Share Step intro Screen Sound volume level

[Oldiehuck]

I have been meaning to ask this question when using previous versions but forgot so here goes
Now using ProX4 (boxed upgrade) and it has the same prob as with previous versions namely that when on the Share step and adding a music file to one of the Gallery intro scenes I have not found any way to control the volume of that sound as it blares out LOUD on preview and in the final DVD video. If the viewer of the DVD video subsequently lowers that sound level then the sound level is too low for the following video.
I have made a sound file at the sound level I need but even that is ignored and the sound on the intro screen is LOUD again.
Corel Support advised me that I can adjust the volume when in the preview prior to butning but that does not affect the level on the final DVDF. When I pointed this out to the advisor I was advised and I quote - "Kindly be informed that your inquiry falls under a How-To Question about a feature / function of the software and this specific type of inquiry is aided through our paid phone support service" Not worried about paying to find out how I shpould do this but why should I pay as surely it should be part of the program
So what step have I missed since version 4?? Does anybody know if there is any way please for me to control this sound level or do Corelneed to provide a patch please?? Oor am I the only VS user worried about this sound leve??
Other than this I find VSProX4 a good upgrade now they have sorted the Share Step to previous easy using................Dennis

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Dennis

I must admit I have not noticed a real problem with sound.

I have just run two tests one with the original sound and the other with the sound reduced to 30%.
Rather waste a disc I created two Iso files.

There is a marked reduction in the menu using the 30%.

Can you give more details as to your workflow.
How are you reducing the sound volume? I used VS to create a sound file with the volume reduced, then added as Background Music for the menu.

[Oldiehuck]

Hi Trevor - I can understand you not wanting to waste a disc (I do all my testing stuff on -RW DVDs so can reuse later) but whether or not I added the music direct to the Intro Gallery screen or did it with a sound file also reduced 30%, they both gave me high sound levels on the DVD and in practice as I had levelled the sound thru the video file on the DVD, the intro sounds were always louder and very annoying/. So what am I doing wrong??
The prog info just says to add music to that opening intro/menu screen and doesn't even suggest making a sound file first.
I haven't gone the way you have to an ISO file so can't comment to that as my only interest is what does it present to on the DVD as an intro/opening menu sceen even if the menue is a 1/1 only
Hope I have clarified my rather rough method of applying the music/sound to this intro screen
Thanks again for you comments and help.....................dennis

[Black Lab]

So what am I doing wrong??

We don't know. That's why Trevor asked:

Can you give more details as to your workflow.
How are you reducing the sound volume?

[Oldiehuck]

Hi again - OK so as to my workflow well this is still the same as when I started using VS at version 4. I edit the video then SD now HD, go to the Share step, identify a gallery image for the opening intro screen and maybe have a number of chapters on the menus and add to the gallery screen/s a music piece. As far as I can see there is no control over the volume of this. Therefore when I made a sound file I did it thru the usual way in VS and reduced the volume to 60% of the original. Then burn the Video to a DVD -RW or -R previously in SD but now also in SD and Ble-Ray.
That's about all I can detail of my workflow so if I am missing something you want to read then please let me know and I will do my best to clarifiy whatever for you. However please note that I am not a young well experienced PC fella - I am an oldie using the PC only for things I really need like letters, emails, editing videos and still fotos and helpful forums!!
That's all I can offer about my workflow stuff. Kindest regards to all for your help to this oldie............Dennis

[teknisyan]

Hello Oldiehuck,

Have you tried using the SOUND MIXER? If not then here's are some information on how to with Audio on VideoStudio Pro 4, you can visit: http://bit.ly/dWaCND.

[Black Lab]

How does the sound mixer control the volume of the menu music?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Dennis

From the burner module, the edit tab shows the Background Music

1 / Are you selecting this to “select a music track for this menu”?
You would then browse your hard drive to select another sound file.
2 / Can you tell us the name of the Sound File you are using?

When I did the test I selected a sound file that I had reduced to 30%.

Immediately below the Background Music is the Motion Menu option this is set for 20 seconds, your Background music will play for 20 seconds then repeat.
The option can be changed to 30 seconds max.

So your sound clip does not have to be that long, unless you are de-selecting the Motion Menu tick.

[Oldiehuck]

Thanx all for your comments and here are my three replies -
Abiel Corel NA - Yes I do all that when editing the video and no probs with those steps
Black Lab - as far as I can find the steps offered by Abiel do not work with the menu screens
Trevor - I usually try to use music/singing I have captured on the video scenes while filming. I then use some of this as background music to parts of the video where the local sounds are not valid for leaving there so I mute them - all as per the steps indicated by Abiel so no probs there. I select these for the menu screen either direct from the music line I have created as background to the video or as a sound file I have created. However whichever I chose I cannot control the sound level on the menu screen. What is needed is a volume control step at this point when in the Share step. Ref the motion menu - sometimes I accept this and at other times I don't depending on the first 20 to 30 secs of the actual vid and whether or not I want the viewers to see that at the menu intro stage
I hope I have clarified my prob to you three helpoful people and many thanx for your interest.....................Dennis

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Dennis

First of all I agree that it may be beneficial to have the option to adjust the menu Background Music’s volume.
Unfortunately this is not possible, your only option is to lower the volume of the sound files before you use them in the burner stage.

There may be a problem where VS is ramping up the menu volume but I doubt it.
I think it’s the way you are creating your sound file. I think you need to be more ruthless when reducing the volume.

Can you do the following as a test.
Ok
Start Video Studio
1/ insert a clip to the timeline that contains the sound you wish to use. This can be a video or sound file.
2 / Adjust /cut the clip to 20 seconds duration
3 / Share Create Sound File—give it a name, call it “100 audio level”, save it to your hard drive, a thumbnail will be placed in the library.
4 / Selecting the clip in the timeline---Adjust the volume level. Edit the 100% box adjacent to the digital clock to 30%
5 / Share Create Sound File---give it a name, call it “30 audio level” again save it to your hard drive, a thumbnail will be placed in the library.
6 / you can now play each thumbnail in turn, you should be able to identify the different levels in volume.
7 / repeat the process creating a file using 20% volume

Ok
8 / Share Create Disc-add video file.
9 / from the second window choose the “edit” tab
10 / Select the music staff icon to set the background music, (top left) browse the hard drive for the “30 audio level” file
11/ if you are using X4 then select the Preview option to play the menu.
12 / Now replace the background music with the “100 audio level” then Preview the menu again.
Can you tell the difference in volume.
Again replace the background music with the “20 audio level” then Preview the menu again.

Now the levels should be different????????????????

[Oldiehuck]

Hi again
Thanx for your suggestions Trevor and will run all these early next week as wekend nearly here and as visitors due soon must help tidy up my mess!! Have a good weekend yourself.................Dennis

[Oldiehuck]

Hi again nTrevor. As visitors have been delayed getting here I managed to follow your suggestions and WOWEE they worked well so many thanks. In hindsight therefore the real prob was that I was not ruthless enough in reducing the volume on the sound file I made of the music i wanted for the intro menu screen so in future I will need to make a number of levels and see which best matches the follow on sound in the video. Sounds easy but is yet another step and if Corel could insert a volume level step in the music selection stage that would make it all so much easier particularly when I am doing more than one menu screen. So many thanks for your successful help on this prob of mine.
By the way while continuing with my use of ProX4 you might be interested to know that I have found a real fault with their new program to which Corel Support have admitted they will need to solve in their next Service Pack. The fault as I described it to Corel is as follows -
>>>I have one prob with the share step on burning to DVD in SD mode (haven't yet tried it burning to Blu-Ray) from an AVCHD video file whereby on Preview it fails to recognise the sound levels on the video itself so voice over is drowned out by the added music. Both are on the correct tracks and while the music is higher (60%) at the visual intro to the video, when I add the voice over I have reduced the sound level (to 20%) but the Preview in Share does not recognise this sound reduction. I have tried this with a number of burns using both the 30 day trial version and now the purchased boxed upgrade. However the eventual burned video is OK with the diffreent sound levels being recognised. Have you a patch for this please or do I need to do something different??<<<
So Trevor I now wait the patch for this prob. Hope this is useful info for you
Kindest regards and many thanks again for your help and advice..................Dennis

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Dennis

Glad you managed to sort the audio levels in the menu’s.

Regarding the timeline sound levels, I think I understand what you are saying.
Can I assume that after editing you are going straight to the burner module and not creating a Video File first.
This would render the project in the burner module, which in the past has caused some problems for some users.

If you were to Share Create Video File does the resultant file still have the audio problem?
You then start a New Project-Share Create Disc-Add video file, the file being compliant will not be rendered again, you should get the same quality as the file being used.

[Oldiehuck]

Hi again
Pleased you understood my garbled description of the prob with the timeline sound and yes you are correct I do go straight from editing to the share step - no prob with ProX3 but it is with ProX4. However had already tried via the Create Vidoe File route and that was OK. I did let Corel know this but presumably their Service Patch will remove the need to Create a V F first - just me being lazy I guess as once I found I could do it on ProX3 without the rendering stage I just carried on that way with ProX4 and compl;etely forgot about the rendering stage. Clang!! Anyway lets see what Corel do with their next Sevice Pack whenever that will be launched
Again thanks for all your helpful advice - this old fella appreciates that...............Dennis

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Dennis

You have to render your project to a compliant video file I order to burn a disc.
You can do this by Share Create Video File or going straight to the burner module.
Either way the project is rendered to a video file, Mpeg 2 type for a standard DVD.

I know that the HD boys recommend rendering in the burner module, but I’m still standard definition.

I always render first, it’s the way I have always worked, there used to be a lot of problems rendering in the burner module and it was always recommended to create the file first.
It takes no longer, uses the same amount of memory space, you can view the completed movie before committing it to disc.

Anyhow it’s a personal preference, I bet Corel’s fix is to recommend rendering first.