Questions regarding audio settings from a Mac user
Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2018 1:53 am
Hello everyone.
I recently decided to start making digital copies of my DVDs and Blu-rays using MakeMKV. Now I'm moving on to Handbrake to convert them into mp4 files so they're compatible with iTunes (and by extension my other apple devices) and to cut down the size of the Blu-rays. I'd like to think I have a decent understanding of most parts of Handbrake from reading around the last week or two but I'm still a little hesitant about the audio setting and would appreciate this forums thoughts before I proceed compressing everything (so far I've just been testing with the odd chapter or two).
For added context, I only plan on playing these through my MPB via headphones, earphones or the built in speakers, or on my Dell monitor via Edifier speakers through the MPB or a Sony PS4, so surround sound equipment isn't present and I don't plan on adding any for the foreseeable future due to my living arrangements. Also, I've added all the audio files available through MakeMKV, including the lossless tracks (e.g. DTS-HD MA), since I thought it was better to have them and not need them than the opposite.
Firstly, keep AAC (CoreAudio) as the Codec? I understand this is good on the Mac variant, better than the other options?
Secondly, is it beneficial to use the DTS-HD MA track over the DTS track or will it not make much of a difference? I was told it was bad to further compress an already lossy audio track.
Thirdly, Stereo or Dolby Pro Logic II? I noticed watching with the original DTS-HD MA track causes the seemingly common issue of low dialogue volume compared to music / other sound effects - I roughly understand the cause of this without going into it. Using a chapter (5) of the film Baby Driver, I compared the audio of Stereo and Dolby Pro Logic II at Bitrate 320 using the original DTS-HD MA track, which were both better in this regard in terms of dialogue volume, but were themselves slightly different:
Dolby Pro Logic II:
Stereo:
Stereo certainly seemed to make everything slightly louder but also made the dialogue very even with everything else, perhaps even too much. Regardless, which of these would be considered the best Mixdown to use? I'll consider adding a second track with DTS/AC3 passthru just for future proofing.
And lastly, bitrate 160? 320? I'm used to using 320 for my music and it's probably not necessary there, but what about for films?
I recently decided to start making digital copies of my DVDs and Blu-rays using MakeMKV. Now I'm moving on to Handbrake to convert them into mp4 files so they're compatible with iTunes (and by extension my other apple devices) and to cut down the size of the Blu-rays. I'd like to think I have a decent understanding of most parts of Handbrake from reading around the last week or two but I'm still a little hesitant about the audio setting and would appreciate this forums thoughts before I proceed compressing everything (so far I've just been testing with the odd chapter or two).
For added context, I only plan on playing these through my MPB via headphones, earphones or the built in speakers, or on my Dell monitor via Edifier speakers through the MPB or a Sony PS4, so surround sound equipment isn't present and I don't plan on adding any for the foreseeable future due to my living arrangements. Also, I've added all the audio files available through MakeMKV, including the lossless tracks (e.g. DTS-HD MA), since I thought it was better to have them and not need them than the opposite.
Firstly, keep AAC (CoreAudio) as the Codec? I understand this is good on the Mac variant, better than the other options?
Secondly, is it beneficial to use the DTS-HD MA track over the DTS track or will it not make much of a difference? I was told it was bad to further compress an already lossy audio track.
Thirdly, Stereo or Dolby Pro Logic II? I noticed watching with the original DTS-HD MA track causes the seemingly common issue of low dialogue volume compared to music / other sound effects - I roughly understand the cause of this without going into it. Using a chapter (5) of the film Baby Driver, I compared the audio of Stereo and Dolby Pro Logic II at Bitrate 320 using the original DTS-HD MA track, which were both better in this regard in terms of dialogue volume, but were themselves slightly different:
Dolby Pro Logic II:
Stereo:
Stereo certainly seemed to make everything slightly louder but also made the dialogue very even with everything else, perhaps even too much. Regardless, which of these would be considered the best Mixdown to use? I'll consider adding a second track with DTS/AC3 passthru just for future proofing.
And lastly, bitrate 160? 320? I'm used to using 320 for my music and it's probably not necessary there, but what about for films?