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[Robo983]

I have been trying to piece together from different posts how to set up DLNA volume leveling and what I should expect at the DNLA device. I didn't find anything on the wiki specific to it so hope I can get some guidance.

The problem I am having is my WDTV Live Plus is distorting/clipping my music. It is a common problem to this device but I thought MC had a way to adjust volume before streaming. If that is not true then ignore the rest. If it is only sending the Replay Gain Value then I do not think the WDTV Live can handle Replay Gain.

Setup:
-   Windows 7
-   MC 15.136
-   Renderer WDTV Live Plus
-   iPhone WebRemote as Controler
-   WDTV Live Plus
-   Wired Network
-   Test File FLAC and MP3 with Replay Gain of -16dB
Media Network Setting:
-   Profile: Generic DNLA (as first and only in my list)
-   Conversion: Always Convert
-   Encoder: MP3 high bandwidth stream
DSP Studio Settings
-   Volume Leveling Checked
-   Mode: Track Based
-   Adjustment: None or Fixed 0dB
-   Overflow Handling: Clip protection
-   These Settings appear to be Zone specific is that true?

From another post it sounded like this setup would Decode then adjust volume based on replay gain values, then encode the track to MP3 and stream the track to the renderer.

It doesn’t appear to be working for me. If I use WebRemote or the WDTV menu and select the files to play they are distorted. Peak values when playing on in MC are 96-100% before volume leveling and down around 20% when applied. It is a very noticeable difference that if working on DNLA I think I would notice the reduced volume and no distortion.

I am not sure but I think I tried DNLA to an MC 15 PC zone and it worked but I can not remember for sure if I just wasn't playing it from the library. If using a HTPC was a choice this wouldn’t be a concern.

[tombert]

I had to disable Volume leveling cause it seems worse (the volume level) to me than without ... but I didn't go deeper into it ...

[bob]

In the Media Network options, when "always convert" is set for audio AND Volume leveling is checked under audio advanced, the replay gain value is applied to the track when converting before streaming via DLNA. This is independent of any replay gain adjustment the rendering device might try to make. (Note to self, check to see that the old replay gain value isn't sent along with the transcoded file).

The presentation of these options as just "volume leveling" and "always convert" in the Media Network DLNA server options is a simplified instance of the DSP studio to try to keep things simple on the user end. A couple of us had a long discussion about this

[Robo983]

Thanks Bob, I am not sure I still understand as it doesn't seem to work the way I think of it. If I have a single file with a -16dB reference to the 83dB target shouldn't it reduce the volumn when it is streamed so that the volume of all the tracks is close to the 83dB?

If not then what Tombert says makes sense? Turning off Volume Level should make it better as if the volume leveling is trying to boost the volumn by the replay gain value rather than reduce it?

Is it correct to say I should get similar volume on the DNLA device as I would playing it on the PC with volumn leveling set? The WDTV Live as best I can find does not support replay gain so if it was sent along with the transcode file I do not think it would do anything with it.

I will try to turn off volume leveling tonight and see what happens.

It may be on a different post but are the other DSP settings like equilizer applied to the transcoded file? That would kind of cool too since I am using an old analoge equalizer where the DNLA device is located. At first I though it was the problem..of coarse it makes it worse with it in the path because it amplifies the distortion.

[tombert]

Ok - I made a copy of the same song with -15 dB gain and set one copy to zero. On the PC I can clearly hear a difference in the volume level. On the TV there is none. Unfort. I cannot change the value to e.g. -50 dB in case I didn't hear it ...

tom

[tombert]

Identified a Bug: http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=60163.0

thx

[Robo983]

Thanks Tombert there is comfort in knowing others are having the issue with other devices.

I did almost the same test but didn't know how to get rid of the Replay Gain value. I thought I could edit it to some crazy value like you tried but it is not selectable. I turned off volume leveling in the DSP Studio and the Network setings and various combinations and heard no volume change. I tried to set the fixed about to the most it would let me at -18 and still no sound change.

I wish I had caught this earlier. Today is my last day on the 30 days to return my WDTV live. I really like it but I use it for music more than video. Since you never know if the fix will solve it for a specific device I guess I will track your bug thread and when there is a resolution go get another one for a 30 day trial. In the mean time I'll just have to forgo netflix and use my XBOX XBMC for the video and music on the network.

I'll post on your bug report too.

[bob]

http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=60163.msg406432#msg406432