HTPC users, is there a way to level the volume when watching tv/movies?

[Informant X]

Greetings, I recently got me a hauppage cable card TV tuner and love it. The only problem I have now is the volume. It's annoying when going from channel to channel, or from watching movie to movie that volume changes so much. Sometimes even when I minimize Windows Media Center (which is what i'm using) the volume changes. I have Shark Codec pack installed (but don't know anything any about it) to play mkv's in 7MC.

Anyway is there any easy way to levelize the volume across the board? I have my audio/video going out thru HDMI to my TV, and my TV does a coax pass thru to my reciever. My reciever isn't a good one, or rather it's not bad. (one of those HTIB ones) So yea that's my setup.

 

[wirednuts]

what youre asking is more like smart sound, but try this first-

right click on your volume icon in the system tray. click playback devices. right click on your audio device in the list. click properties. go to enhancements tab. enable "loudness equalization".

this always works wonders for me, i couldnt live without it. the only problem is it will make music sound like shit. so you will be switching it on and off a lot if you go from music to tv like i do

 

[Modelworks]

If you installed a codec pack it probably has AC-3 filter installed.
Read the following page and adjust the filter for what you want.

http://ac3filter.net/wiki/Loudness_and_dynamic_range

 

[fralexandr]

there's also sometimes a "night-mode" equalizer setting for many sound cards, which is supposed to reduce the loudness range.
heh, i guess that's what wirednuts is talking about for onboard, doh

on an x-fi you can go to the audio control panel -> decoder -> settings -> under dolby digital settings set dynamic range to night mode

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edit: oh you're using hdmi. is your audio set to pass-through to the receiver? or is your htpc doing the audio processing?

if the receiver's doing the processing, the easiest way would be if the receiver has a setting for loudness equalization or night listening mode. you'll have to look around

 

[Informant X]

Okay thanks guys, i'll do some digging!