TMG Enc Author and Sound Levels

[davidra]

I've got a number of video clips I'm trying to burn. Only problem is widely varying sound levels among the clips. Are there any specific controls that can normalize them, or do I need some other software?

[ormonde]

What video format are the clips in?

[Dimmer]

Unfortunately, you can't simply change the volume of audio files, especially multi-channel AC-3 or DTS. You'll have to convert it preferably into PCM format (.wav), adjust the volume in some audio editor, then re-encode back. Re-encoding is likely to decrease the audio quality. You can avoid this by using the new PCM files instead of old audio, although it will only work for stereo sound and take a lot of disc space.

[davidra]

Well, half of them are ripped directly from DVDs, but half are captured old video clips from VHS tapes. The sound on those varies a whole lot. Most are much quieter than those with original AC3 sound. I have converted them all into the same resolution with AC3 sound using TMPEG Enc, but there is still a big variation in volume. I assumed that there would be some normalization built into the authoring program.

[Dimmer]

Originally posted by davidra
I have converted them all into the same resolution with AC3 sound using TMPEG Enc, but there is still a big variation in volume. I assumed that there would be some normalization built into the authoring program.

If you still have the original VHS captures, it would be best to normalize the sound in an audio editor or TMPGEnc and re-encode it into AC-3. Authoring programs are not supposed to touch the source material, and AC-3 is not really a format that allows any editing including normalizing.

[ormonde]

" I have converted them all into the same resolution with AC3 sound using TMPEG Enc, but there is still a big variation in volume"

Unless you have the audio equipment to bring out the enhanced audio quality of Ac3, I would convert the audio files to either uncompressed WAV, or Mp2. You can then boost the volume right within TMPGEnc or a separate audio editor.

[davidra]

Aha. That's my question....how do I boost the volume within TMPGEnc? I've just gotten the Express 3.0 version, and there's nothing in the help file about this. Additionally, I gather from your post that however it's done, you can't do it while encoding into AC3? I've selected AC3 for these because it gives smaller files, right?

[ormonde]

"how do I boost the volume within TMPGEnc? I've just gotten the Express 3.0 version, and there's nothing in the help file about this"

I have not upgraded my version of TMPGEnc. (I have the Plus 2.5 version) I do know how to do this in 2.5, but I would suggest that you go to the Pegasys website to find out if the interface has changed in Express 3.0. Go here:

http://www.pegasys-inc.com/

"I've selected AC3 for these because it gives smaller files, right?"

That's true the file sizes are smaller, but keep in mind it's more difficult to edit Ac3 files independently as many audio editors will not accept them. And again, you won't benefit from the sound quality of Ac3 without the enhanced audio equipment.

[davidra]

OK....while I'm waiting, how do you do it in 2.5? Maybe I can figure it out.....

[ormonde]

"how do you do it in 2.5?"

I'm assuming that you already have a "Separate" audio (Ac3) track. If for some reason TMPGEnc does not accept the Ac3, then you will have to convert it first to either a WAV or Mp2. Anyway, the procedure is as follows:

1. Go to the "Main" dialog in TMPGEnc. (Not the "Project Wizard". If this dialog opens automatically when you launch TMPGEnc, close out of it.)

2. In the bottom half of the screen, you will see two windows. (Video Source and Audio Source). If you have the separated audio track, load it into the "Audio Source" window.

3. At the right under the "Stream Type" setting, Select "ES” (Audio only).

4. At the very bottom, click the "Setting" button. This will bring up an "Audio" dialog box.

5. You can adjust certain things here such as "Sampling Frequency" and "Bitrate". It will also allow you to save the stream as a PCM Wav or mp2.

6. At the bottom of the dialog, you will see an option called "Audio Edit". Put a checkmark in the "Use Audio Edit" and click the "Setting" button at the right. This will bring up another dialog box that will allow you to control the volume output. Adjust the volume to your liking and click OK. then click OK again to go back to the main dialog box.

7. Go to "File" > "Output to File" and save as either an mpeg or a WAV with a filename of your choice.

[davidra]

Aha. But I guess you can't load both audio and video in at the same time, if you wanted to alter for example the resolution and audio at one pass?

[ormonde]

"But I guess you can't load both audio and video in at the same time, if you wanted to alter for example the resolution and audio at one pass?"

You can do it, but you would have to make sure that the resolution and bitrate are set to the same as the original, or just load the DVD template (NTSC or PAL), and you could still adjust the settings manually. It probably would be easier to just "De-multiplex" the original video and audio, modify the audio with the procedure that I outlined in my last post, then "Multiplex" the video and (newly) modified audio track back together as a "New" mpeg 2 file. You could also have "TMPGEnc DVD Author" do the multiplexing of both the video and audio files as well.