Re: MVPs - Baffling Audio Limiting

Hi, Neil! Thanks for responding.

"Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:

It sounds like you've added a lot of complexity to the playback chain
so this is going to be hard to isolate.

Actually, in players where the graph can be controlled, I've tried to make
it as short as possible: from the file to the codec to the renderer. No
additional filters between the output.

After disabling 32 bit float through the GraphEdit interface playback
through players that'll allow me to choose codecs (such as ZoomPlayer and
JetAudio) no longer have this fluctuating sound level.
As WMP defies simple consumer level access to its codec setup, however, the
problem remains there.

Starting from the basics (you didn't mention this specifically) :

In WMP, I'd check the settings under Now Playing -> Enhancements, go
to Quiet Mode (and turn it off), Equaliser (turn that off),
Crossfading and auto volume levelling (off) and SRS WOW settings -
unsurprisingly, off.

I had already tried switching off all of the options you mentioned, except
the equalizer. Having listened for a couple of minutes, switching it off may
be resolving the issue, but the audio looses so much clarity it's hard to
tell. Mind you, the leveling effect I'm talking about is pretty subtle, but
irritating as hell if you've got a fine ear. And now I'm stuck with dull
audio. It's like that hit the hamster game on the fair ground. Bang one down
and another pops up somewhere else.

Is there any way to control WMP codecs? As I said forcing 32 bit PCM
resolves the issue in other players. The equalizer doesn't cause any
artifacts in them, but... Well, I'm used to WMP. If I can get WMP to use
DScaler or ffdshow, it ought to solve the problem.

If the speakers are USB powered, ensure there's enough drive current
available for their rated value, they should be directly connected to
the USB port, not sent through a powered or unpowered hub.

Probably doesn't matter anymore now, but speakers are on seperate power
cables.

Anyway. Thanks again for responding. Appreciate it.

HTH
Cheers - Neil

On Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:34:05 -0800, rzr
<rzr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

The problem
I've got a problem with music files being normalized in Vista. (Whenever
music tracks exceed a certain level, the volume is reduced automatically.)
This may happen with all audio streams, but I have only noticed with music
files.

I've made sure that the graphs are clean (audiofile > codec > sound
renderer), that any players used aren't using limiters and loudness control
in the Sound Manager for the Realtek HD Audio ALC888 is switched off.

Things I noticed
The issue seems to be related to (or at least solved by disabling) 32 bit
IEEE float.
Using Graphedit and DScaler as decoder for mp3, setting prefered connection
type to 32 bit PCM restores audio to normal.
Using Graphedit and ffdshow as decoder for wma, forcing 32 bit PCM restores
audio to normal also.

After changing DScaler and ffdshow JetAudio now plays back audio without
this problem, but it persists in WMP.

H.E.L.P.
------------------------------------------------
Digital Media MVP : 2004-2008
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs

.

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