How to capture consistent (quality) volume?

[videoholic]

When capturing TV shows with my ATI AIW card, the volume of the mpeg files is dependent upon the volume of my current audio configuration. In other words, if the volume is low, the file I create has low volume. THIS SUCKS!

1) How should my system be setup so that all of my captures have a consistent (and quality) volume level?

2) Is there anything I can do to correct the volume on the files I have already captured? I have about 100GB worth of captures that I would hate to scrap. Any way I can streamline them to have the same volume level?

My current config:
Analog capture with ATI All-In-Wonder 9800 Pro
MPEG2 352x480 NTSC 4.02 Mbit/sec
Audio = 48,000 KHz 16 bit Stereo
unfiltered

Sound Blaster Audigy ZS Platinum Pro sound card
to Logitech Z680 equalizer (Coax Stereo x2 setting)
to Logitech Z680 speakers

PLEASE HELP!!!
I capture cable TV shows daily with the intention of authoring on DVD. I am a bit inexperienced in the audio realm. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[vhelp]

Hi videoholic,

I'm no audio expert, but you could (after capturing your Cable) (assuming its
captured directly to MPEG-2) de-mux your audio/video (separate them) and
then edit your audio, with say, " cool edit " and then re-mux them (audio/vid)
back to an .MPG and then author them to DVD. No re-encoding is necessary :P

<--- The " All Guides " are all to your left (many) .. .. .

-vhelp

[videoholic]

Thanks vhelp!

I will try to get my hands on that software and attempt to repair the sound on my files.

I have read EVERY capture and audio repair guide on this site. None of them advise how to setup audio components. There's got to be a way to configure my equipment so that I will always capture with a consistent (and decent quality) sound level, isn't there?

I am sure my problem is with my component configuration and not my capture settings. My setup is probably more complex than the normal system. My components consist of Sound Blaster Audigy ZS Platinum Pro sound card -> Creative Labs digital decoder -> Logitech EQ -> Logitech 5.1 speakers

With all of the people on this forum that regularly capture from TV, I'm sure somebody has the answers I need!!! My PC is primarily used for video capture, so I need recommendation for how to hook up my audio components for optimal audio capture. Somebody please help this poor noob!

[yoda313]

Hello,
Here's a thought. If you REALLY only use the computer for capturing just leave your input volume alone. Don't touch it (just adjust your speaker volume controls). Also, make sure your capture software has its volume levels at a decent level.
Kevin

[videoholic]

Thanks. I'll try a few things tonight and if I can't get the desired results, I'll check back here later.

[zzyzzx]

Just take the audio portion and "normalize" it.

[kenmo]

How do you normalize it ??? When you demux it using Tmpgenc it saves the audio as a mp2 file. It will not open in Cool Edit 2000. Only mp3 files will open....

[krypt300]

i have a sound blaster 5.1 sound card installed to replace my onboard avance 97 sound card and i had that same problem when capturing tv with my ati aiw 9800 video card were i get low volume when capturing from tv using ati multimedia 8.5 but the volume seems normal when playing dvds or watching tv. after looking at the sound blaster manual online i connected the line jack that leads from a/v out on the ati 9800 video card to the mic jack on the sound card instead of the line in jack and the volume increased. adjust your setup on the tv setup initiation wizard to mic instead of line in on the audio inputs and adjust your recording volume on your sound card mixer under microphone. hope this helps.

[noslow]

I capture TONS off tv with my setup also. I used to use my ATI ware untill I found the InterVideo WinDVR 3 ware. It works great. has many opts. for different setups, has a vol. control for captures also. man I love it! So, you might want to give it a look & try it out, might be right for you?



great ware

[johns0]

I use besweet to normalize mp2 and wav files.

[akbor75]

the sound comes in via my line in. my line in setting is 'middle', and i never change that.
i don't understand while changing the playback volume (wav) can affect your recording volume.

i don't think it's necissairy to normalize all your files. cos that will almost never make the sound any better. it create more noise, and when you remove that you will loose signal.

[johns0]

akbor75,your wrong about normalizing,if your audio source is clean but at a low volume increasing the sound to match the other volume to produce consistent volume wont increase noise at all if it isnt present.

[Ibme]

I have been using an ATI AIW card to capture TV for years (can't remember how many).
I have also experienced the same issue.
This can occur with the onboard audio for many motherboards, and yes, Sound Blaster products;
specifically Audigy products
I had a SB Live! 5.1 card and the master volume control also controlled the line-in audio levels.
You can verify it by going to the advance audio settings and enable the line-in, wave and master volumes, and play with the Master Vol Ctrl in the systray.

As you said "this sucks", and is a known issue for ATI capture software and Sound Blaster Audigy.
They suggest downloading the latest drivers for your audio card.
I believe there is a fix for this issue from SB, but you'll have to look for it on the ATI & SB websites.
Don't ask me where to find the info. It's been so long for me, I have no idea where you would find it, other than to search the ATI & SB websites.

I solved this issue with a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card. (CompUSA $40 on sale).
It allows me to adjust the line-in levels independent of the master volume.

I am not advocating that you replace your Audigy, that's an expensive, high end card, so I hope you find the fix for this issue.
If there is no fix for this card, yoda313 may have the only solution. "Set the Master Volume at the proper value, remove the control from the systray (so you're not tempted), and adjust the volume at the speakers for your listening pleasure".
The Platinum Pro has the external I/O hub, but I don't know if that controls the internal volume or just the external speaker volume.
This card should give you clean audio (depending on your source), so you should be able to pump up the volume on your previous captures, w/o increasing noise.

wrt increasing the volume of audio you've already captured:
You can do that with TMPGEnc, on the audio menu. You can increase the volume up to 400%.
You can do this while you are encoding the video, or after de-muxing.
Its pretty quick when you do the audio alone.
Of course, akbor75 is correct; increasing the volume "Post Production" will likely increase any noise present (if there is any).
I haven't used Cool Edit, so I can't advise you there.

FYI: I do not think the MIC JACK is stereo, so I would not use it for capturing (I have tried).
Also, using onboard audio introduces other issues; loud hissing, extreme low or high volume.
All good reasons to stay away from onboard audio when you are capturing.
All my mbs were suppose to have the best onboard audio available (6 channel), but it still isn't good enough for capturing.

Good luck, I hope you find a solution for this.

[akbor75]

johns0, while the topic starter talks about capturing from tv, i guess there's noise involved.