AC3 volume way too low

[Tafflad]

I import video tracks along with 5.1 surround sound track into Sony Movie Studio Platinum v 12
After editing is complete ... I render out video & audio separately.

The error occurs with the Render - I chose:
Render As > Dolby Digital AC-3 studio
Then the template "5.1 surround DVD"
or "Stereo DVD"

The same result on both .. sound is down by at least 80% ... i.e. normal slider settings would be around half way and give loads of volume (and is happy this way in MSP) .... once rendered with the AC3 encoder the slider has to be at maximum and still way too low.

If I render with .wav or similar sound remains at correct level.
There are no settings option for Dolby audio to adjust.

I have also tried the AGC versions - no difference

I'm assuming there is no other option for me to get 5.1 surround sound into a standards based DVD

[Cornucopia]

Did you actually try putting them both on a disc, playing them in a settop player and comparing? (I'm guessing no)
It might surprise you...

****************

AC-3 uses DialNorm settings to provide proper level adjustment of program material. The Lite version of the AC-3 encoder that is in VMS doesn't allow you to change it from whatever it' stock/default is. You might be able to improve things by Normalizing & Mixdown/Bouncing to a new/replacement audio track (but I doubt it, as the DD encoder probably analyzes the file contents to determine the setting).

LPCM/WAV has no such feature, so it cannot get mis-adjusted.

Scott

[Tafflad]

I have a DVD RAM disc I might try a few samples.
Just surprised ... original file - volume is fine, in Movie Studio volume is fine, when rendered with AC3 it plummets ..... same on any one of 3 players I tried (PC players)

[Cornucopia]

Probably it is the PC players that don't take the DialNorm into account...

[Tafflad]

Did as suggested and burned a couple of sample DVD ... and the level is correct.

Interesting when I put DVD back into PC it plays at correct level - yet trying to play rendered audio file direct volume is way down ... strange.

[jagabo]

Interesting when I put DVD back into PC it plays at correct level - yet trying to play rendered audio file direct volume is way down ... strange.

Not strange at all. Your DVD player software is automatically normalizing the levels. Whatever you're using to play bare AC3 files isn't.

[Tafflad]

Reason I thought strange .. is that 'if' the player is providing support to play AC3 why wouldn't they provide support to play it at correct level, to me that is strange ... no support I could understand.

[jagabo]

The level it's encoded at is the correct level.

[Tafflad]

Had a response from Splash Lite support ... "Elementary AC3 format is not supported by Splash players."
VLC support - no answer

[newpball]

Had a response from Splash Lite support ... "Elementary AC3 format is not supported by Splash players."
VLC support - no answer

Not surprising, it costs money to support it!

Dolby, the company that had one decent invention by its original owner Ray Dolby (rest his soul) 50 gazillion years ago, now only makes money from 'reputation' and 'exclusive deals' through licensing everything but the kitchen sink.

[DB83]

^^ Very true

When I first started with dvd-authoring, my app of choice was ulead dvdworkshop (1.0). It only supported dolby if you purchased an add-in.

Version 2.0 included support and it cost a whole lot more.

For the OP:

As far as I can tell (but then I am mut & jef as far as sound is concerned) Power DVD plays the true volume. But it costs £££. Simply do not rely on software players but burn a dvd rw and test it in an actual player. if you are going to share encodings you can never be sure until that dvd hits the player.