PowerDirector 365 Sound Distortion

Back2TheBike

Newbie Joined: Dec 26, 2019 04:20 Messages: 33 Offline

Solved by

Mar 11, 2021 12:32

Hi Folks
I've recently upgraded to 365 from PD18.
On a recent video the final rendering has distorted the audio (my voice), as if it had been recorded on a cheap mic, sounds like it's clipping. There is a clear, noticable difference between the original audio (recorded with a lav mic into a Sony Digital recorder) and the outputted .MP4 file. My original audio source file shows none of this distortion. Also, there is no distortion on sound in the PD 'edit' mode when I play it. The sound file waveform is statndard with no yellow peaks to indicate any overloading.
The audio 'set up' on the 'Produce' page dialogue box is set to the standard of AAC, Stereo, 384 Kbps.
I checked the Forum and it seems this happened a few years ago (PD13/14?) and PD issued a patch to cure it. Some folk seem to have exported the Mp4 into another app to rectify the issue.
Has anyone else had this problem?

Ben_Bear

Newbie Joined: Feb 24, 2021 05:05 Messages: 2 Offline

Mar 11, 2021 21:35

Quote Hi Folks
I've recently upgraded to 365 from PD18.
On a recent video the final rendering has distorted the audio (my voice), as if it had been recorded on a cheap mic, sounds like it's clipping. There is a clear, noticable difference between the original audio (recorded with a lav mic into a Sony Digital recorder) and the outputted .MP4 file. My original audio source file shows none of this distortion. Also, there is no distortion on sound in the PD 'edit' mode when I play it. The sound file waveform is statndard with no yellow peaks to indicate any overloading.
The audio 'set up' on the 'Produce' page dialogue box is set to the standard of AAC, Stereo, 384 Kbps.
I checked the Forum and it seems this happened a few years ago (PD13/14?) and PD issued a patch to cure it. Some folk seem to have exported the Mp4 into another app to rectify the issue.
Has anyone else had this problem?

you can check your output audio's sample rate.

if its not same as oringinal one, it might have some distortion.

Back2TheBike

Newbie Joined: Dec 26, 2019 04:20 Messages: 33 Offline

Mar 12, 2021 02:19

Quote

you can check your output audio's sample rate.

if its not same as oringinal one, it might have some distortion.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check that out.

After trawling every source I could find yesterday on distortion, I tried dropping the gain. I've run 'Produce' again, and after initially thinking it had solved the problem, I reckon it's just as bad as before. Makes me sound like I've got a sore throat, classic clipping.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Mar 12. 2021 06:59

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Mar 12, 2021 16:29

Quote After trawling every source I could find yesterday on distortion, I tried dropping the gain. I've run 'Produce' again, and after initially thinking it had solved the problem, I reckon it's just as bad as before. Makes me sound like I've got a sore throat, classic clipping.

If you're comfortable sharing that specific clip, upload it to One Drive or Google Drive and paste a publicly-shareable link to it here so other users can check it. See this FAQ for more details.

Back2TheBike

Newbie Joined: Dec 26, 2019 04:20 Messages: 33 Offline

Mar 13, 2021 05:20

Quote

If you're comfortable sharing that specific clip, upload it to One Drive or Google Drive and paste a publicly-shareable link to it here so other users can check it. See this FAQ for more details.

Thanks for the offer.
Here are the files:

Original MP3 at 44KHz File

The audio cut from my video. I produced it at 48KHz (after seeing a tip on this forum that upping it from 44KHz might help) but it still distorts. Distorted File

Filename	Audio Distortion Sample.m4a	Download
Description	Distorted File
Filesize	384 Kbytes
Downloaded:	231 time(s)

Filename	Original MP3 file at 44KHz.mp3	Download
Description	Original MP3 at 44KHz
Filesize	249 Kbytes
Downloaded:	599 time(s)

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Mar 13, 2021 13:55

Thanks for the files. They're really small so attaching them works just fine. I can clearly hear the distortion and I think it's related to this issue. You don't have to read through the entire thread and my last post at the bottom has the steps that CL tech support thought would address the issue.

I can try that out later today when I have more time, but if it works for you in the meantime please post an update.

Back2TheBike

Newbie Joined: Dec 26, 2019 04:20 Messages: 33 Offline

Mar 13, 2021 15:46

Hi OptoData
Thanks for the heads up on this. I presume this is what you mean:
As workaround, you may consider selecting consistent sample 44100 Hz (1411 kbps) profile to produce the project (that contains the MP3 audio file only) into WAV audio format, and then check if the corresponding sample rate profile can ease/decrease additional distortion in the waveform after the audio format is converted. It could be a possible solution.
I'm puzzled though, as this seems to address an audio only production, whereas I want to make video? I'm very much a newbie on sound editing editing so please forgive the dumb questions
I went into the 'custom' profile type, where. It allows me to tweak compression method, audio channel and compression rate. The max rate is 384, so I can't choose 1411.
Whatever I do, it needs to be YouTube friendly/compatible. Very frustrating this doesn't work as it should.
BTW It's great to hear from California. I'm in rural England, where we've had a succession of spring hail showers today.
Your attention is much appreciated from across the pond in furthering US/UK relations ...

JL_JL

Senior Contributor Location: Arizona, USA Joined: Oct 01, 2006 20:01 Messages: 6091 Offline

Mar 13, 2021 16:19

Change audio to LPCM, 1536 Kbps and you will probably be good.

Jeff

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Mar 13, 2021 16:36

Quote Change audio to LPCM, 1536 Kbps and you will probably be good.

Jeff

I agree, and also this isn't typical. You should normally not have to worry about tweaking the audio settings so finely just to get a reasonable quality output.

A quick test showed a clear result with a custom profile using Jeff's suggested LPCM 1536 Kbps audio bitrate. I also produced a standard AAC 48Khz output that sounded much better than the clip you produced, although it seems to have some of the degredation that yours does.

I've attached them both and you can listen to and judge them for yourself.

Filename	Back2TheBike LPCM sample.mp4	Download
Description	custom profile LPCM 1536kbps
Filesize	3153 Kbytes
Downloaded:	169 time(s)

Filename	Back2TheBike AAC sample.mp4	Download
Description	standard profile 48kHz AAC
Filesize	916 Kbytes
Downloaded:	200 time(s)

Back2TheBike

Newbie Joined: Dec 26, 2019 04:20 Messages: 33 Offline

Mar 14, 2021 07:18

OptoData and JL
Bingo. Problem solved.
For the benefit of amateurs like myself who are new to this, the steps are as follows:

Open the 'Produce' page.

Create a new 'custom' profile type, name it.

In the 'quality profile'set up' box, go into the 'audio' tab, select LPCM and a rate of 1536Kbps.

Click OK

The audio now shows none of the clipping/distortion that had been present.
I've been using PD for a 3 years now but am a novice when it comes to audio, so no idea why this works, it just does.
I hope someone from CL picks up this issue and patches it. Adding 44KHz CD quality sound from a lav mic/digital sound recorder shouldn't be a problem for the software, and it's clearly a repeat of the PD13 distortion issue.
Big thanks to OptoData and JL for your advice, support and expertise.