[jp]

When I watch videos I prefer to use my players built in speakers rather than headphones and have to boost the volume accordingly. I do the volume adjustment and conversion as follows:

1. Convert VOB files to mpeg 1 using SUPER converter selecting the ffmpeg choice...video options / other options allows increasing volume 300% which I do...

2. Convert mpeg 1 to avi using Virtual Dub to edit video characteristics including brightness, contrast, sharpness, cropping, frame rates, cut into small segments for easy mid video resumption, remove unwanted video such as pre and post segments such as credits, etc.,...can further adjust volume here as well if necessary which I sometimes do...

3. Convert from avi to amv ... I use version 4.00 as my player supports 16 fps and the 128 by 128 option crops the frame edges so no compression of the frame itself...find that the little bit cropped doesn't affect viewability...

There is a limit to how much volume can be increased before the sound degrades. You may want to convert the same short piece of video using various settings to see what sounds best. Save each so you can play them one after the other to compare.

I've played around with various approaches but in terms of volume increase, using SUPER then VDub works better than VDub alone plus must convert VOB files before using VDub anyhow. Somewhat labour intensive though and perhaps a non-freeware program may allow more batch conversion options. However I find that to optimize picture quality this approach is necessary as there is variability in the brightness and clarity of different movies or tv shows, so adjusting the volume as well takes no more time.

In doing format conversions from mp3 to wma using Media Monkey, I've noticed a track volume leveling option that may solve your mp3 volume issues. I haven't played with it so am not sure how effective it is.

Also, I record radio broadcasts that I access via the web, usually sports shows, and record them using Free Hi-Q Recorder which allows recording volume adjustment. Again, I listen to these using my players built in speakers so find that recording volume adjustment necessary.