AC3 to AAC without loosing dynamic range control

[ArtDen]

Is it possible to convert AC3 to AAC without loosing dynamic range control? Are there any applicatons/tools for this?

[tebasuna51]

Is it possible to convert AC3 to AAC without loosing dynamic range control? Are there any applicatons/tools for this?
AFAIK aac don't have a similar feature to ac3 Dynamic Range Compression (each audio block, less than 6 ms, can have a recommended gain value to apply, or not, at criterion of user decoder, in order to reduce the Dynamic Range), then when convert ac3 -> aac you need choose between:

- Preserve the full Dynamic ac3 Range: Decode without apply DRC, recommended for users with good audio equipment.

- Reduce the Dynamic ac3 Range: Decode with DRC (Normal, Light, ...) and Normalize, recommended for users with the typical low volume ac3 problem.

[ArtDen]

- Preserve the full Dynamic ac3 Range: Decode without apply DRC, recommended for users with good audio equipment.
I don't like this idea as:
1. It is not possible to compress sound when listening in case of need
2. Possibly, loss of quality happens for quiet sounds

- Reduce the Dynamic ac3 Range: Decode with DRC (Normal, Light, ...) and Normalize, recommended for users with the typical low volume ac3 problem.
I exactly don't want to compress sound range :)

[shon3i]

Then you should keep original AC3 ;)

[Elektra999]

I do not compress never the dynamic range dynamic of AC3, DTS.

[homerpez]

I'm confused (as usual)...

I've always noticed this happening, I can play an ac3 file, and it's nearly silent. Going from the PC through optical cable, I get 5.1 channels, but I can sometimes crank the volume on my theater system FULL BLAST, and I can barely hear it.

However, if I use a DVD program (ex: PowerDVD) and select "Use SPDIF", then suddenly the volume goes WAY up (the proper effect).

This is strange, since the audio is going along the same optical line, yet one is so much louder than the other...

Is these some flag I need to add or something to make it always loud??? Using BeHappy currently, trying to amplify by 16db each time (the only way I can even hear playback on my PC alone) but I'm thinking that's wrong.