TMPGEnc Conversion 15hrs remain?!

[Squid_uk]

I tried convert the video using ConvertxtoDVD then took the extracted wav from before and coverted it to AC3 using BesweetGUI and then when re-authoring using TDA and select the new AC3 files out the input audio but the final copy is still very quiet compared to the original,

I also tried selecting optimize quality in TMPGEnc Xpress but the output was still over 15hrs

EDIT: I have also found that the wav files i obtained using VirtualDub are also very quiet

[Squid_uk]

Now im starting to get confused! If open the avi file in VirtualDub and before i do anything to the clip i noticed that the volume is lower when played in virtualdub than when played in Windows media player! How could this happen when no editring has taken place?

[TBoneit]

Vdub doesn't have a volumne control and media player does. All media players should have a volumne control.

I suspect that in Vdub you are hearing the true volumne level.

As I remember it TMPGEnc Xpress has a adjustment for boosting level, I could also be remembering something else. I'm at work and don't have it on this computer. But I seem to remember it is in the filters section.

[Squid_uk]

I tried opening the wav file from VD then opened it using Goldwave and raised the volume then used the following guide https://forum.videohelp.com/topic129419.html to convert to AC3 but the output files do not work when added to TDA as the input audio there is then no volume

[TBoneit]

Which TDA? the older versions required you to buy the AC3 plug-in to hear AC3 but could still author with AC3. If you have the AC3 plug-in or one of the new versions that it comes with, IE TDA3 you don't need to convert to AC3 it can do it for you. Have you tested the output from goldwave with something that can play AC3 to see if Goldwave converted it properly?

My understanding is that AC3 wil be quieter to give the audio more headroom. IOWs the range fro very quiet to very loud can be larger in AC3 as I understand it.

Anybody correct me if I'm wrong.

[Squid_uk]

By the looks of it once the file(s) are burnt to DVD the volume returns to normal, so i think this is now solved! Thanks to everyone who helped me with this problem!