use it? Do I have to make a video mpg2, without audio? Will somebody explain this one please?

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: akg

Date:7/30/2004 8:58:08 AM

I have taken note to set Dialog Normalization to -31 and set Pre-processing to None
But not louder enough That I want !!!

Subject:RE: AC-3 lowered volume

Reply by: Neil Wilkes

Date:8/2/2004 11:48:22 AM

Turn up the amplifier.

Sounds to me as if you are used to over compressed hell loads on stereo tracks.
The idea of surround is to bring dynamics into play - the last thing most people want is 5 channels at an average of 8dB RMS, as this would be so fatiguing it would be appalling.

I repeat, turn up the amplifier, or buy decent monitors.
Dolby Digital is just fine when encoded correctly, and that is an art.

See www.dolby.com/digital and READ the encoding guidelines.
You cannot seriously expect to get good results with a few mouse clicks.