Comments

TOG62 wrote on 2/1/2009, 12:42 AM
I have a .mp3 as the background media for the main menu. It's way too loud. I don't see a way to set the level lower in DVD Architect Studio 4.5. Is this possible?

Not so far as I know.

Or, is there an alternative way of lowering the volume before burning the DVD? (other than turning down the TV afterwards)

Open the MP3 in an audio editor and reduce the sound level. There are plenty of free audio editors about on the net. One that will work directly on MP3s is mp3DirectCut, which is very fast.

Mike
Chienworks wrote on 2/1/2009, 4:44 AM
If you have DVD Architect then you almost certainly also have Vegas. Vegas is a very very capable audio editor too. Drop the MP3 file on an audio track, set the volume you want, and render to a new audio file.
TOG62 wrote on 2/1/2009, 5:22 AM
If you have DVD Architect then you almost certainly also have Vegas.

He has the Studio version, so probably not Vegas Pro.

Mike
Chienworks wrote on 2/1/2009, 9:47 AM
I know that. The studio version of Vegas is still a very powerful 4-track audio editor. It can handle almost any audio editing task.
Ethan Winer wrote on 2/1/2009, 10:18 AM
> Drop the MP3 file on an audio track, set the volume you want, and render to a new audio file.

I'll add that if you render a new file, make sure it's Wave format and do not convert again to MP3. All you get from a second conversion is loss of quality, but no space reduction on the DVD.

--Ethan
TOG62 wrote on 2/1/2009, 11:10 AM
The point about mp3DirectCut is that it does not involve any conversion; it leaves the MP3 format as-is. Still, there is much to be said for using the tools you already have.

Mike
bStro wrote on 2/1/2009, 3:33 PM
I think Ethan was saying that there's no point in bringing an MP3 into DVD Architect at all since it's just going to convert it to AC3 (or PCM) anyhow.

And if he wasn't, I am. ;)

Rob
PeterWright wrote on 2/1/2009, 3:50 PM
This was a good question, and an important point is that when people insert a DVD, they will set the volume level to the level of menu audio, and it's very annoying when this is different to the level of the main video.
TOG62 wrote on 2/2/2009, 12:27 AM
I think Ethan was saying that there's no point in bringing an MP3 into DVD Architect at all since it's just going to convert it to AC3 (or PCM) anyhow.

Of course. But if your source file is an MP3 it's going to get converted whatever method you use.

Mike