Why is AC3 muted compared to MP3 on my PC?

#1 Jan 15, 2008 at 11:43 am

When I record either DD2CH or 5.1 as a transport stream{tp file} the sound is muted compared to my scaled down files with MP3 sound, ie, when I reduce a 400mb tp file to 99mb's with 192k mp3, it's louder than the original ac3 file in the tp......why is that?

#2 Jan 15, 2008 at 1:57 pm

This might be a silly question, but do you have a 5-speaker system hooked up to your PC? If you play AC3 through only the L and R, it will be muted since most dialog comes over the center channel.

Just my first thoughts ...

- Shane

#3 Jan 15, 2008 at 9:20 pm

I'm using a 2.1, but even music lacks the grunt that my converted mp3 files have, basically no matter what the content, it sounds 30% louder and no less clear as an mp3.

#4 Jan 15, 2008 at 9:39 pm

Is there a separate volume control?

#5 Jan 15, 2008 at 9:54 pm

I don't know, but I've shared some of my vids with my online buddies, and they also accept that MP3 sounds better, at least with a 2.1......

#6 Jan 16, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Is it possibly due to the inherint dynamic range of the AC3 encoding/decoding system? Can you turn on the late nite (compander) function that will minimize audio peaks and increase low level audio?

#7 Jan 16, 2008 at 2:03 pm

I'm using xp pro....where do I find those controls...?