MPEG2 too dark

[halbert]

I recently had many 8mm reels converted to a DVD and MPEG2 files. Besides the added contrast, the clips are too dark. The company used Sony Vegas 6. I am using TMPGEnc DVD Author to make chapters of each clip and want to add narration later.

1. Am I using the right software for this project?
2. Can I lighten the clips in an editing session?
3. What software should I use to add narration?

Thanks,
Halbert

[edDV]

I recently had many 8mm reels converted to a DVD and MPEG2 files. Besides the added contrast, the clips are too dark. The company used Sony Vegas 6. I am using TMPGEnc DVD Author to make chapters of each clip and want to add narration later.

1. Am I using the right software for this project?
2. Can I lighten the clips in an editing session?
3. What software should I use to add narration?

Thanks,
Halbert

Is the goal to watch these on the computer or on a TV/HDTV? The clips are probably encoded for TV display. These will look dark on a computer monitor. Use a MPeg viewer like PowerDVD or WinDVD to improve levels for computer display. Don't alter the original files or the levels will be too high for TV display.

[Cunhambebe]

3. What software should I use to add narration?

Sony Sound Forge + Sony Vegas or Adobe Audition + Sony Vegas.
If you want to add music and sound effects, Vegas has a full Dolby Surround EX plug-in.

Open both video and audio track in Vegas. Go to File> Properties and configure the options for Dolby Film. File> Render as> AC3> Configure the Dolby plug-in.

Name both files (video and AC-3 audio) the same (ex. homemovie.mpg and homemovie.ac-3). Open one of the files in Sony DVD Architect (the other one will go along). Author, prepare and burn your DVD.