8 Replies Latest reply: May 26, 2010 7:54 AM by Paul Aubin RSS

    Sound too loud in Built DVD

    Paul Aubin Community Member

      Hello. New to Encore and Premeire Pro. Just completed a project in Premeire Pro and burned a DVD using Encore (both CS5). When I play commercial DVDs on my settop player, the sound can be set between 40 - 50 on my receiver. The one I burned nearly blew the speakers. I had to drop the volume down to 8 to make it comperable to the commercial disks. How come it burned so loud? Is there a setting in either Premeire or Encore to control the level for the whole DVD? We made individual adjustments to various parts of the footage in Premeire, so I really don't want to change that. I am hoping there is a setting in Encore to control the level output to the DVD.

       

      Thank you very much.

        • 1. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
          Jeff Bellune CommunityMVP

          Commercial DVDs are typically authored with SPLs at -6 dB to -12 dB.

           

          -Jeff

          • 2. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
            Paul Aubin Community Member

            Hi, Thanks for the quick reply. So sorry for the novice response back, but is this a settign I can do when I author the DVD? Is it in the Build dialog? Thanks.

            • 3. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
              Jeff Bellune CommunityMVP

              No.  It must be done in your editing program.

               

              -Jeff

              • 4. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
                Paul Aubin Community Member

                OK. So the timeline in Premeire is comprised of about 6 or 8 sequences. Some of those have multiple sound tracks and/or volume adjustments. I would hate to have to adjust all those sound tracks. However, we have a main sequence that brings in the others on a continuous timeline. Do you know if the sound adjustment can be made to this final sequence? Apply some global effect perhaps? Thanks again.

                • 5. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
                  Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                  Back in PrPro, you can use the Audio Mixer to adjust the SPL (Levels) of the Master and that will probably be the easiest place to accomplish this.

                   

                  One side-note: I find that many Menus' Audio is set far, far too loud on commercial DVD's (and also on non-commercial ones too). Besides the SPL for the overall Audio, do consider any Menu Audio. It should be background only, IMHO, and not something to rattle the rafters.

                   

                  Though I use my ears a bit more than the meters, I end up around -6 to -9 dB for the general Audio and about -12dB for any Menu Audio. That is just where I like it. Of course I also hate Audio mixes where the Score (music) and the SFX are at about +3dB and the dialog is at -18dB, but that's 'cause I am old and like to hear the dialog. Also, my my system will reproduce those SFX at monster levels, and my neighbors will complain - closest one is almost 1/4 mile away. The airplane crash scene in Fight Club almost resulted in having the cops called on me, and all I wanted to do was hear the dialog. Just a pet-peeve of mine.

                   

                  Good luck,

                   

                  Hunt

                  • 6. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
                    Paul Aubin Community Member

                    Thank you very much. I completely agree with you on the DVDs with SFX too loud and dialog too soft.

                     

                    We will take a look at the settings you mention in Pr.

                     

                    Side note: we tried the disk in an older TV, one without a surround sound system and it wasn't nearly as loud. So perhaps my sound system is doing something (some unknown setting) to boost it so loud. Thanks again. I appreciate the help.

                    • 7. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
                      Bill Hunt CommunityMVP

                      The playback system CAN have an impact on the results.

                       

                      Some like to do two Audio Tracks (selectable by Menu), with one for Home Theater systems and one for TV speakers. I do not go to that extreme, and try to do a mix for the Home Theater, assuming that that mix will also work on the TV speakers, which are fading from the scene pretty quickly.

                       

                      Still, If I had a client, with ONLY the TV speakers, I might offer two mixes, and let the user decide which to use.

                       

                      Good luck,

                       

                      Hunt

                      • 8. Re: Sound too loud in Built DVD
                        Paul Aubin Community Member

                        Again. Thank you. Most helpful.