DVDSP Audio Issue at DVinfo.net

Derek Nickell · December 17th, 2008, 01:23 AM

So, this shouldnt be in Audio, I think.....if it should please move it.

I created an entire DVD with motion menus, multiple tracks.....etc.....

So, now the audio on the menus is way too loud and when you go to a track its too low compared to the menu sound. I compared what I had to other pro dvd's i.e: Bourne Ultimatum, Godfather....etc. Without touching the sound on the tube, that audio on the menus is way too loud and the tracks are just perfect. (around -12db output)

So, what I have tried is to take the file into soundtrack and take it down about 20db and re-export the file and then input it back to DVDSP. But that doesnt do anything....still loud.

Any ideas? Should i get a different authoring program?

Mike Barber · December 20th, 2008, 12:35 PM

What is the audio source? Is it in the movie clip used in the menu, or a standalone audio file? What is its level?

Christopher Drews · December 21st, 2008, 03:37 AM

You need to make it an AC3 file in compressor first.
-C

Derek Nickell · December 21st, 2008, 09:50 AM

I took it as a caf from the soundtrack built in's. Will you be able to adjust the ac3 when you stick it into DVDSP? Or do you have to set levels before putting it through compressor?

Mike Barber · December 21st, 2008, 10:51 AM

Set levels in Soundtrack, then send to Compressor, then import into DVDSP.

Chris Estrella · December 22nd, 2008, 04:21 PM

I've just been importing the file into FCP, setting the appropriate level, and exporting as WAV, then into DVDSP. Any advantage of using Soundtrack and Compressor?

Mike Barber · December 22nd, 2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Estrella

Any advantage of using Soundtrack and Compressor?

Other than having your audio in the correct format? ;-)

The non-smarty pants answer is that you should run both picture and sound through Compressor in order to transcode both into the appropriate formats. Audio for DVD should be Dolby Digital AC3 files, not WAVs or AIFFs (even though they can technically be used, IIRC they are not actually part of the DVD spec).

Compressor has good presets for transcoding your media. You can tweak them to suite your needs per project. I have a swath of custom presets for various workflows which I save as droplets as well.

Take some time to dive into Compressor and you will find it much more usefull than you may have first thought.

Chris Estrella · December 22nd, 2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Barber

Other than having your audio in the correct format? ;-)

The non-smarty pants answer is that you should run both picture and sound through Compressor in order to transcode both into the appropriate formats. Audio for DVD should be Dolby Digital AC3 files, not WAVs or AIFFs (even though they can technically be used, IIRC they are not actually part of the DVD spec).

Compressor has good presets for transcoding your media. You can tweak them to suite your needs per project. I have a swath of custom presets for various workflows which I save as droplets as well.

Take some time to dive into Compressor and you will find it much more usefull than you may have first thought.

Oh, I was just talking about menu audio (and I thought the TC was too). I definitely use Compressor for my DVD video, but it didn't seem necessary for only menu audio (and it's worked fine for me).

Derek Nickell · December 24th, 2008, 03:31 AM

I run all track audio through Compressor. DVDSP transcodes audio that does not fit the right format anyway. But will adjust levels even after i turn the volume down in FCP or ST.

Menu volume not track volume.

December 17th, 2008, 01:23 AM	#1
Derek Nickell Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LA/SFV Posts: 155 Images: 2	DVDSP Audio Issue So, this shouldnt be in Audio, I think.....if it should please move it. I created an entire DVD with motion menus, multiple tracks.....etc..... So, now the audio on the menus is way too loud and when you go to a track its too low compared to the menu sound. I compared what I had to other pro dvd's i.e: Bourne Ultimatum, Godfather....etc. Without touching the sound on the tube, that audio on the menus is way too loud and the tracks are just perfect. (around -12db output) So, what I have tried is to take the file into soundtrack and take it down about 20db and re-export the file and then input it back to DVDSP. But that doesnt do anything....still loud. Any ideas? Should i get a different authoring program?

December 20th, 2008, 12:35 PM	#2
Mike Barber Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto ON Canada Posts: 731	What is the audio source? Is it in the movie clip used in the menu, or a standalone audio file? What is its level? __________________ Mike Barber "I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."

December 21st, 2008, 10:51 AM	#5
Mike Barber Major Player Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto ON Canada Posts: 731	Set levels in Soundtrack, then send to Compressor, then import into DVDSP. __________________ Mike Barber "I'm laughing to stop myself from screaming."

December 21st, 2008, 03:37 AM	#3
Christopher Drews Major Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 628	You need to make it an AC3 file in compressor first. -C

December 21st, 2008, 09:50 AM	#4
Derek Nickell Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LA/SFV Posts: 155 Images: 2	I took it as a caf from the soundtrack built in's. Will you be able to adjust the ac3 when you stick it into DVDSP? Or do you have to set levels before putting it through compressor?

December 22nd, 2008, 04:21 PM	#6
Chris Estrella Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Richmond, Canada Posts: 117	I've just been importing the file into FCP, setting the appropriate level, and exporting as WAV, then into DVDSP. Any advantage of using Soundtrack and Compressor?

December 24th, 2008, 03:31 AM	#9
Derek Nickell Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LA/SFV Posts: 155 Images: 2	I run all track audio through Compressor. DVDSP transcodes audio that does not fit the right format anyway. But will adjust levels even after i turn the volume down in FCP or ST. Menu volume not track volume.