Is there a way to normalize audio of VOB and MPEG without demux?

[edong]

I compiled a selection of concert songs from two DVDs of the same group to compare their two past singers. I used DVDShrink to record each song in two adjacent tracks so that I can immediately see the difference between the two singers of the group. That is, track 1 and 2 contain the same song but different singers from two different DVDs. Problem is, the second DVD's audio is a LOT louder than the first one. When I play the resulting DVD, I have to adjust the volume every other track.

I have not done demuxing (so not very comfortable). Also, using DVDShrink there is a gap after each track. Might have a problem in the synch. Anyway, can I just convert it to one big MPEG? Just wonder if there is a software that can normalize audio of VOBs or MPEG without demux. Thanks.

[Soopafresh]

Unfortunately, it's a major PITA to do what you want, not to mention you'll have to re-author once you're done. Womble Mpeg VideoWizard has a way to normalize the audio, if I recall (I can't remember for sure).

http://www.womble.com/products/dvd.html

[edong]

Thanks, soopa.

Would it be easier if I demux the first DVD, normalize the audio to the level of 2nd DVD, then re-do the compilation? Please tell me the basic steps and the proper software/s to use in demux/'remux.' I know I can search for it but I know you will speak in layman terms But no need to be very detailed. Also I prefer freewares. Tight budget. Thanks again.

[Soopafresh]

Actually, AVIdemux might work quite well in your case. Give me a few minutes to try it out.

http://www.razorbyte.com.au/avidemux/2.4/SVN/3872/avidemux_2.4_r3872_win32.zip

Open the first file of the series (copy them to your hard drive first)






Change the settings to reflect the ones I set below




Then save the file as Output.mpg or similar. Good luck. I don't do very much DVD related stuff. Perhaps someone else can come up with an easier solution.

[edong]

Wow! I really appreciate all the things you have done. Looks like it's gonna work based on the screenshots. I will try it this weekend. BTW, one is 5.1(AC3?) and the other is PCM if I remember it right. Thanks again.

[OmfgZerg]

I tried this and what it actually does is increase the gain... which might be what the op was looking for.

Any idea on how to do dynamic range compression on a MPG?

[Baldrick]

Avidemux also supports mpgs. Or do you mean mpg audio?

[OmfgZerg]

Well, MPG files.. which are actually VOB with AC3.

I rip my DVD's (movie only) to VOB using DVD Shrink (1 giant VOB, not split) and run them through VideoReDo quick stream fix which makes them into 'valid' MPG files that play on my PS3 without a hitch. You can play VOBs on the PS3 but it get's real glitchy if you try to fast forward or rewind, even if you rename to .MPG (which does nothing really). I found that by running the quick stream fix, it syncs up the audio/video and the PS3 plays them perfectly. This MPG I'm curious about testing on is listed in GSpot as:

DVD "VOB" format
MPEG-2 Program Stream << { 1 vid, 1 aud }
Sys Bitrate: 10080 kb/s VBR

The audio:
48000Hz 448 kb/s tot , 6 chnls (3/2 .1)

What I was wondering is if I could take this MPG and run a program on it that would selectively read the AC3 audio and apply dynamic range compression on it. It seems that it's not possible, the only way would be demux the audio and vid and in the case of AC3, convert it to WAV, compress it, then re-encode it? Sounds messy and time consuming.

I just thought maybe some tool out there can do this easily. I don't bother converting DVD's to any other format - I have over 5TB of raid 5 storage. I like to have the 'raw' VOB/MPG for viewing as it's like watching the actual DVD. The MPG's are stored and streamed to the PS3 uncompressed over my gigabit network. As usual though, when explosions happen they are loud and the dialog is a little quiet. It got me thinking maybe I could address this problem right in the MPG's themselves. I guess the VideoReDo team is working on dynamic range compression for one of their releases but sounds like it will be a little while yet before we see something. My receiver does compression but only on Dolby sources sent bitstream which of course I'm not doing.

Any help you can offer would be... helpful