Uneven sound on burned DVD

[Sue Whitham]

My project contains sound from different sources:

CAMCORDER - Dolby Digital 48000 khz 256 bps
USB mic - PCM WAV 44 khz 16 bit stereo
MUSIC - MP3 44 khz 16 bit stereo

I have adjusted the sound clips to create the desired levels (by adjusting individual clips or rubber banding.
The camcorder content was High Def and I burned an AVCHD disc which is great.

In order to share with family and friends, I downconverted the file and burned to regular DVD with the audio settings:
Dolby Digital 48000 khz 2/1 (LR) 256bps.

The audio sounds okay (though not as good as the AVCHD) on three different DVD players through an HDTV, but not through an older TV with Dolby Digital sound - the volume levels are patchy and inconsistent.

Is there a way to resolve this so that it will play well in most DVD players and TV's?

Sue W.

[skier-hughes]

Are you using the same dvd player with each tv?
If so this points to the tv that is causing the trouble with the sound, as 3 tvs are ok.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Sue

If it’s the older TV having problems with Digital Dolby try a different audio format when you convert to standard DVD.

If you are in Ntsc country use LPCM audio. (creates a larger file size)
If you are in a Pal country try using Mpeg Audio, (similar size to DD)

[Sue Whitham]

Thanks guys.

I should mention that the older TV has Virtual Dolby Surround which may make a difference - I will try disabling that.
I'll also try a downconvert with Mpeg audio.

Sue W.

[skier-hughes]

But is it different dvd players or not, as it is the dvd player which originally handles the audio from the dvd and sends out a signal to the tv, whether this is lpcm, dd or mpeg shouldn't matter to the tv.

[Sue Whitham]

Problem solved!

I thought I'd report back - changing the Virtual Dolby Surround settings made no difference at all, but the TV also has an AVL feature (Automatic Volume Leveller). Switching this off worked a treat.

So it was the TV output settings at fault.

Sue W.

(In answer to your question Graham, I had tried all DVD players on both TVs - as you say lpcm, dd or mpeg shouldn't matter - so no need to do another downconvert)