Sound from dvd's is really low

[Link47]

I'm trying to use my PC as a dvd player. I'm going to order an svideo to composite cable later today but the only thing I'm concerned about is the sound. When I watch dvd's on my computer the sound volume is really low, despite everything being maxed out. Dvd's are the only thing taht give me this problem. Anyone have an idea of what the problem could be?

[pam123]

We could use a little more info here.
Sound Card or on-board?
What speakers?
What drivers?
Analog or digital.
Sound cable from drive to card/board?
Surround or not?
Stereo?

[Link47]

On board, mobo is an Asrock
Harman/Kardon, they came with my old dell and I just carried them over to the computer I built
Driver i guess is Realtek AC97
Not sure if it's analog or digital. I just plug it in the back.
There is no sound cable from the drive to the board. (Should there be?)
Not surround, 2 speakers plus a sub
The speakers are in stereo but it's not going to a stereo system if that is what you're asking.

The computer plays music nice and loud but it just seems like whenever I play a dvd it's so quiet even with the speakers turned up all the way.

[pam123]

The audio in your DVD software is configured how?

[glc]

Open device manager, then your DVD drive. Properties tab, there's a volume slider there, max it out and make sure the enable digital audio is checked. This assumes that CD audio is also low. If it's just DVD's, check the volume settings in your DVD playing software.

[Link47]

I have two dvd drives. Both have digital turned on. I usually use Nero Showtime for DVD's, but sometimes windows media player or the player that comes on the dvd. On all programs the volume is low. Cd audio is fine, I just tested one on windows media player and it's very loud.

I tested three dvds. Hunt for Red October, Ninja Turtles II, and Audioslave live in Cuba. On October and Turtles the sound was low, but it was loud on Audioslave. I tested them in both drives and got the same results. Could it possibly be that some producer of dvds sucks are audio encoding?

In both players you can only set the volume and the speaker configeration, and they are maxed and stereo.

[pam123]

If you're using Nero Showtime

The audio settings are : Audio

Dolby Digital AC-3
LPCM
MP3
mp3PRO
Nero Digital
S/PDIF Edition for digital sound

Which one are you using?

This is from a page of the PDF of the Quick Start : http://www.uwm.edu/IMT/Info/nero/neroshowtime.pdf
Somewhere you have a manual or a guide or a readme, find it.

[Link47]

This is what I have for audio options. I dont know where else they would be in the program.

[pam123]

Link47,
I see what you mean but in the future please post screenshots that size on photobucket, or any other video site of your choice, with a link.
We do our best to keep the Mech dial-up friendly.
I'm removing the photos.
Pam

[pam123]

If you've clicked on Advanced in Showtime and gotten nowhere then I have to wonder if Nero didn't glitch during the install.
You don't have the full compliment of choices.
Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling Nero?

[Link47]

I have the version that came with my burner, don't know if that is a limited version or not. I'll try reinstalling it tomorrow (kind of busy with classes atm) but I dont htink that is the problem since it happens across all programs.

[pam123]

I have the version that came with my burner, don't know if that is a limited version or not. I'll try reinstalling it tomorrow (kind of busy with classes atm) but I dont htink that is the problem since it happens across all programs.


Wait a minute.
You said it only effected DVDs but your music CDs were fine (as was the one music DVD).
What do you mean "all" programs?

[Link47]

I mean all programs I play dvds with. Nero, Windows Media Player, and InterActual.

[pam123]

Neither WMP or RealPlayer have their own DVD decoder, they 'borrow' it from your software DVD player.
If that one isn't doing the job ( installed, properly configured, etc. ) then they can't either.
In short, if Nero isn't working neither can they.
I've never been sure what PC Friendly did without a previously installed set of codecs.
l tried it out years ago, like 2001, and haven't used it since.

[Link47]

I just reinstalled Nero and it is still low. So what should I do now?

[pam123]

Check that your motherboard has an audio pin out (it's either 3 or 4) and by an audio cable.
They're really cheap : http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2010010001+1177512104&Subcategory=1&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

[Link47]

I plugged in the cable and while it seems a little louder, it's not the booming I was hoping for. I'm going to try to connect the thing to my tv though, because all I really need it is to be loud through the tv when I watch movies.

Though my speakers do seem to have some hum and crackling now. I dunno if the cable is doing it or I just never noticed it before.

[pam123]

How old are those speakers and what is the model number?

[Link47]

They're kinda old, they came with my old Dell. Harman/Kardon hk695.

[Ob1]

have you tried updating the sound card drivers?

[Link47]

No, but the last drivers that were released was 2004, so they're definately up to date.

[pam123]

Harmon Kardon no longer list the manual for your speakers but going by the reviews they were out in 2002.
They were decent and unless they're dieing on you they shouldn't be a problem, having trouble with volume on aging spealers usually means it's time to go shopping.
If that's the AC'97 then you have the same on-board sound I do and your drivers are two years out of date.
Latest here : http://www.download.com/Realtek-AC-97-WDM-Driver-Windows-98-Me-2000-XP-2003-/3000-2120-10238712.html

(WDM means windows driver model)