Feature Request: Volume Auto-Leveling

[dragon]

Originally Posted by aperry

I've noticed that as well. DVD (and any AVI encoded with AC3 sound) seems to play at a much lower level than the rest of my recordings.

It happens with my digital cable as well (dolby digital sound is noticeably lower than the other channels), and also with my "real" DVD player, so I've always assumed it is not Sage as much as something that maybe I need to tweak in my stereo...

I hope this gets fixed in the next Beta. My sound levels between DVD and Sage2.2.8-recorded shows, were almost even. When I installed the first 3.0 beta, the sound levels on DVD playing were chopped to almost unhearable.

I have to turn the TV sound up almost all the way to hear a DVD at normal (not theater) volumes. Guess what happens when I (or worse, my wife) switch to a live or recorded show.

[aperry]

Been there, done that. Surprised I haven't blown a speaker!

[mkanet]

My system uses AC3 filter by default outside of SageTV. In my SageTV configuration, AC3 filter isn't listed as an available audio renderer. What I need to do to get this to work?

[Blue]

See this thread:
Specifying AC3 Filter

[mkanet]

Thanks! Which specific settings will adjust the default volume level for AC3 encoded movies? I see all these input an output gain controls, but I dont see anything specific just to digital audio.

[Fuzzy]

If you are using a digital tuner, and recording .TS files, the AC3Filter decoder has volume normalization algorithms in it, but of course, this will only work with AC3 audio. Does the FFDShow Audio decoder have normalization?

[mkanet]

Fuzzy, or anyone, how does this help the overall volume level of a digital tuner verses sound from a different sources? My overall audio level for .ts files is way too low as opposed to sound from my Hauppauge PVR USB2. AC3filter is set to volume normalzation already.

[Fuzzy]

Are you sending the AC3 stream directly to your stereo, or is AC3Filter decoding it? if AC3Filter is set for SPDIF output, then the gain and volume controls don't do anything anyways. If all AC3 encoded files are quiet, then it sound lik your non AC3 sources are actually too loud. FFDShow, if it is being used, has volume normalization, but I'm not sure how to get sage to use it.

[mkanet]

Fuzzy, that makes sense. I didnt realize it's as simple as turning down the volume on my directv STV

[Fuzzy]

What can i say, I'm here to help... seriously though, the items that have AC3 tracks stay digital all the way into your reciever, without any processing done at all, so the only way to improve it is to adjust the ones you can, or go analog from your computer to the reciever, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, if it isn't a long run, and it would allow for much more customization of the volume, and individual speaker levels.