Dialogue Volume

[benson881]

Is there anyway I can increase dialogue volume in an avi before converting it to DVD (MPEG2) but not the music/sund efftects volume. I know AC3 is quieter than WAV files. Its just that the dialogue and softer sounds are being drowned out by the louder sounds. When I turn the volume up on my TV the diagloue is fine but then my eardrums explode when the music come on, or the music is fine but its really hard to hear the dialogue.


Cheers Jim

[Cobra]

You could extract the audio to a WAV file and open it up in something like Audacity. You can then use the graphic equaliser to boost up the range of frequencies where voices normally are, or you could normalise the entire audio file.

Not sure if this is the best solution, but it is a possibility.

Best of luck,

Cobra

[sanjayk]

normalising the audio is a better option.

[yoda313]

Or if its a 5.1 ac3 extract it with virtualdub and use besweet to convert it to 6 mono wavs. Then boost just the center channel wav to increase the vocals.

[Paul_G]

I have had excellent success with films what have quiet talking and loud explosions, gun fire, screams etc by using Soundforge 8.

Load audio file then go to "Effect -> Dynamics -> Graphic" and select the option "2:1 compression starting at -18" and click ok.

Use it more than once if needed.

If someone knows how to set up the same in Goldwave please post the info.

[benson881]

Will try it with virtualdub and soundforge. Is it better to edit the avi audio first or edit the ac3 file compiled by Totalfilmmachine?

[benson881]

Soundforge wont open my audio file. Says it doesnt suport my ac3 file and my wav file (5 channel)

[GullyFoyle]

You are running it just through the tv?
If the tv has one of those faux surround settings remove that.
That happens all the time with mine, voices low but music and background higher.
Are you running from computer or standalone?
I've had a similar problem in the past playing some files on the pc. There was some adjustment I had to make in my media player ( Zoomplayer or Bsplayer).
I can't recall exactly what the audio adjustment was. It has been a couple of years. But voices were low and background/music high volume.

[greymalkin]

if you're using a receiver you can just turn up the center channel. if that bothers you and you want to keep the 5.1 surround you'll have to extract to 6 mono .wavs using a program like Cilers AC3 Tool (or besweet as yoda mentioned previously) and open just the center channel in an audio editing program..amplify and re-encode using an ac3 encoder.

Actually some of the encoders might boost the center channel as it encodes, but i would want to "see" the changes i've made to the center before re-encoding in case i got too happy and introduced clipping.

[benson881]

I am usifn it just on my tv and my standalone. I think i'll try decoding it into 6 mono waves, boost centre and reencode.

Cheers fellas. Will let you know

[benson881]

How do I extract 6 mono wavs with AC3 tool. Tries besweet but it sayd its missing a log file or somthing. Can i reencode with AC3 tool?