Low audio levels in DVD Studio Pro at DVinfo.net

Bob Kerner · November 3rd, 2009, 04:53 PM

I need some help with the audio quality of my DVDs. Everything sounds alright on my editing computer from within Final Cut and it sounds alright when I "simulate disc" prior to burning. But when I play the DVD in a standalone DVD player, the audio is noticeably lower.

I'm using Final Cut Studio as my NLE and DVD Studio Pro to author SD discs using audio and video tracks output from Compressor. I use the Compressor DVD Best Quality settings which produce a Dolby 2.0 AC3 file (48 kz. 16 bit 2 channel Center Mix -3 db, Surround Mix -3 and Dialog Normalization -27 dbFS) and an MPEG 2 video file. I do not process the original soundtrack in Soundtrack Pro to adjust levels or normalize....just take it from FCP to Compressor to DVDSP.

What should I be doing in my workflow so the sound on the DVD is closer to what I hear when editing?

For some reason I think I'm altering the sound file twice: once in compressor and a second time when DVDSP muxes it. Could this be the source of the problem?

Someone told me to just increase the track levels in FC so they are louder overall; however, that seems rather imprecise. There must be target levels (that I'm unaware of) for the audio in order to get best results....no? Right now I try to maintain peaking around -6db on the FC meter.

I've searched thru Google and the answers are all over the place and mostly pertaining to AIFF files, which is not what I get from my Compressor pre-set for DVD. Thank you

Eric Darling · November 3rd, 2009, 11:40 PM

Try moving your Dialog Normalization to -31

Bob Kerner · November 4th, 2009, 08:32 AM

Just so I'm clear, to do this I should export the audio to Sountrack, use the dialog normalization function and re-import it into Final Cut. Correct?

Why -31 as opposed to some other setting?

Martin Mayer · November 4th, 2009, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kerner

Just so I'm clear, to do this I should export the audio to Sountrack, use the dialog normalization function and re-import it into Final Cut. Correct?

No, the -31dB Dialog Normalization is a setting in Compressor's Audio presets (which Apple choose to default to -27dB, which will give you a 4dB level drop if you don't change it.)

Bob Kerner · November 5th, 2009, 04:51 PM

Got it. Thanks

November 3rd, 2009, 04:53 PM	#1
Bob Kerner Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 292	Low audio levels in DVD Studio Pro I need some help with the audio quality of my DVDs. Everything sounds alright on my editing computer from within Final Cut and it sounds alright when I "simulate disc" prior to burning. But when I play the DVD in a standalone DVD player, the audio is noticeably lower. I'm using Final Cut Studio as my NLE and DVD Studio Pro to author SD discs using audio and video tracks output from Compressor. I use the Compressor DVD Best Quality settings which produce a Dolby 2.0 AC3 file (48 kz. 16 bit 2 channel Center Mix -3 db, Surround Mix -3 and Dialog Normalization -27 dbFS) and an MPEG 2 video file. I do not process the original soundtrack in Soundtrack Pro to adjust levels or normalize....just take it from FCP to Compressor to DVDSP. What should I be doing in my workflow so the sound on the DVD is closer to what I hear when editing? For some reason I think I'm altering the sound file twice: once in compressor and a second time when DVDSP muxes it. Could this be the source of the problem? Someone told me to just increase the track levels in FC so they are louder overall; however, that seems rather imprecise. There must be target levels (that I'm unaware of) for the audio in order to get best results....no? Right now I try to maintain peaking around -6db on the FC meter. I've searched thru Google and the answers are all over the place and mostly pertaining to AIFF files, which is not what I get from my Compressor pre-set for DVD. Thank you

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November 3rd, 2009, 11:40 PM	#2
Eric Darling Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 367	Try moving your Dialog Normalization to -31

November 4th, 2009, 08:32 AM	#3
Bob Kerner Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 292	Just so I'm clear, to do this I should export the audio to Sountrack, use the dialog normalization function and re-import it into Final Cut. Correct? Why -31 as opposed to some other setting?

November 5th, 2009, 04:51 PM	#5
Bob Kerner Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 292	Got it. Thanks