Batch Normalize Volume

[presto]

I want to be able to point VideoReDo TVSuite w H.264 at a bunch of short video clips and have it adjust all the volumes so they are about the same as each other.

I belive this is called normalization, right?

With the help of email support I learned that I could do this with this particular version of VideoReDo so I downloaded the trial. (I ama VideoReDo Pro owner).

The email support guy gave me these directions:

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I would suggest the following method to automate your process in batch.

Click on the menu: Tools>Edit profile list

Select a profile that meets your output needs for a similar type output such as MPEG2 Program Stream.

Click Copy and Edit.

Select the audio encoding type you prefer and set normalization to the preferred dB.

Change the profile name as desired and click OK

You will see your new profle on the file output dialog box.

You can use the Batch Manager to process multiple files or, if you are editing, save them individually.

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I followed the above directions but still have a couple of questions and ran into a couple of problems:

1) How do I know what to choose as far as : mpeg Program Stream, mpeg Transport Stream, mpeg Elementary Stream? My input videos are mpgs and I want them outputted as mpgs. I only want to normalize the volume.

2) How do I decide on output audio type. MPEG Layer 2 or LYCM/WAV. What difference will this make?

3) Is it possible to tell VideoRedo to save the new file in the same folder as the original but rename it, for instance by adding (Normalized) to the title? I don't want to have to do this for each file I want to set it up in the profile. I see where it asks me to specify the folder so I'm hoping there is a symbol that tells it to use the same folder the source file is in and rename it.

4) So far when I try to add several files to the batch manager I get a working bar that goes about half way across and then gets VERY slow. It seems to be moving but it takes forever and I have just contol/alt/deleted and ended the program. What is it trying to do? When I process the files individually using the same prpfile they load instantly and process fine. So whatever the batch manager is trying to do is not needed. It should just load the names and do nothing and then process them when asked.

5) Is there a standard normalization that is used? Do I want to normalize to zero to make my videos most likely to have similar volume to most videos? In my first attempts I found normalizing to zero to be too loud so I tried -18 which was better. But if zero is more "standard" I could just normalize everything to zero and turn down my speakers. The point is after I do this I don't wantto have to normalize most videos. Just the occasional one that is way off.

Thanks

[phd]

1) It sounds like Program Stream would suit your needs.

2) LPCM would be uncompressed audio. MPEG would be compressed and be a smaller file size. Your choice.

3) In batch, specify the output folder and use the Modifier "Normalized" (without quotes)

4) Is it reencoding the video? Make sure Intelligent Recode is specified for Output Mode in the profile you are selecting.

5) This would depend on how the individual files are recorded and your preference.

[presto]

Thanks for the info. That helps quite a bit. I still have a few questions:

So there is no symbol I can put in the profile that will cause that profile to always use the source file folder?

There is no "standard" normalization? I mean most of the time I can watch videos on my computer without constantly adjusting the volume. There seems to be somewhat of a standard. Sometimes you get videos that are way too loud or way too quiet but most seem to be about the same.

Believe I know that there is no universal standard that every one respects but there must be a kind of well known standard that is generally accepted.

And what I don't understand about my issue 4) above is that this working bar comes up when I am just adding the items to the batch list. NOT when I run the batch. So I just don't get what it is trying to do that takes so long. I can process the files one at a time using the same profile and no problem. Makes not sense to me. Adding an item to a list should not bring up a 'progress bar" that moves quickly and then stalls. The batch manager must be designed to "check" each video when it is added to the list. But what is it checking and why? If I can process the files one at a time what is the big deal about making a list and processing them in a batch?

[presto]

Ok I figured out the progress bar problem.

I'm using the trial version so each time it adds a clip the window appears to ask if you want to buy the program. The problem is that for some reason this window appears as a pop-under instead of a regular pop up as it usually does. I finally noticed the window under the other windows and touched it to bring it to the front. I then hit the "keep using trial" button (or whatever it's called in this case) and the progress bar then moved on to the next item and again the trial version window appeared UNDER the other windows while the progress bar basically paused.

Thanks for all the help. I think this will work for what I want it to do. I still need to figure out how to make the modifier appear at the end of the file name not the beginning. When it appears at the beginning it completely messes up my orginzational system.

[phd]

Glad you figured it out.

When you use the Batch, you specify the output folder.

I assume you also wrote back to support regarding prefix and suffix.

For the benefit of others, from the Help file:
Destination Modifier: This string, if present, precedes the output file. You can use the Destination Modifier alone or in conjunction with the Destination Folder.
Special note: The destination modifier will prefix the actual filename unless the modifier begins with a '-' or '_' in this which it will suffix the filename.