Audio Level way too quiet Sound too low A180 Sage 6

[dealsdyker]

Hi,

My recordings with my SageTV version 6 seem to produce low volume recordings (hard to hear). I recorded a few shows, and played them back and had to crank up the TV's volume level to its max. Is that normal? Am I missing some sort of adjustment?

Under Detailed Setup for Audio Renderer I have "default" selected. There are other selections available but none of them make any difference that I can tell (and actually selecting some of the other options make the video stutter for 10 seconds after pausing).

Under Detailed setup for MPEG2 Audio Decoder Filter I have 5 options:
Default
AC3Filter
CyberLink Audio Decoder for Dell
MPEG Audio Decoder
SageTV MPEG Audio Decoder

The loudest one is the Cyberlink so I selected that one, but it is still unacceptably quiet.

Also of interest if I go into Sage's Media Center>Music and play any MP3 they are super loud with the same volume settings. In Windows I have the sound level cranked up to Max. Oh, and MP3s play super loud in Windows too. So it is a problem with either the record level or the playback level of the MPEG2's.

The machine is a new install of Windows MCE05, Sage6, and Avermedia A180.

Please help.

[morfinx]

You could try to up the gain in AC3 Filter configuration.

[dealsdyker]

Originally Posted by morfinx

You could try to up the gain in AC3 Filter configuration.

Is that done in Sage somewhere or in Windows?

[morfinx]

Originally Posted by dealsdyker

Is that done in Sage somewhere or in Windows?

It's done out side of sage. I think Sage installs an older version of AC3 Filter, you can google it and download the latest version, which also installs a configuration utility to give you more control of it, including gain.

[dealsdyker]

Originally Posted by morfinx

It's done out side of sage. I think Sage installs an older version of AC3 Filter, you can google it and download the latest version, which also installs a configuration utility to give you more control of it, including gain.

Found it HERE and installed and worked as noted. Thanks for helping me out!!!

[morfinx]

Originally Posted by dealsdyker

Found it and installed and worked as noted. Thanks for helping me out!!!

You are welcome

[walter scott]

Originally Posted by dealsdyker

Found it and installed and worked as noted. Thanks for helping me out!!!

Yes, thanks! I was having a similar problem playing back some avis i downloaded.

[morfinx]

Originally Posted by walter scott

Yes, thanks! I was having a similar problem playing back some avis i downloaded.

[blade]

If you're running in stereo and not some fancy half dozen speaker setup you should uncheck "normalize matrix" in the AC3 filter. That will greatly increase the volume and bring it more inline with your other recordings/MP3s. Then up the gain a little if you need to increase it some more.

A brief and basic explanation:

Normalize matrix - When this option is active, the mixing matrix is normalized to ensure that no overflows occur in output channels. But at the same time, changing of LFE, Voice and Surround gain levels may lead to loudness redistribution (for instance, when increasing LFE loudness , loudness of other channels will decrease) that is not always convenient. Besides, in most cases matrix normalization strongly reduces total loudness. Switching this option off allows to avoid those effects, however possibility of overflow appears at the same time.

There is a good bit of info on dynamic range here. It's far too technical for me, but it might be useful to someone else. I just skimmed the entire thing and picked out the very basic things that helped with my particular needs. The stuff about the "Normalize Matrix" setting is included on that page towards the beginning.

[Melancholy Man]

Thanks guys will try this out tonight.

[eclas]

I know it's an old thread but thanks to the contributors here. I had a very low volume problem and the advice here fixed it!

eclas

[morfinx]

Originally Posted by eclas

I know it's an old thread but thanks to the contributors here. I had a very low volume problem and the advice here fixed it!

eclas

Glad to be of help