DVD audio Hi-Lo Threshhold Help

[Gimlotto]

I'm looking for a plug-in or program that will allow a "smart-sound", audio normalizing feature for playing DVD's.

The problem is, while playing DVD's I constantly have to adjust the volume! You can barely hear conversations, and then a horn will honk, etc. and our ear drums will burst!

I once had a TV with a smart-sound feature, and it was great, it basically normalized the Hi-Lo audio levels, so conversations were clear, and explosions, etc. didn't break any windows in our house.

My sys:
- PowerDVD 6.0
- XP SP1
- Intel D865GBF Mobo
- SoundMAX 4 XL with AudioESP audio subsystem using the Analog Devices AD1985 codec
- P4 3.2 Prescott
- Lite-on DVD-RW SOHW 1633S (Latest firmware)
- Radeon 9000
- Latest drivers (direct X, etc)

Any help would be Greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!

[yhsaf]

i don't know a "on-the-fly-normalizer" but with Sonic Foundry/Sony SoundForge you can normalize your wav/mp3/etc.-files.

[Gimlotto]

Normalize vs. "Smart Sound"

Actually, normalization isn't the problem, I've normalized audio for years using Cooledit (Auditon), etc.

The problem is the "Ratio" of High to Low audio amplitude levels. I want to bring human speech, whispers, etc. up in amplitude, and loud explosions, etc. down in amplitude.

With a guitar, mic, you would do this with a compressor/limiter.

I had a Philips TV with "smart sound" technology that accomplished this wonderfully.

Also, many home theater amplifiers have some sort of setting for this.

It would be easy, I think, for someone to create a plug-in, say, for PowerDVD that had this "Smart-Sound" feature. I'm hoping there is something already out there that will help me with this, I just haven't been able to find it yet.

[setarip]

" I want to bring human speech, whispers, etc. up in amplitude, and loud explosions, etc. down in amplitude."

If your computer's sound system has an "equalizer", raise the mid-range to maximum and reduce all others (visually, a bell curve)...

[Gimlotto]

Advanced, naturally.

Actually, I found what I was looking for, I'll post it here for posterity.

In the PowerDVD audio configuration, click the "Advanced" button, and adjust the "Dynamic Range Compression" to the middle setting.

It was a bit hard to find, but this did the trick.

[setarip]

Congratulations on resolving your dilemma!