DVD to .vob using DVD shrink and very low audio volume

[shadysprings]

Goal is to convert dvd to mpeg4
I first used DVD shrink to go dvd to .vob
Problem is the .vob files have a very low audio level.
Is there a way to look at the audio track separately using DVD shrink?
and boost it?

[guns1inger]

No. DVD shrink does not change the audio. All it can do is remove it if you don't want it. What are you playing this back with to test ?

[shadysprings]

I'm playing back using Windows media player.
I did also convert to MPEG4 file and that also had very low volume.

I'm basically trying to get a dvd coverted to an mpeg4 to play on a psp and treo 650

[guns1inger]

WMP is not capable of playing back DVDs by itself, therefore you have installed codecs to allow mpeg and AC3 playback from within it. Some AC3 decoders also have volume and balance controls built in, which can effect total volume for playback, and also for transcoding. These will not influence Shrink, however they will affect WMP and also any audio encoders you may used in your conversion.

So what codecs are you using ?

[shadysprings]

Thanks Guns1inger,
I used WMP to only play the .vob files, which it seems to do well.
But I think the audio has already been reduced at this point.
Because when I convert the vob to mpeg4, the volume is still very low. I used a few different apps to convert vob to mpeg4 like Kinoma.

Do dvd's and vob only have ac3 tracks? Because I am trying to play on a PSP or Treo which are either mono or stereo devices, are there audio tracks present compatible?

Maybe I need to convert ac3 to mono?

[giannid]

I've noticed sometimes I get low volume when using AutoGk as well. I think the problem occurs when I convert 6 channel 5.1 sound into 2 channel .mp3.

Perhaps you should try to select the 2 channel audio source if you can. Be sure that you aren't selecting the director's commentary.

Also if you have a program like Nero Wave Editor, you can strip the audio from your mp4 using Virtualdub mod (save WAV), and then using Nero Wave Editor normalise the audio (to something like -3 Db). Then go back to Virtualdub mod, delete the original audio stream, add the new wav, full process it with compression, and save the file in direct video mode.

[shadysprings]

Does a dvd have only 5.1 audio track or also carry 2 channel stereo as well. When you convert dvd to vob, which audio tracks get put into vob?

[giannid]

When you use DVDShrink it shouldn't even convert the audio, so maybe that's not what is causing your problem.

Edit: I don't use DVDShrink that often. Maybe it does shrink the audio file too. Usually you can choose what to keep and what not. I would usually axe the 5.1 sound because it takes up a lot of space on the DVD. If you have a surround sound system, then you might want to keep it.

Perhaps someone else can offer some help on this.

[guns1inger]

Shrink does not alter audio. Period. A 5.1 mix hold 6 channels. DVD players will downconvert a 5.1 mix to 2 channel PCM for output through the analogue outputs if you don't have a digital connection. Some DVDs do also carry a a 2 channel mix, and most commentary tracks are 2 channel.

As to how other apps convert the audio, that varies from app to app.

Again, to the original poster - WMP cannot play VOBs on it's own. You must have installed something like FFDShow or AC3 Filter in order for WMP to decode AC3. Both of these have volume controls for AC3 which will affect how AC3 is played back and can affect how it is encoded.

[shadysprings]

Thats wierd. I'm running WMP 10 but can not find any mention of any AC3 plugins.
I simple double click a .vob file and QMP opens and plays it. Except the sound is very faint.

But even using other tools to convert the vob to mpeg4, the sound is still faint. So I gotta believe that it's happening during the shrink process.

Unless it's the MPEG4 players I'm using that aren't converting the ac3 to 2 channel pcm.

So I guess I need to somehow get a dvd to .vob conversion that also converts ac3 to 2 channel pcm??

[LloydAZ]

Why not try just ripping the DVD to your hard drive using DVDFab Decrypter, then run the VOB's through DGIndex.

Set the audio on DGIndex under "Dolby Digital Decode" to "Dolby Surround Downmix" and also under the audio menu select "Output Method -> Decode AC3 track to WAV."

Encode your new wav file into whatever format you want it in. Encode your video with the appropriate MPEG-4 codec. Mux the new audio and video together with something like YAMB.

If the audio is still a little low for you, you can open the WAV file in GoldWave and boost the volume a bit, save it, and then encode.

Give this a try and see if it works for you.

[guns1inger]

Do you have PowerDVD or WinDVD installed ? Again - it is not Shrink. You need to get that idea out of your head or you will just keep chasing your tail.

[shadysprings]

I'm using CloneDVD2 and am able to output .vob's as well. same result as shrink.
I even tried Lenogododvd2psp. that also resulted in an mpeg4 with very low volume level. When I say low, I mean playback volume set at MAX and still very faint audio.

Could it be just that there is no 2 channel info to play?

[guns1inger]

No. You don't understand how it work. The 5.1 will be mixed down to two channels. The .1 (LFE) will be discarded, and the rest downmixed. Somewhere in your system you have installed an AC3 filter which is interfering with the output levels. Look in add/remove programs or control panel, or even the start menu. If you have FFDShow installed, check to see if it is decoding AC3 for you. Somewhere on your computer is something you put there, possibly some time ago, to allow you to play back AC3 audio. You need to find it, and adjust the volume that it outputs to the rest of your system.

If it isn't FFDShow then it could be AC3 ACM Decompressor or AC3 filter, or another software DVD player such as PowerDVD or WinDVD. Until you find it and adjust it, you are going to keep getting low output.

[dcsos]

TMPG WILL ALLOW on the fly adjustment of AUDIO GAIN from decrypted .VOB's as it renders MPEG-4 (X-VID? DIVX)...