Audio level too low in FlaskMpeg, even with dynamic range compression

[james33]

Hello. I tried to search from the faq, and in thread for information, why this happens: I´m trying to convert a DVD to a DivX 5.0 movie, and I have used many different combinations of programs in this site. Somehow, in my experience, when i´m trying to use for example guardianknot, which encodes audio and video separately (or i think it uses lame for mp3, and something else for video, GK is only a front-end, right?), they´re always out of synch. Well that´s not really my problem, because, the combination which works well (and which i can use) is DVDdecrypt and flaskmpeg.

Everything seems to work well, exept, when I try to use the Dynamic Range Compression for audio to raise the level, it doesn´t work. In this particular movie, I raised it to about 50% (the slider, I mean), and screening the audio track, it sounded okay. Then I begun the porecessing (2-pass, mp3-audio). The result was good quality, size was in the range (695MB), and the audio was in synch, but way too low volume. Why is that, and how can i change this? Why the screening volume in the flaskmpeg audio player is different from the result?

I appreciate all your answers, but please don´t suggest me any other program combinations, they don´t seem to work, or they are so complicated that i cannot use them. Xmpeg crashes, so thats not an option. I just would want to solve this problem with flaskmpeg, because thats the program I can handle somehow, with doom9´s instructions.

thank you!
---
James

[vcespon]

Well, Xmpeg has some bugs, but it does the job well once you get used to it. The trick for the audio is to go to the audio player just before starting the encode. Xmpeg loses the audio settings if you select other options after them.
BTW: I prefer using the normalize function and not the dynamic range compresion, it keeps the sound of the film just like the original.

[EuGeNiLe]

has anyone tried NOT DOING ANYTHING in the audio player.. leave the settings as is.. dynamic audio compression NOT CHECKED.. normalization.. NOT CHECKED

i tried this with The Musketeer.. i didnt use any dynamic audio compression or normalization.. just made sure it was the right audio track.. and the volume turned out just right..

i am using XMPEG 4.3a.. using divx 4.12.. 2 pass encode.. ac3 to mp3 audio at 128bitrate..

[fewtch]

I usually rip with Flask using the 'no audio' option... then use Smartripper to demux the audio, and Azid to convert the .ac3 to .WAV (using compression). Then I encode to MP3 (with .wav header) seperately, and mux with the .avi using VirtualDub.

Sounds cumbersome (and occasionally getting the sync exact can be tricky), but IMHO the sound quality is a lot better -- there's a lot more you can tweak. Also, I think Flask tends to encode better with the audio option turned off... otherwise, I see occasional glitches and skipped frames.

OK, nobody tell me I oughtta be using Gordian Knot... I can't stand the look of the DivX 'fast motion' codec (at all, ever), which is a major reason I stick with Flask. Despite what everyone says, Flask makes fantastico 2-CD rips with the Divx3 low motion codec, provided you use something else for audio.

[Selur]

"I raised it to about 50%"
try 300% ;)

Cu Selur

[chipzoller]

REALLY!!!

I didn't know that after you check the dynamic range compression and make other changes, it will loose it's setings.

so you gotta do all your other settings then the last thing to do is the dynamic range compression to make the audio louder??

If thats the case I'll have to try it.

I'm in the process of ripping all of the Bond Movies since I have all of the special edition DVD's. If you were to leave all the sound options alone like normalization and dynamic range compression, the audio is low, but isn't extraordinarly low. It depends on the movies at which volume the audio naturally plays at. Some movies are so loud you have to turn down the speakers when you watch the DVD and some are so low that you have to turn it up.
It depends.



thanks for the tip! i hope it works!




chip

[Adrian]

If you have trouble with the sync, you could always compress with Flask & set the audio to an uncompressed PCM (wav) stream. Load your finished avi into Virtualdub, set video to direct stream copy, under audio compress the wave to MP3 and amplify it (go for 230 if you're cautious; up to about 300 will work for most movies without distortion). this way you won't have to worry about sync problems and Virtualdub seems to amplify the audio better than Flask.