I'm trying to create the 5.1 AC3 file for my SW Episode 1 edit and I'm finding it a bit overwhelming.
I have Apple's Compressor application which gives me access to most of the settings one would use when creating an AC3 file. I went with the defaults, which are:
AUDIO
Enable Low Frequency Effects (checked)
Dialog Normalization: -24dbFS
BITSTREAM
Center Downmix: -3dB
Surround Downmix: -3dB
PREPROCESSING
Compression Preset: Film Standard
General: Digital Deemphasis (NOT checked)
LFE Channel: Low Pass Filter (checked)
Full Bandwidth Chan. Low Pass Filter (checked)
Full Bandwidth Chan. DC Filter (checked)
Surround Channels: 90 degree phase shift (checked)
Surround Channels: 3dB Attenuation (NOT checked)
But I'm not sure if these are the best settings to use. When I listen to the resulting file on my surround system (which isn't the best, but I'm not listening for each channel...see below), I need to turn the general volume up as compared to non surround sound source material. Like...way up.
My speaker uses negative db numbers to indicate volume. I don't really get it, but that's the way it works. Normally, material we watch usually is loud enough in the -40db to -45db range (sometimes up to -50db).
With the above settings, I need to go down to -25db to really feel like the sound is at a good level.
(as another point of reference, if I let Handbrake create the AC3 file [it gives me no DRC options at all], I set the volume to around -30db - -35db.
So I guess I'm trying to find out if I need to change any of the above settings, or how I can possibly figure out what the settings should be? I know it depends a lot on the source material, but lots of people have made edits using Episode 1, so I'm hoping there might be some people out there who have already gone through this process and can give me some guidance on this.
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
I have Apple's Compressor application which gives me access to most of the settings one would use when creating an AC3 file. I went with the defaults, which are:
AUDIO
Enable Low Frequency Effects (checked)
Dialog Normalization: -24dbFS
BITSTREAM
Center Downmix: -3dB
Surround Downmix: -3dB
PREPROCESSING
Compression Preset: Film Standard
General: Digital Deemphasis (NOT checked)
LFE Channel: Low Pass Filter (checked)
Full Bandwidth Chan. Low Pass Filter (checked)
Full Bandwidth Chan. DC Filter (checked)
Surround Channels: 90 degree phase shift (checked)
Surround Channels: 3dB Attenuation (NOT checked)
But I'm not sure if these are the best settings to use. When I listen to the resulting file on my surround system (which isn't the best, but I'm not listening for each channel...see below), I need to turn the general volume up as compared to non surround sound source material. Like...way up.
My speaker uses negative db numbers to indicate volume. I don't really get it, but that's the way it works. Normally, material we watch usually is loud enough in the -40db to -45db range (sometimes up to -50db).
With the above settings, I need to go down to -25db to really feel like the sound is at a good level.
(as another point of reference, if I let Handbrake create the AC3 file [it gives me no DRC options at all], I set the volume to around -30db - -35db.
So I guess I'm trying to find out if I need to change any of the above settings, or how I can possibly figure out what the settings should be? I know it depends a lot on the source material, but lots of people have made edits using Episode 1, so I'm hoping there might be some people out there who have already gone through this process and can give me some guidance on this.
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.