mpeg2 and audio and dvd authoring ????

williamconifer wrote on 11/21/2002, 10:17 AM
I use Vegas Video to create slideshows with audio. I render the video WITHOUT the audio stream to DVD legal mpeg2. I then render the audio as a wav at 44.1khz. I then author in Ulead DVD Workshop. I bring in the video and then "replace the audio" for that event with the wav I rendered out of Vegas. When I make disk I get a message that "mpeg audio is not a standard audio type for a NTSC DVD". I just want everything to be standard. *chuckles* I want the most compatibility for my dvd's so I am assuming I need to have the audio as PCM on the DVD. Am I correct? What do I need to do? Any ideas?

thanks
jack

Comments

jetdv wrote on 11/21/2002, 10:40 AM
Have you tried a .wav file at 48khz?
vx2000b wrote on 11/21/2002, 11:04 AM
Yes...
jetdv is correct, the audio must be ar 48K.
Use SF's Sound forge and resample at highest quality to 48K.
williamconifer wrote on 11/21/2002, 11:19 AM
What about rendering the wav in Vegas at 48k? I realize in audio produciton resampleing quality is of utmost importance, but would converting 44.1 to 48k at rendering really impact the sound enough to notice? I mean notice in a video project?

thanks for your help
jack
riredale wrote on 11/21/2002, 12:12 PM
Try it and see. I myself can't hear any difference in the resampled audio. Besides, you don't get a choice: DVD-video insists on 48k audio.
key242 wrote on 11/24/2002, 3:44 AM
Hello all,
I am new to this forum, and I have a few questions about dvd authoring. What is the procedure for turning a completed project into a DVD. Assuming you have your video and audio finished, do you just import those files into the DVD burning software? I'm sure some of you have heard of Minnetonka Software which makes Dolby Digital encoders. According to them, you can 6 .wav files into 1 dolby digital encoded .wav file which is passed through a digital output. Now if I understand correctly, AC3 is just a compressed format that saves space and allows for more video to fit on a DVD. So here is the big question, if you can create a dolby digital 5.1 wav file, how does VV3 output its sound format(wav, mpeg, etc)? Also, what type of audio file does a DVD authoring program import such as Sonic SE that does not convert into dolby digital file. Basically can you export the 5.1 wav from VV3 and import into a DVD authoring program thereby bypassing the AC3 delimna? (poor man approach??) This brings up one last idea; do formats such as .wma and .mov save convert the .wav without losing the dolby digital data? This opens really cool opportunities such as streaming video with surround over the Internet, from your hard drive, or different types of applications. I apololgize for such a complex question, but from what I read you guys really know your stuff. If I need to clarify any of my questions, do not hesitate to ask. Thanks.....
vonhosen wrote on 11/24/2002, 9:54 AM
Most DVD authoring programs (particularly higher end) like you to bring in elementary (seperate ) files for video & audio.

It depends on the authroing program as to what flavours of audio they will process.

For 5.1 authoring you need programs like
Pinnacle DVD Impression Pro (c $400)
Sonic (Solutions) ReelDVD (c $1000)

Impression Pro doesn't include a AC-3 encoder of any sort so you would have to bring in prepped AC-3 files.
ReelDVD includes only a stereo (2/0) Dolby encoder but it will import 5.1 files.

Minnetonka do stereo, 5.1 Dolby & DTS encoders (only really high end expensive authoring software like Scenarist will deal with DTS) but why go that route when you can go with Sonic Foundry for less.

If you have Acid Pro 4 (which is a loop based music generator), this has 5.1 surround mixing included in the program to create your 5.1 soundtrack. There is also a 5.1 Dolby plug-in encoder scheduled to be released for the program by the end of this month. It is currently at Dolby for certification.

riredale wrote on 11/24/2002, 9:57 PM
Perhaps you can scout around for a copy of "Soft Encode" that was offered by Sonic Foundry up until about a year ago. It was a truly excellent means of taking in wavs and encoding them into anything from mono to 5.1 ac3.

Perhaps eBay?
key242 wrote on 11/25/2002, 3:22 AM
Reel DVD imports ac3? I thought it was dolby digital stereo only? Also, if you import seperate audio and video files, how do u sync them back up in the authoring software? Also, for those of you who use VV3, what program do you use to mix and sync your surround sound files with the video files from VV3? Thanks in advance.
vonhosen wrote on 11/25/2002, 9:39 AM
Yes

ReelDVD accepts import of any Dolby audio AC-3 flavour although they don't advertise it as a feature !

If you make sure your audio & video are the exact same length & synced prior to import into the authoring program the authoring program multiplexes them & they are fine.

I've been toying with this a little while I wait for the encoder plug-in to be released and what I have been doing is this.

Editing in Vegas as usual and then finish with rendering an .avi file when all is done.

Using Canopus Procoder to give me an elementary video MPEG file (It shouldn't make a difference to you if you rendered an MPEG-2 elementary stream from VV3)

For audio take the .avi file I rendered and load it into Acid Pro 4.0
(Acid allows you a video track so that you can sync effects & panning added with the video)
Add further audio tracks including (LFE) with effects etc to taste.

You can the render your results out as 6 mono .wav files for encoding by products like Softencode (or the awaiting Dolby plug-in)

As I said I'm waiting for the plug-in to confirm it's all worked OK but I'm not anticipating problems as I haven't had any sync problems importing elementary Procoder produced files with stereo .wav files from Vegas.
key242 wrote on 11/25/2002, 11:21 AM
Thank you everyone, im about to take the DVD/surround sound plunge and your advice was invaluable in making the right decisions.