ripped dvd has very low dialogue volume

[dreborn]

i know this question has been posted before but i cannot seem to get a definitive answer.

i have ripped some dvd's using AnyDVD + AutoGK to Xvid and the output looks great and the audio/video sync is perfect BUT the dialogue is extremely low. I have used the AC3Filter to crank up the master volume a bit but that just seems to crank up all the background noise so proportionally, the dialogue sounds the same (everything is just louder).

kind of annoying...ha, it's so close to being easy to backing up the $20 dvd's i buy. Always something.

thanks!

[Baldrick]

I guess you are keeping the ac3 audio? It's not reconverted then and should the same as the dvd source. Or are you converting to mp3?

[jagabo]

Set the speaker configuration in AC3Filter to match your speaker setup.

[dreborn]

i set AutoGK to "original" in audio output so shouldn't that be fine?

i will change the setup in AC3 Filter and see if that makes a difference.

thanks for the replies!! =)

[dreborn]

another question...i have surround sound but nothing coming out of the center channel on my ripped dvd's. any reason?

i am playing the video file on my htpc hooked up to my av receiver via 5.1 channel analog hook ups (three cables going from my sound card to the 5.1 analog input on my receiver).

i should have sound coming out of the center channel if i ripped the dvd with it's AC3 6ch audio?

[jagabo]

Go to Control Panel -> Sounds and Audio Devices. Make sure your speaker configuration is set up correctly. Make sure AC3Filter's speaker configuration is the same is set up the same way.

[dreborn]

yea, it's set correctly in windows. can't seem to find where to set the speaker config in AC3. where is it?

thanks

[jagabo]

Main tab, top left, "Output" pulldown.

[dreborn]

weird...when i choose the correct output (3/2 5.1 + SW) the sound gets all "spacey" and then i hear ZERO dialogue. the only way it sounds somewhat ok is when i choose dolby pro logic but then, as always, i get no sound from my center channel. i posted my problem over on avsforum and maybe i am ripping my dvd's incorrectly?

"hi there, i have my HTPC hooked up to my AV receiver via 5.1 analog inputs (3 cables from my soundcard to the receiver). i get sound out of all the speakers (including the sub) but NOT from my center channel.

I am playing a full quality dvd rip (anydvd + dvdshrink) that is stored in a VIDEO_TS folder in Windows Media Player Classic.

1. I have made sure that my speakers are set to 5.1 in control panel

2. media player classic says the movie is AC3 6ch (i also ripped the DTS track but i can't seem to switch to it)

Notes:

1. i have AC3 filter and i have been messing around with the Output to match my speaker setup (3/2 5.1 SW) but then there is no dialogue heard and all the sound is very low and "spacey." the only setting that seems to work is the Dolby Pro Logic choice but still, no sound from center channel.

what am i missing?

thanks!"

a response:

"What you are describing is what happens when there are fewer channels recorded than are allowed for in the encoding method used. For example there are older soundtracks in Mono, Stereo, 4-channel surround, etc. formats. These can be encoded as any number of channels on disk with those channels without sound recorded as all zeroes.

In the case you are describing, it sounds like you have a Stereo soundtrack encoded in 5.1- channel format. When you digitally filter such a signal you mix the actual sounds that exist in the L and R channels with the all-zero bitstreams from the C/LFE/LS/RS channels.

A better way to encode such a soundtrack would have been as Dolby Surround 2.0. Then the filter options available would be somewhat restricted, but they would have produced understandable results. Your Pro-Logic processor works becasue it is intended to synthesize surround from Stereo source.

If your source was truly 5.1 originally it got crunched down to 2.0 somewhere in the rip/playback process before filtering.

Gary"

could that be my problem? i used a no compression rip with anydvd + dvdshrink making sure to have the 5.1 channel audio track checked.

thanks!

[jagabo]

Try this small Xvid/AC3 file with 5.1 audio. The voice speaks each of the different channels so you can verify if everything is working correctly. Fore example when the voice says "left front" the sound should be coming from the left front speaker.

ac3test.avi

[dreborn]

thanks jagabo...ill check it out. =)

[dreborn]

so here's some more weird stuff:

tried the ac3test.avi and when i have ac3filter config set to "3/2 5.1 + SW" here's what happens:

Left Front: perfect
Center: NOTHING (completely cuts out)
Right Front: perfect
Right Surround: perfect
Left Surround: perfect
LFE: seems like sound is coming out of left front--don't know if that's bad or good

so what's goin on here???? =)

thanks!

[edDV]

Will a normal DVD play out the center speaker?

[jagabo]

The voice during the LFE portion comes out the left front. During that time there is some low frequency rumble coming out the SW. The voice probably wouldn't be audible from the SW.

I don't know why there's no audio from your center speaker. Try moving the wires around to see where the problem lies. For example, move the center channel audio from your audio card to the right front channel of your amp. Then see if the "center front" voice comes out the right front.

[dreborn]

ok, now to add insult to injury, my dvd drive is not working in my HTPC. recognized by the bios and windows. i can insert a dvd or cd but then it doesn't even spin up. i have tried to uninstall it from the device manager and restart windows and it reinstalls correctly and shows up correctly in the device manager (pioneer 106D).

ha.

anyways, it definitely seems like i messed up on the center channel wiring. is the center + SW on the same channel by any chance? im going to check my cables

[dreborn]

FIXED: i checked the cabling again and the center/SW cable from my soundcard was just SLIGHTLY loose. popped it back in and bam, everything works great.

sigh.

really sorry guys, appreciate all the help. everything sounds great now.

of course my dvd drive doesn't work now for some reason in my htpc but whatever... =)

[jagabo]

Heheh, I was going to suggest checking the pinplug for the center channel! I occasionally fail to plug one in all the way too.

[dreborn]

so silly...i always laugh at people who don't check the cabling. why do i always think it's a complicated problem... =)