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More => Old Versions => Media Center 14 (Development Ended) => Topic started by: P.J on November 02, 2009, 03:24:14 pm

Title: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 02, 2009, 03:24:14 pm
Hi everybody!

I noticed that MC doesn't play my files as loud as other programs.
I tried all of the output drivers, No DSP and else.
Any solution? :(
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: gappie on November 02, 2009, 04:20:36 pm
welcume.. 8)
there are a few things you could check. first, when you click on the small arros beside the volume you can switch between aplication volume and internal volume. check them. an other thing to try is switching between wave out or direct sound under options>playback. or are you using asio/wasapi?

 :)
gab
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: AoXoMoXoA on November 02, 2009, 04:36:06 pm
You can adjust it in the DSP Studio.

Click on Volume Leveling and select Adjustment = Fixed, then set the amount to perhaps +3 db or +6 db. This should make it louder.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 03, 2009, 03:47:12 am
I tried but none of them worked :(
I'm using native ASIO.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: JimH on November 03, 2009, 08:36:52 am
Check your startup settings for volume.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 03, 2009, 09:10:07 am
Check your startup settings for volume.

Yes, I set it to 20% which is good feature for me to prevent unwanted high volume.
What's wrong with it?  ?
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: JimH on November 03, 2009, 09:46:25 am
Set it higher.  Or turn up the volume after you start.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: YannisA on November 03, 2009, 11:04:25 am
What about Tools > Options > Playback > DSP Studio > Equalizer and then raise the Pre-Amp slider?
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 03, 2009, 01:18:30 pm
What about Tools > Options > Playback > DSP Studio > Equalizer and then raise the Pre-Amp slider?

DSP works but I don't want to use DSP :-X

@JimH: I compared winamp with media center at the same volume. Winamp is ~2x louder.

However, if I turn up the volume to 100%, the peak level goes to 100% too.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: gappie on November 03, 2009, 03:22:00 pm
what soundcard are you using? and which operating system.

nice to hear that winamp supports asio now natively. have not tried winamp for ages.

btw.. i play over asio on two machines and no problem with volume here.

 :)
gab
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 05, 2009, 12:47:24 pm
what soundcard are you using? and which operating system.

nice to hear that winamp supports asio now natively. have not tried winamp for ages.

btw.. i play over asio on two machines and no problem with volume here.

 :)
gab

Presonus Firebox, Windows 7 x64
I compared winamp in nomral mode and media center in normal/ASIO mode.
Even WMP12 (like winamp) is louder than media center.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 11, 2009, 01:29:30 am
Any solution?  ?
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: Matt on November 11, 2009, 09:34:59 am
It sounds like you need to turn the volume up (not the preamp).

You said "but the peak level goes to 100%" if I do this.  That's normal and safe.

Keep in mind there are three volume controls on Vista / Win7 (system, application, and optionally Media Center's internal volume) so you should check them all.  Some soundcards have another mixing slider in their control panel you could also check.

Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 12, 2009, 01:29:54 pm
Ain't it for Replay gain?  ?
I add my files by drag and dropping to the "Now Playing" not through the library.
I've heard Media Center takes care of distortion too.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: Matt on November 12, 2009, 01:32:57 pm
Ain't it for Replay gain?  ?
I add my files by drag and dropping to the "Now Playing" not through the library.
I've heard Media Center takes care of distortion too.

I'm sorry, but I don't think I understand.

You said the volume is low.  You also said the volume set to 20%, which should sound low.

You said you have DSPs disabled, but then mentioned Replay Gain, which is a DSP.  Replay Gain will turn down the volume of most music.  This is expected.

If you still think there's a problem, please describe it in more detail.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 12, 2009, 04:07:59 pm
No, I don't use DSP. The volume is ok because I can only use internal volume in ASIO mode (other are at 100%)
When I compare media center with other programs at the same volume, I find it quieter.
I'll test it in XP tomorrow too and give you the result  ::)
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: gappie on November 12, 2009, 04:25:23 pm
No, I don't use DSP. The volume is ok because I can only use internal volume in ASIO mode (other are at 100%)
When I compare media center with other programs at the same volume, I find it quieter.
I'll test it in XP tomorrow too and give you the result  ::)
you do realise the comparison does not make much sense.. when you set the other players to use asio also it might be a bit more interesting, it could be an interesting note. or use directsound or wave out in mc. have you tried wasapi? cant wait to hear the conclusion...
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: Matt on November 12, 2009, 04:29:08 pm
with other programs at the same volume, I find it quieter

Are you saying Media Center at 20% is different than another program at 20%?

Different volume implementations may very well use different scalars at 20%.  We're a logarithmic scale, using volume_scalar = pow(%, 1.7).
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 13, 2009, 12:43:54 pm
Are you saying Media Center at 20% is different than another program at 20%?

Different volume implementations may very well use different scalars at 20%.  We're a logarithmic scale, using volume_scalar = pow(%, 1.7).

Oh! so it's not linear like other programs, right?

@gappie: yes, I tried everything.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: AoXoMoXoA on November 13, 2009, 12:54:35 pm
Oh! so it's not linear like other programs, right?

Physical volume controls are not linear, they are made to be "audio taper" so as to more closely align with how the human ear discerns volume changes.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: Matt on November 13, 2009, 12:59:40 pm
Oh! so it's not linear like other programs, right?

No good software would use a linear slider, but there's no one correct percentage to scalar mapping.  (and I don't see that there really needs to be)

If you google, you'll find lots of discussion about this.  For example: http://www.dr-lex.be/info-stuff/volumecontrols.html
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: Mr ChriZ on November 13, 2009, 05:10:32 pm
Physical volume controls are not linear, they are made to be "audio taper" so as to more closely align with how the human ear discerns volume changes.

Sorry to thread hijack, but does this include volume controls on most amplifiers?
Just interested  :)
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: AoXoMoXoA on November 13, 2009, 08:11:29 pm
Sorry to thread hijack, but does this include volume controls on most amplifiers?
Just interested  :)
Matter of fact, yes. The volume change between say 8:00 and 9:00 is usually much less than that between 12:00 and 1:00 on the dial. At the bottom of the dial the change is more gradual and gets faster as you go higher up the dial.
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: P.J on November 14, 2009, 01:51:52 am
Are you saying Media Center at 20% is different than another program at 20%?

Different volume implementations may very well use different scalars at 20%.  We're a logarithmic scale, using volume_scalar = pow(%, 1.7).

Yes! volume_scalar = pow(%, 1.7)
That's why the volume is always lower ;)

Thank you :)
Title: Re: Low Volume
Post by: p7389 on November 14, 2009, 05:43:43 am
This is fascinating.