DVD Sound Low On Axim X5

chriscalcaterra · 02-01-04, 09:19 AM

Hi Guys,

I have been playing around with ripping DVD's to the Axim & it has worked great, except for the sound. I am not sure why it is so low. I tried encoding the sound in both Mono & Stereo with similar low results. Is there anything that I could be doing wrong? I am following the guide to rip DVD's & then the Guide to convert them with Divx. The only difference that I do that is encoding the audio, in the guide it says to :
Now click the "select codec" button under audio
For "Format" Choose "PCM"
And under "attributes" select "44.100 kHz, 16 bit, Stereo"
Then click "Ok"
The problem is that I do not have a "PCM" option in "FlaskMPEG" so I have been using MPEG Layer 3 option with the same numbers. Is that causing the problem?

Secondly, I am experimenting with getting a better/sharper image with the video. Does anyone have settings that give them both the best Video clarity & Sound with decent file size? I have a 512 CF Card & a 256 SD Card, so size is not my biggest issue, clarity would be.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Aggie96 · 02-01-04, 09:28 AM

If you have MW2003 on your Axim, you might try downloading the latest audio drivers from Dell that they posted last week. I loaded this driver and the sound difference was much better. Here's the link:

http://support.dell.com/filelib/Devi...ID=PDA_AXIM_X5

chriscalcaterra · 02-01-04, 09:38 AM

I have PPC 2002, any new audio drivers for me?

Aggie96 · 02-01-04, 09:41 AM

sorry, I don't think there is any new audio driver for WM2002, believe it is only for 2003. I am also new to DVD ripping to my Axim but so far I haven't had any issues with sound thanks to the 2003 driver. Hopefully someone else with WM2002 will be able to help you.

Aggie96 · 02-01-04, 09:43 AM

I just browsed the Dell Downloads page for Axim X5 with WM2002. Don't see an audio driver but there are some other downloads available if you haven't already gotten them. Here's the link:

http://support.dell.com/filelib/Devi...ID=PDA_AXIM_X5

chriscalcaterra · 02-01-04, 09:45 AM

Thanks for the link, I need to get some of those updates. I hope I get a response to my issues, otherwise I guess I'll have to upgrade to PPC 2003.

lancie10 · 02-01-04, 05:47 PM

I've experienced similar results with low sound. One option that seems to work is to increase the volume control under the 'audio' menu in VirtualDub. If you click under audio before you compress the AVI file there should be an option called 'volume.' I have tried increasing the level to 200 or 300% and it seems to work. I am not sure if it causes the file size to increase significantly if at all but that is one option you can try. You'll have to let me know if you experience similar results.
By the way, I have already downloaded the new audio drivers from Dell and it still seems to be low...the quality is improved a bit however.

sheepy · 02-04-04, 03:19 PM

That won't affect the file size, Lancie10...

What I suspect this is is that DVDs have enourmous dynamic range (that is, difference between the quietest and the loudest distinguishable sounds), which is great if you're listening on a home cinema setup, but on headphones you need to compress the dynamic range - this will boost the quietest sounds and cut the loudest ones so it sounds more similar to what you hear when a movie is played on the TV (compare a TV broadcast of a movie with the DVD of that same movie, you'll hear what I'm talking about).

Now as to how to do that.... I'm sure it's possible using Virtualdub, I'll just fire it up and see if I can find the option in question...

Hmmm, cant see any option to do it in VirtualDub, it might be that you have to use an external program to do it.

The method suggested by lancie10 - adjusting the volume control in virtualdub to 200%+ - will work however the really loud sounds (explosions, etc) may well clip/crackle...

mark

lancie10 · 02-04-04, 03:46 PM

I noticed too that it doesn't effect the file size after I've done a few trial runs. It seems to vary from DVD to DVD as well so I am not sure if there is a methodological way make sure the sound will be adequate. Sheepy is right that the louder sounds crackle a bit...of course the speaker on the Axim doesn't handle loud sounds too well even with Mp3's.
It might just take a bit of trial and error, I have now tried the volume adjustment up to 600% and it does increase the likelyhood of crackling. I just want to find the right level for drowning out airplane noise! I am not sure because I have only used one set of 'phones with my Axim but I suspect that different quality headphones would also make a difference. Maybe others have experience with this.

sheepy · 02-04-04, 03:56 PM

I've got a couple of pairs of headphones that I use with my X3 - one "in the ear" bud style, the other "over the ear" traditional style... the in the ear ones are capable of giving a much louder sound for a given volume setting on the X3...

I assume it'd be the same with the X5.