Audio Playback

[bfrank81]

This is going to be a little long winded but I want to make sure I note all of the details. Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide. I ripped my entire DVD library (close to 300 DVDs) using HandBrake and saved all of the files in "AppleTV" format. This was when I had an AppleTV. For Christmas my wife and I decided to sell the AppleTV on eBay and purchase a Dell Zino HD with a BluRay player. The Zino does not have a 5.1 channel sound card so I purchased a Creative SoundBlaster USB sound card and have that connected via an optic cable into my Bose sound system.

I was having trouble getting the audio to play back in 5.1 surround and posted here it was suggested to use the Win32 waveOut extention setting so I did and that worked great. I have to manually choose the second audio track but I can live with that to get 5.1 surround. 5.1 videos sound great.

Now here's my problem. I have some movies even when I choose the second audio track OR there is no 2nd track my only option is 2.0 the audio comes in and out. The voices get so quiet we can't here them then the background noise is so loud it blasts us out of the room. This was not a problem with the AppleTV. What can I do?!?!? Thanks so much for your help!

[bfrank81]

I forgot to mention that I've tried to play the same videos in VLC, iTunes, and Windows Media Player and all of them have the same problem at the same scene in the movie. This has happened with a few different movies. Thanks!

[VLC_help]

Some sample file you could share to us?

[bfrank81]

All of the movie files are pretty big. PM sent

[VLC_help]

If they are MP4 files, you can use mp4box and yamb to cut us small sample.

[bfrank81]

OK using Yamb I've split out a 5 minute clip of Cast Away. On my setup the conversation between the guy that has the liquor bottle and the lady is so quiet I can't hear it. But when Tom Hanks gets on his cell phone off the plane it gets really loud. Let me know what you think...

http://public.me.com/bfrank81

[VLC_help]

According to VLC and Mediainfo, both audio tracks on that file are stereo, so you cannot get 5.1 output from them.

[bfrank81]

ok and I am fine with that. BUT did you notice how the audio comes in and out and gets so quiet that you can't hear it? What stinks is that I didn't have this problem when I ran the AppleTV but now that I've switched to the ZinoHD I have to get something figured out. Thanks for your help!

[VLC_help]

I didn't hear that. Could you give some timecodes where that can be heard?

[bfrank81]

I'm not sure about time codes but when they are on the plane and the guy pouring the drinks is talking to the lady about his sick wife. That conversation I can't hear. Then when Tom Hanks is talking on the phone it's very loud.

[bfrank81]

I just confirmed that if I play the file listed above on my laptop I do NOT have the same symptoms. I'm not sure what this means. Any suggestions?

[VLC_help]

I just confirmed that if I play the file listed above on my laptop I do NOT have the same symptoms. I'm not sure what this means. Any suggestions?

Maybe you have some external sound filter/effect enabled from your soundcards control panel?