Poor audio mix-down

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Tiesto
Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Sep 23, 2009 11:23 pm

Poor audio mix-down

Post by Tiesto »

I've been using Handbrake for quite a while now and absolutely love how it works and the quality of the picture. The only thing I'm having a hard time with is the audio mix-down from the AC3 5.1 to AAC stereo (specifically, the softness of movie dialogue). I've read numerous threads on using DRC and I've found that it helps a small amount, however the quality is nowhere close to that of the original AC3 audio track. Is there something that i'm missing? Or is there not much you can do? When I watch my movies on my Macbook, I use VLC and select the AC3 audio track. Unfortunately, I can't do that with my iPhone.

Any thoughts? Suggestions?
L255J
Novice
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:25 pm

Re: Poor audio mix-down

Post by L255J »

I'm a little curious myself. Even when I encode using CoreAudio @ 320 kbps, the AC3 track is much louder.
Arcticwolf
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:08 am

Re: Poor audio mix-down

Post by Arcticwolf »

Yeah i'd like to know myself.

for example, i ripped the Hangover, the DVD plays fine and perfectly audible in DVD Player.app connected to my HDTV.
when playing encoded Hangover versions using the Universal preset, with 320Kbps audio bitrate straight from the DVD source it sounds like it was mixed to a really low level.
As playing the dvd i can set the television volume to about 23 ~ 28 and its perfect. clear & crisp.
however with the encoded version, id have to crank it up to 44 ~ 52 to get it to the same type of audible comparison.

the video quality is good for the encode..its just the audio that is really irking me around.

Code: Select all

HandBrake Activity Log for /Users/arcticwolf/Desktop/DVD Rips/THE_HANGOVERWS.m4v: 2009-12-24 11:13:11 -0700
Handbrake Version: 0.9.4 x86_64 (2009112300)

[11:13:11] macgui: incrementQueueItemDone currentQueueEncodeIndex is incremented to: 2
[11:13:11] macgui: incrementQueueItemDone currentQueueEncodeIndex is incremented to: 2
[11:13:11] macgui: scanning specifically for title: 1
[11:13:11] macgui: performNewQueueScan currentQueueEncodeIndex is: 2
[11:13:11] hb_scan: path=/Users/arcticwolf/Desktop/DVD Rips/THE_HANGOVER, title_index=1
[11:13:11] scan: trying to open with libdvdread
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
libdvdnav: Can't read name block. Probably not a DVD-ROM device.
libdvdnav: Unable to find map file '/Users/arcticwolf/.dvdnav/.map'
libdvdnav: DVD disk reports itself with Region mask 0x00000000. Regions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
[11:13:11] scan: DVD has 15 title(s)
[11:13:11] scan: scanning title 1
[11:13:11] scan: opening IFO for VTS 1
[11:13:11] pgc_id: 1, pgn: 1: pgc: 0x115fe08a0
[11:13:11] scan: vts=1, ttn=1, cells=0->24, blocks=0->1857731, 1857732 blocks
[11:13:11] scan: duration is 01:39:38 (5978176 ms)
[11:13:11] scan: checking audio 1
[11:13:11] scan: id=80bd, lang=English (AC3), 3cc=eng ext=0
[11:13:11] scan: checking audio 2
[11:13:11] scan: id=81bd, lang=Francais (AC3), 3cc=fra ext=0
[11:13:11] scan: checking audio 3
[11:13:11] scan: id=82bd, lang=Espanol (AC3), 3cc=spa ext=0
[11:13:11] scan: checking subtitle 1
[11:13:11] scan: id=21bd, lang=English, 3cc=eng
[11:13:11] scan: checking subtitle 2
[11:13:11] scan: id=23bd, lang=Francais, 3cc=fra
[11:13:11] scan: checking subtitle 3
[11:13:11] scan: id=25bd, lang=Espanol, 3cc=spa
[11:13:11] scan: title 1 has 25 chapters
[11:13:11] scan: chap 1 c=0->0, b=0->66649 (66650), 222442 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 2 c=1->1, b=66650->168204 (101555), 331422 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 3 c=2->2, b=168205->262293 (94089), 294552 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 4 c=3->3, b=262294->346679 (84386), 288545 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 5 c=4->4, b=346680->421345 (74666), 259499 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 6 c=5->5, b=421346->520990 (99645), 340433 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 7 c=6->6, b=520991->626717 (105727), 303387 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 8 c=7->7, b=626718->683280 (56563), 180257 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 9 c=8->8, b=683281->738464 (55184), 170512 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 10 c=9->9, b=738465->800026 (61562), 177220 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 11 c=10->10, b=800027->890341 (90315), 283529 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 12 c=11->11, b=890342->975637 (85296), 273506 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 13 c=12->12, b=975638->1090062 (114425), 339465 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 14 c=13->13, b=1090063->1147742 (57680), 200559 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 15 c=14->14, b=1147743->1224637 (76895), 259322 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 16 c=15->15, b=1224638->1268575 (43938), 149205 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 17 c=16->16, b=1268576->1347284 (78709), 274507 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 18 c=17->17, b=1347285->1420538 (73254), 231297 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 19 c=18->18, b=1420539->1529227 (108689), 375520 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 20 c=19->19, b=1529228->1590735 (61508), 189388 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 21 c=20->20, b=1590736->1682910 (92175), 271538 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 22 c=21->21, b=1682911->1734806 (51896), 146325 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 23 c=22->22, b=1734807->1795569 (60763), 192259 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 24 c=23->23, b=1795570->1857681 (62112), 223298 ms
[11:13:11] scan: chap 25 c=24->24, b=1857682->1857731 (50), 176 ms
[11:13:11] scan: aspect = 0
[11:13:11] scan: decoding previews for title 1
libdvdnav: Suspected RCE Region Protection!!!
[11:13:11] scan: title angle(s) 1
[11:13:12] scan: audio 0x82bd: AC-3, rate=48000Hz, bitrate=384000 Espanol (AC3) (5.1 ch)
[11:13:12] scan: audio 0x81bd: AC-3, rate=48000Hz, bitrate=384000 Francais (AC3) (5.1 ch)
[11:13:12] scan: audio 0x80bd: AC-3, rate=48000Hz, bitrate=384000 English (AC3) (5.1 ch)
[11:13:13] scan: 10 previews, 720x480, 23.976 fps, autocrop = 58/62/0/0, aspect 16:9, PAR 32:27
[11:13:13] scan: title (0) job->width:720, job->height:304
[11:13:13] libhb: scan thread found 1 valid title(s)
[11:13:14] macgui: ScanDone state received from fQueueEncodeLibhb
[11:13:14] macgui: Preset: Universal
[11:13:14] macgui: processNewQueueEncode number of passes expected is: 1
[11:13:14] macgui: prepareJob audiotrack 2 is: 0
[11:13:14] macgui: prepareJob exiting
[11:13:14] 1 job(s) to process
[11:13:14] starting job
[11:13:14] job configuration:
[11:13:14]  * source
[11:13:14]    + /Users/arcticwolf/Desktop/DVD Rips/THE_HANGOVER
[11:13:14]    + title 1, chapter(s) 1 to 25
[11:13:14]  * destination
[11:13:14]    + /Users/arcticwolf/Desktop/DVD Rips/THE_HANGOVERWS.m4v
[11:13:14]    + container: MPEG-4 (.mp4 and .m4v)
[11:13:14]      + chapter markers
[11:13:14]  * video track
[11:13:14]    + decoder: mpeg2
[11:13:14]      + bitrate 7500 kbps
[11:13:14]    + frame rate: same as source (around 23.976 fps)
[11:13:14]    + loose anamorphic
[11:13:14]      + modulus: 0
[11:13:14]      + storage dimensions: 720 * 480 -> 720 * 352, crop 58/62/0/0
[11:13:14]      + pixel aspect ratio: 139 / 120
[11:13:14]      + display dimensions: 834 * 352
[11:13:14]    + encoder: x264
[11:13:14]      + options: cabac=0:ref=2:me=umh:bframes=0:8x8dct=0:trellis=0:subq=6
[11:13:14]      + quality: 20.00 (RF)
[11:13:14]  * audio track 0
[11:13:14]    + decoder: English (AC3) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 80bd)
[11:13:14]      + bitrate: 384 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[11:13:14]    + mixdown: Dolby Pro Logic II
[11:13:14]    + encoder: ca_aac
[11:13:14]      + bitrate: 320 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[11:13:14]  * audio track 1
[11:13:14]    + decoder: English (AC3) (5.1 ch) (track 1, id 80bd)
[11:13:14]      + bitrate: 384 kbps, samplerate: 48000 Hz
[11:13:14]    + AC3 passthrough
libdvdnav: Using dvdnav version 4.1.3
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
libdvdnav: Can't read name block. Probably not a DVD-ROM device.
libdvdnav: Unable to find map file '/Users/arcticwolf/.dvdnav/.map'
libdvdnav: DVD disk reports itself with Region mask 0x00000000. Regions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
libdvdread: Encrypted DVD support unavailable.
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
libdvdnav: Suspected RCE Region Protection!!!
[11:13:14] encx264: keyint-min: 24, keyint-max: 240
[11:13:14] encx264: encoding with stored aspect 139/120
[11:13:14] encx264: Encoding at constant RF 20.000000
x264 [info]: using SAR=139/120
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 FastShuffle SSE4.1 Cache64
x264 [info]: profile Baseline, level 3.0
No accelerated IMDCT transform found
No accelerated IMDCT transform found
[11:13:14] sync: expecting 143356 video frames
[ac3 @ 0x102115000]No channel layout specified. The encoder will guess the layout, but it might be incorrect.
[11:13:14] reader: first SCR 146 id 224 DTS 1092
[11:13:14] mpeg2: "Chapter  1" (1) at frame 0 time 10510
[11:13:14] sync: first pts is 10510
[11:15:09] mpeg2: "Chapter  2" (2) at frame 5330 time 20017998
[11:18:08] mpeg2: "Chapter  3" (3) at frame 13282 time 49867818
[11:21:11] mpeg2: "Chapter  4" (4) at frame 20358 time 76429353
[11:23:52] mpeg2: "Chapter  5" (5) at frame 27290 time 102450348
[11:26:13] mpeg2: "Chapter  6" (6) at frame 33517 time 125824198
[11:29:17] mpeg2: "Chapter  7" (7) at frame 41686 time 156489333
[11:32:32] mpeg2: "Chapter  8" (8) at frame 48966 time 183816633
[11:34:19] mpeg2: "Chapter  9" (9) at frame 53286 time 200032833
[11:36:05] mpeg2: "Chapter 10" (10) at frame 57374 time 215378163
[11:38:06] mpeg2: "Chapter 11" (11) at frame 61621 time 231319588
[11:40:54] mpeg2: "Chapter 12" (12) at frame 68425 time 256860103
[11:43:29] mpeg2: "Chapter 13" (13) at frame 74982 time 281474193
[11:46:56] mpeg2: "Chapter 14" (14) at frame 83127 time 312047736
[11:48:48] mpeg2: "Chapter 15" (15) at frame 87942 time 330122793
[11:51:16] mpeg2: "Chapter 16" (16) at frame 94157 time 353451598
[11:52:32] mpeg2: "Chapter 17" (17) at frame 97750 time 366939573
[11:54:57] mpeg2: "Chapter 18" (18) at frame 104330 time 391639248
[11:57:26] mpeg2: "Chapter 19" (19) at frame 109882 time 412480068
[12:01:01] mpeg2: "Chapter 20" (20) at frame 118899 time 446326881
[12:03:07] mpeg2: "Chapter 21" (21) at frame 123454 time 463425963
[12:06:01] mpeg2: "Chapter 22" (22) at frame 129963 time 487858371
[12:07:33] mpeg2: "Chapter 23" (23) at frame 133477 time 501049048
[12:09:23] mpeg2: "Chapter 24" (24) at frame 138102 time 518410893
libdvdnav: Suspected RCE Region Protection!!!
[12:10:26] reader: done. 0 scr changes
[12:10:27] mpeg2: "Chapter 25" (25) at frame 143470 time 538561023
[12:10:27] sync: got 143479 frames, 143356 expected
[12:10:27] work: average encoding speed for job is 41.793171 fps
[12:10:28] mux: track 0, 143479 frames, 994164511 bytes, 1328.99 kbps, fifo 64
[12:10:28] mux: track 1, 280522 frames, 239160902 bytes, 319.71 kbps, fifo 512
[12:10:28] mux: track 2, 187015 frames, 287255040 bytes, 384.00 kbps, fifo 512
[12:10:28] mpeg2 done: 143480 frames
[12:10:28] render: lost time: 0 (0 frames)
[12:10:28] render: gained time: 0 (0 frames) (0 not accounted for)
x264 [info]: frame I:1732  Avg QP:18.48  size: 33219  PSNR Mean Y:45.40 U:49.19 V:49.60 Avg:46.32 Global:45.88
x264 [info]: frame P:141747 Avg QP:22.08  size:  6608  PSNR Mean Y:41.97 U:46.62 V:47.11 Avg:42.97 Global:42.54
x264 [info]: mb I  I16..4: 17.3%  0.0% 82.7%
x264 [info]: mb P  I16..4:  1.3%  0.0%  2.0%  P16..4: 49.6% 19.2%  7.5%  0.0%  0.0%    skip:20.5%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 66.2% 71.1% 42.2% inter: 26.6% 25.5% 3.2%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 45% 21% 11% 23%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 26% 18% 16%  6%  7%  9%  6%  7%  5%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 74.7% 25.3%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9786649
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:42.009 U:46.655 V:47.143 Avg:43.012 Global:42.567 kb/s:1329.13
[12:10:28] libhb: work result = 0
mduell
Veteran User
Posts: 8187
Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:54 pm

Re: Poor audio mix-down

Post by mduell »

So turn up DRC to 2?
downinitjr
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:23 am

Re: Poor audio mix-down

Post by downinitjr »

I'll add in my interest here as well. Nothing appears to be wrong with the files themselves, but playback of the aac track is way low in volume, and dialogue is very soft compared to the rest of the audio. I see this being brought up from time to time, and someone always chirps in with increase drc. I find it hard to believe that this is the actual solution. Has anyone who knows anything about the audio code ever actually checked this out?
L255J
Novice
Posts: 63
Joined: Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:25 pm

Re: Poor audio mix-down

Post by L255J »

I think at least DRC 1.0 can't hurt, especially since it's only compressing the dynamic range according to how the source's AC3 track "hints" at how it should be done.
Arcticwolf
Posts: 21
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:08 am

Re: Poor audio mix-down

Post by Arcticwolf »

i went from DRC 0.0 to 3.75 and noticed a more of a louder increase.

when i first did encoding, i was told to leave the DRC to 0 to retain the audio form the source, but of course that hasnt been the best case scenario.





(thanks)
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