DRC - how noticeable is it?

[Firelight]

I'm varying the DRC level between 1.0 and 4.0 on an AC3 track where i have problems with dialogue being too soft, etc. Can't really tell any difference at all between the two encodes ... and dialogue is still not any louder relative to the explosions, etc. Is it supposed to be that subtle or does that point to something possibly being wrong?

[randomreuben]

Really? You have 21 posts in this forum and still no activity log for your support requests? I applaud your intransigence on this matter. Most people would have caved in by this point and supplied logs. Not you, though. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

[mduell]

Really? You have 21 posts in this forum and still no activity log for your support requests? I applaud your intransigence on this matter. Most people would have caved in by this point and supplied logs. Not you, though. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

Where's my like button...

[Firelight]

I phrased this question to be general case. This is not a support request, it's a how does it work question. At no point do you need a log to relate your experience with this setting.

If it's clear there is something wrong after I understand how it works, then I'll post logs.

Random sarcasm is always appreciated tho.

[jamiemlaw]

If you're asking what it does, you don't need logs. If you're saying you used it and it didn't work as expected, you do. Your original question is clearly in the latter category.

[mduell]

It's quite noticeable.

[Firelight]

My problem is I don't know what to expect. Thanks mduell for answering. Here's an encode log for the DRC 1.0 version. I can dig out the DRC 4.0 version when I get home.

I don't know how helpful this will be tho ... I don't see anything useful in the logs in the way of audio or DRC related statistics.

Code: Select all

# Windows GUI svn3684 2010112201
# Running: Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7600.0
# CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU         920  @ 2.67GHz
# Ram: 2039 MB
# Screen: 1920x1080
# Temp Dir: C:\Users\anonymous\AppData\Local\Temp\
# Install Dir: C:\Program Files (x86)\Handbrake
# Data Dir: C:\Users\anonymous\AppData\Roaming\HandBrake\HandBrake\0.9.4.3684

# CLI Query:  -i "D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv" -t 1 -c 1 -o "D:\Videos\HandBrake Output\testvideo.mkv.m4v"  -f mp4 -4  -w 1280 --crop 0:0:0:0 --loose-anamorphic  -e x264 -q 20 -a 1,1 -E faac,copy:ac3 -6 dpl2,auto -R Auto,Auto -B 192,auto -D 1,2 -x b-adapt=2:rc-lookahead=50:vbv-maxrate=14000:vbv-bufsize=14000 -v 1
# User Query: False
-------------------------------------------

[10:43:49] hb_init: checking cpu count
[10:43:49] hb_init: starting libhb thread
HandBrake svn3684 (2010112201) - MinGW i386 - http://handbrake.fr
8 CPUs detected
Opening D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv...
[10:43:49] hb_scan: path=D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv, title_index=1
libbluray/bdnav/index_parse.c:157: indx_parse(): error opening D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv/BDMV/index.bdmv
libbluray/bluray.c:960: nav_get_title_list(D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv) failed (0x1a0a330)
[10:43:49] bd: not a bd - trying as a stream/file instead
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.IFO failed
libdvdnav:DVDOpenFileUDF:UDFFindFile /VIDEO_TS/VIDEO_TS.BUP failed
libdvdread: Can't open file VIDEO_TS.IFO.
libdvdnav: vm: failed to read VIDEO_TS.IFO
[10:43:49] dvd: not a dvd - trying as a stream/file instead
Input #0, matroska,webm, from 'D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv':
  Duration: 01:43:28.38, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 448 kb/s
    Chapter #0.0: start 0.097000, end 6208.385000
    Metadata:
      title           : 00:00:00.097
    Stream #0.0(eng): Video: h264, yuv420p, 1920x800, PAR 1:1 DAR 12:5, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 1k tbn, 47.95 tbc
    Metadata:
      title           : 10500 kbps
    Stream #0.1: Audio: ac3, 48000 Hz, 5.1, s16, 448 kb/s
    Metadata:
      title           : Main Audio
    Stream #0.2(eng): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
    Metadata:
      title           : Commentary
    Stream #0.3(eng): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16
    Metadata:
      title           : Commentary
    Stream #0.4(eng): Subtitle: pgssub
    Metadata:
      title           : English Sub
    Stream #0.5(eng): Subtitle: pgssub
    Metadata:
      title           : English Sub
[10:43:49] add_ffmpeg_subtitle: unknown subtitle stream type: 0x17006
[10:43:49] add_ffmpeg_subtitle: unknown subtitle stream type: 0x17006
[10:43:49] scan: decoding previews for title 1
[10:43:49] scan: audio 0x1: AC-3, rate=48000Hz, bitrate=448000 Unknown (AC3) (5.1 ch)
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
Scanning title 1...
[10:43:50] scan: 10 previews, 1920x800, 23.976 fps, autocrop = 0/0/12/0, aspect 2.40:1, PAR 1:1
[10:43:50] scan: title (0) job->width:1904, job->height:800
[10:43:50] libhb: scan thread found 1 valid title(s)
+ title 1:
  + stream: D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv
  + duration: 01:43:28
  + size: 1920x800, pixel aspect: 1/1, display aspect: 2.40, 23.976 fps
  + autocrop: 0/0/12/0
  + chapters:
    + 1: cells 0->0, 0 blocks, duration 01:43:28
  + audio tracks:
    + 1, Unknown (AC3) (5.1 ch) (iso639-2: und), 48000Hz, 448000bps
    + 2, English (AAC) (2.0 ch) (iso639-2: eng)
    + 3, English (AAC) (2.0 ch) (iso639-2: eng)
  + subtitle tracks:
[10:43:50] 1 job(s) to process
[10:43:50] starting job
[10:43:50] sync: expecting 148876 video frames
[10:43:50] job configuration:
[10:43:50]  * source
[10:43:50]    + D:\Videos\repair\testvideo.mkv
[10:43:50]    + title 1, chapter(s) 1 to 1
[10:43:50]    + container: matroska,webm
[10:43:50]    + data rate: 448 kbps
[10:43:50]  * destination
[10:43:50]    + D:\Videos\HandBrake Output\testvideo.mkv.m4v
[10:43:50]    + container: MPEG-4 (.mp4 and .m4v)
[10:43:50]      + 64-bit formatting
[10:43:50]  * video track
[10:43:50]    + decoder: h264
[10:43:50]    + frame rate: same as source (around 23.976 fps)
[10:43:50]    + loose anamorphic
[10:43:50]      + storage dimensions: 1920 * 800 -> 1280 * 528, crop 0/0/0/0, mod 0
[10:43:50]      + pixel aspect ratio: 1267 / 1280
[10:43:50]      + display dimensions: 1267 * 528
[10:43:50]    + encoder: x264
[10:43:50]      + options: b-adapt=2:rc-lookahead=50:vbv-maxrate=14000:vbv-bufsize=14000
[10:43:50]      + quality: 20.00 (RF)
[10:43:50]  * audio track 0
[10:43:50]    + decoder: Unknown (AC3) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 1)
[10:43:50]      + bitrate: 448 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[10:43:50]    + mixdown: Dolby Pro Logic II
[10:43:50]    + dynamic range compression: 1.000000
[10:43:50]    + encoder: faac
[10:43:50]      + bitrate: 192 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[10:43:50]  * audio track 1
[10:43:50]    + decoder: Unknown (AC3) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 1)
[10:43:50]      + bitrate: 448 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[10:43:50]    + AC3 passthrough
[10:43:50] encx264: min-keyint: auto (23), keyint: 240
[10:43:50] encx264: encoding with stored aspect 1267/1280
[10:43:50] encx264: Encoding at constant RF 20.000000
x264 [info]: using SAR=1267/1280
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 FastShuffle SSE4.2
x264 [info]: profile High, level 3.1
No accelerated IMDCT transform found
No accelerated IMDCT transform found
[10:43:50] reader: first SCR 0 id 0 DTS 0
[12:40:29] reader: done. 1 scr changes
[12:40:29] work: average encoding speed for job is 21.266645 fps
[12:40:29] sync: got 148849 frames, 148876 expected
[12:40:29] h264-decoder done: 148849 frames, 0 decoder errors, 0 drops
[12:40:29] render: lost time: 0 (0 frames)
[12:40:29] render: gained time: 0 (0 frames) (0 not accounted for)
x264 [info]: frame I:2133  Avg QP:16.78  size: 55258  PSNR Mean Y:47.59 U:50.40 V:51.33 Avg:48.39 Global:47.87
x264 [info]: frame P:46358 Avg QP:19.99  size: 14555  PSNR Mean Y:46.45 U:50.18 V:50.63 Avg:47.31 Global:46.42
x264 [info]: frame B:100358 Avg QP:21.72  size:  5981  PSNR Mean Y:45.54 U:49.85 V:50.20 Avg:46.52 Global:45.79
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames:  3.4%  6.6% 28.7% 61.3%
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 11.7% 71.2% 17.1%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  5.1% 15.6%  2.0%  P16..4: 35.9% 11.8%  7.1%  0.0%  0.0%    skip:22.4%
x264 [info]: mb B  I16..4:  0.5%  2.0%  0.3%  B16..8: 41.1%  4.7%  0.9%  direct: 3.4%  skip:47.2%  L0:44.0% L1:51.3% BI: 4.7%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform intra:69.3% inter:80.6%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 60.1% 66.0% 28.0% inter: 18.4% 19.6% 0.6%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 40% 18%  7% 35%
x264 [info]: i8 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 15% 17% 23%  6%  8%  8%  8%  7%  8%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 19% 21% 16%  6% 10%  8%  9%  6%  6%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 55% 20% 19%  7%
x264 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:3.4%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 59.4% 11.1% 19.7%  9.5%  0.3%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 83.5% 12.8%  3.7%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 93.0%  7.0%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9822886 (17.517db)
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:45.856 U:49.957 V:50.353 Avg:46.795 Global:46.000 kb/s:1794.84
[12:40:31] mux: track 0, 148849 frames, 1392765707 bytes, 1794.72 kbps, fifo 8
[12:40:31] mux: track 1, 291014 frames, 148982754 bytes, 191.98 kbps, fifo 512
[12:40:31] mux: track 2, 194009 frames, 347664128 bytes, 448.00 kbps, fifo 256
[12:40:31] libhb: work result = 0
Rip done!
HandBrake has exited.

[randomreuben]

Random sarcasm is always appreciated tho.

I knew you'd appreciate it. That's why I threw it in.

In all seriousness though, the logs are useful output from the software to give your bug reports weight. If you did select DRC 1.0 and DRC 4.0 and nothing changed, the devs would know that there was an issue because your activity logs would help them check any theories they have on why it does or doesn't work. If they simply had to rely on your word being the case, they might waste a lot of time chasing down nothing if in the end it turned out that you simply forgot to change some settings and you thought it was changed.

Trust me, it won't be the first time that someone started complaining that HandBrake was useless and that they wanted their money back when all they did was forget to push a button or two.

[mduell]

I'm varying the DRC level between 1.0 and 4.0 on an AC3 track where i have problems with dialogue being too soft, etc. Can't really tell any difference at all between the two encodes ... and dialogue is still not any louder relative to the explosions, etc. Is it supposed to be that subtle or does that point to something possibly being wrong?

I don't know how helpful this will be tho ... I don't see anything useful in the logs in the way of audio or DRC related statistics.

Code: Select all

[10:43:50]  * audio track 0
[10:43:50]    + decoder: Unknown (AC3) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 1)
[10:43:50]      + bitrate: 448 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[10:43:50]    + mixdown: Dolby Pro Logic II
[10:43:50]    + dynamic range compression: 1.000000
[10:43:50]    + encoder: faac
[10:43:50]      + bitrate: 192 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[10:43:50]  * audio track 1
[10:43:50]    + decoder: Unknown (AC3) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 1)
[10:43:50]      + bitrate: 448 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[10:43:50]    + AC3 passthrough

This is exactly why we always ask for logs. You're not applying any DRC to your AC3 track! The only track with DRC applied is the AAC track.

If you want DRC on an AC3 track, you need to reencode it as AC3 not pass it through.

[Firelight]

Haha, I'm not listening to the AC3 track for DRC ... that would be silly as I am indeed passing it through. I'm listening to the AAC track for DRC. The encode is from an AC3 Track and I'm monitoring the DRC on the AAC track on output. Sorry if that wasn't clear.