I'm trying to use Ulead Video Studio 10+ to edit a DVD-R recorded on my DVD recorder. For some reason it only recorded one channel of Dolby AC3 audio (don't know if the R channel wasn't plugged in hard enough or whether it's a DVD VR / Video issue).
Anyway if I copy the raw VOB files and rename them MPG, then do a few cuts, and add a bit of other video (and audio), it then exports with "Smart Render" on in no time and looks and sounds fine.
But anything I use Ulead VS to process the audio ends up seriously distorting it (incessant clicks and wobbles several times a second, sounds like bad digital audio compression artefacts / re-sampling, making it unusable). Even 'Insert / Import from DVD-R' in the first place causes this (both on preview and on the exported file, which then takes some time to re-render, even with Smart Render on). But since the DVD breaks the video files into 4x 1GB chunks, editing the raw VOBs instead gives a half-second blip between each of them, so importing from DVD-R as one file without blips would be ideal if it didn't have this audio issue. Using the "Duplicate audio onto other track" on the raw VOBs also forces it to completely re-render, giving the badly distorted audio again.
Short of using Ulead VS in combination with another video editor and a sound editor, is there any way I can either duplicate the mono audio onto both tracks without re-rendering, or get Ulead VS to process the Dolby AC3 audio without distorting it? Thank you for any help.
Please help: Dolby audio from DVD-R distorted
Moderator: Ken Berry
-
felix2
Hi, still heard nothing at all back from Technical Support.
Has anyone successfully imported SD MPEG2 with Dolby audio (e.g. from a set-top DVD recorder) into Ulead and not had the audio distort? Please if I've just got a setting wrong somewhere, I'd be very grateful for a pointer. Thank you if you can help.
Imported from DVD-R:
Ulead VideoStudio\10.0\uvs070511_153948~0.mpg
PAL DVD
4,089,310 KB
4553.280seconds
MPEG-2 Video, Upper Field First
113,832 frames
24 bits, 720 x 576, 4:3
25.000 frames/sec
Variable bit rate (Max 8800 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio
218,557,440 samples
48,000 Hz
Layer: None
Bit rate: 384 kbps
(same for raw VOB files renamed MPG)
On importing:
TV system: 625/50 PAL
Audio: Dolby Digital 1 channel
(No subtitle, no multiple angle)
AMD XP2100, 1 GB RAM, 400 GB external USB2 HDD for video files
Has anyone successfully imported SD MPEG2 with Dolby audio (e.g. from a set-top DVD recorder) into Ulead and not had the audio distort? Please if I've just got a setting wrong somewhere, I'd be very grateful for a pointer. Thank you if you can help.
Imported from DVD-R:
Ulead VideoStudio\10.0\uvs070511_153948~0.mpg
PAL DVD
4,089,310 KB
4553.280seconds
MPEG-2 Video, Upper Field First
113,832 frames
24 bits, 720 x 576, 4:3
25.000 frames/sec
Variable bit rate (Max 8800 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio
218,557,440 samples
48,000 Hz
Layer: None
Bit rate: 384 kbps
(same for raw VOB files renamed MPG)
On importing:
TV system: 625/50 PAL
Audio: Dolby Digital 1 channel
(No subtitle, no multiple angle)
AMD XP2100, 1 GB RAM, 400 GB external USB2 HDD for video files
-
Trevor Andrew
Hi Felix2
I always use VS with Digital Dolby with no problems. But do not import form a Dvd recorder.
As you have lost one of the stereo tracks then there is something amiss with the recording, capture or your pc playback. You may just have a corrupt file, very hard to fix.
I would suspect that the clicks are embedded to the audio track and not a VS playback problem.
Does the video file play OK using Power DVD or Windows media Player?
VS:-
If you select the Audio Tab at the top, then the Audio View, you can play the clip and view the Left and Right channels. Do you see both channels? If yes then you should hear both channels.
In earlier versions of VS you could copy/duplicate channels, I do not see this as a VS 10 option.
You can create a new sound file of the entire project, Share--Create Sound File, this will create a Wav file. I do not know if this recreates the two stereo channels or just the one. If the clicks are part of the audio file then they will still be there.
Regards
Trevor
I always use VS with Digital Dolby with no problems. But do not import form a Dvd recorder.
As you have lost one of the stereo tracks then there is something amiss with the recording, capture or your pc playback. You may just have a corrupt file, very hard to fix.
I would suspect that the clicks are embedded to the audio track and not a VS playback problem.
Does the video file play OK using Power DVD or Windows media Player?
VS:-
If you select the Audio Tab at the top, then the Audio View, you can play the clip and view the Left and Right channels. Do you see both channels? If yes then you should hear both channels.
In earlier versions of VS you could copy/duplicate channels, I do not see this as a VS 10 option.
You can create a new sound file of the entire project, Share--Create Sound File, this will create a Wav file. I do not know if this recreates the two stereo channels or just the one. If the clicks are part of the audio file then they will still be there.
Regards
Trevor
-
felix2
Hi Trevor,
Thanks for your reply, and relieved to hear you use Dolby audio with no problems!
Yes, the original recording from the actual DVD recorder only has audio on the Left channel. (I haven't yet worked out if I simply didn't plug in the other plug hard enough, or if it was trying to record 4-channel audio, with left & right inputs bounced onto the Left channel only - got to test that this afternoon... Either way the stereo TV I monitored on at the time duplicated the input, which I now know was mono, through both speakers / headphones, making me think it was OK - Doh!) So in VS (and my other video editing and sound editing software), the waveform appears as Left channel only.
And yes, the original DVD - and its ripped VOBs/MPEGs - play back perfectly in Power DVD and Windows Media Player (and in the other editing progs). Perfectly as in no distortion / clicks at all - but obviously only through the Left channel! So the distortion isn't part of the original audio track, and using the raw ripped VOBs/MPEGs in VS and Smart Rendering it out again in the same format, it doesn't get distorted.
When it does get distorted (both in Preview and in Export) in VS is:
- Importing / Inserting from DVD-R (rather than using the raw ripped VOB/MPEG files); or
- Copying / Duplicating the Left channel onto the Right channel too (Audio View - 'Attributes' tab, in VS 10+); or
- Exporting (Sharing) as anything except 'Smart Render as First Video File' - including any other DVD PAL 'Smart Render', or sound WAV file only.
If I can't solve this one, the only thing I can think will work is to:
- Import the raw VOB/MPEG files (with the 3 1/2-second blips between them);
- Smart Render out to give one MPEG (still perfect, still Left channel audio only), to make sure I have the right 1/2-second pause between the clips;
- Use the other video editor & sound editor to export that as a WAV audio file and duplicate onto L&R audio channels (still no clicking);
- Insert new 'stereo' WAV file back into VS and mute the original sound. I've just done a quick test and that sounds good and doesn't distort it, but I dread to think what it's going to do to the sync on a 1 hr 15 minute MPEG video file! That can't be the easiest way!!!
All the best, Giles.
Thanks for your reply, and relieved to hear you use Dolby audio with no problems!
Yes, the original recording from the actual DVD recorder only has audio on the Left channel. (I haven't yet worked out if I simply didn't plug in the other plug hard enough, or if it was trying to record 4-channel audio, with left & right inputs bounced onto the Left channel only - got to test that this afternoon... Either way the stereo TV I monitored on at the time duplicated the input, which I now know was mono, through both speakers / headphones, making me think it was OK - Doh!) So in VS (and my other video editing and sound editing software), the waveform appears as Left channel only.
And yes, the original DVD - and its ripped VOBs/MPEGs - play back perfectly in Power DVD and Windows Media Player (and in the other editing progs). Perfectly as in no distortion / clicks at all - but obviously only through the Left channel! So the distortion isn't part of the original audio track, and using the raw ripped VOBs/MPEGs in VS and Smart Rendering it out again in the same format, it doesn't get distorted.
When it does get distorted (both in Preview and in Export) in VS is:
- Importing / Inserting from DVD-R (rather than using the raw ripped VOB/MPEG files); or
- Copying / Duplicating the Left channel onto the Right channel too (Audio View - 'Attributes' tab, in VS 10+); or
- Exporting (Sharing) as anything except 'Smart Render as First Video File' - including any other DVD PAL 'Smart Render', or sound WAV file only.
If I can't solve this one, the only thing I can think will work is to:
- Import the raw VOB/MPEG files (with the 3 1/2-second blips between them);
- Smart Render out to give one MPEG (still perfect, still Left channel audio only), to make sure I have the right 1/2-second pause between the clips;
- Use the other video editor & sound editor to export that as a WAV audio file and duplicate onto L&R audio channels (still no clicking);
- Insert new 'stereo' WAV file back into VS and mute the original sound. I've just done a quick test and that sounds good and doesn't distort it, but I dread to think what it's going to do to the sync on a 1 hr 15 minute MPEG video file! That can't be the easiest way!!!
All the best, Giles.
-
Trevor Andrew
Hi Giles
Just a few thoughts:-
If the captured/imported video file is mono then you should be able to identify viewing the properties, but I do not think DD supports mono, only stereo. The properties should be stereo. So the right and left tracks exist with content on one not two, one being effectively muted, if you understand what I mean.( I may be wrong there)
If you start a new project, then File Preferences, tick Show Messages¡K..
When you insert the FIRST video clip you should get an info window, click details to view your properties¡K¡K.
Select Yes/ok and the Project Properties match the video file
(Duplicating the Left channel onto the Right channel too (Audio View - 'Attributes' tab, in VS 10+) I knew it existed somewhere, must have had my eyes closed this morning (just back from Brazil). Thanks for that
Smart Render
This may cause some problems, it is usually ok.
But, Disable Smart Render when creating your video files. This will render all frames and will take longer, but will be accurate.
Creating a sound file. Wav
Using VS Creates a file the same length as the project, Afaik to the exact frame.
Inserting the sound file to the start or the project should be in audio Sync¡¦
Unless you have a corrupt video file to start with.
Creating the sound file is relatively quick, give it a go, a thumbnail will be placed in the library. And yes your right, there is no easy way to fix a corrupt file, if that¡¦s what you¡¦ve got.
Importing DVD to VS
I haven¡¦t noticed a 1/2 second pause between files.
I will run a test
Regards
Trevor
Just a few thoughts:-
If the captured/imported video file is mono then you should be able to identify viewing the properties, but I do not think DD supports mono, only stereo. The properties should be stereo. So the right and left tracks exist with content on one not two, one being effectively muted, if you understand what I mean.( I may be wrong there)
If you start a new project, then File Preferences, tick Show Messages¡K..
When you insert the FIRST video clip you should get an info window, click details to view your properties¡K¡K.
Select Yes/ok and the Project Properties match the video file
(Duplicating the Left channel onto the Right channel too (Audio View - 'Attributes' tab, in VS 10+) I knew it existed somewhere, must have had my eyes closed this morning (just back from Brazil). Thanks for that
Smart Render
This may cause some problems, it is usually ok.
But, Disable Smart Render when creating your video files. This will render all frames and will take longer, but will be accurate.
Creating a sound file. Wav
Using VS Creates a file the same length as the project, Afaik to the exact frame.
Inserting the sound file to the start or the project should be in audio Sync¡¦
Unless you have a corrupt video file to start with.
Creating the sound file is relatively quick, give it a go, a thumbnail will be placed in the library. And yes your right, there is no easy way to fix a corrupt file, if that¡¦s what you¡¦ve got.
Importing DVD to VS
I haven¡¦t noticed a 1/2 second pause between files.
I will run a test
Regards
Trevor
-
Black Lab
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I have always had problems with Dolby on my finished burns (clicks and pops). I know most people have no problems, so I guess I have some conflict somewhere on my system. My only fix has been to render the audio to LPCM, which plays perfectly every time.
Jeff
Dentler's Dog Training, LLC
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-
felix2
Hi, thanks for your comments.
Trevor, I think you're right about the audio being stereo but the Right channel is just 1 hr 15 mins of silence! The Project Properties are matching the Video clip properties:
MPEG files, 24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps, Upper Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3, Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 384 kbps, Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)
Which says it's stereo. I've also been having another look at my DVD recorder and I've discovered the Right channel audio line input doesn't work (always used the SCARTS before). So yes, stereo with silence recorded on the Right channel, and not a corrupted file.
For the raw VOB/MPEG in the timeline, it plays fine in both preview and when Smart Rendered as equivalent MPEG, but distorts as soon as 'Duplicate to Right channel' is activated, or when exported as a wav.
For the imported file from DVD-R, it distorts a fair bit when previewing the clip, and distorts twice as much when previewing the project or on rendering.
I've now tried the long-winded method I said earlier, and fingers crossed it seems to work! After about 45 minutes and one file break it's still in sync. I hope. Phew! Where it does go out of sync (by about 4-6 frames I'd guess) is where I split the original MPEG to insert an extra section. But thankfully that bit's not too critical, and if needs must I can shift the soundtrack for that bit backwards and forwards until it fits!!
I'd still rather be able to use Ulead for the Smart Render of video + audio, keeping them together, but at least if it's not possible
this convoluted method should work...
Couple of other thoughts:
- tried other DVD-Rs from the DVD recorder, with stereo(!) sound, they give exactly the same distortion problems;
- dawned on me I've got AC3Filter installed on the PC, to be able to use Dolby AC3 audio with my other editing software - could that be disturbing Ulead's settings/CODECs, and if so, is there anything I can do about it? (If it were definitely the cause, I'd temporarily remove AC3Filter and re-install Ulead, but wouldn't do that lightly!)
Trevor, I think you're right about the audio being stereo but the Right channel is just 1 hr 15 mins of silence! The Project Properties are matching the Video clip properties:
MPEG files, 24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps, Upper Field First
(DVD-PAL), 4:3, Video data rate: Variable (Max. 8800 kbps)
Audio data rate: 384 kbps, Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)
Which says it's stereo. I've also been having another look at my DVD recorder and I've discovered the Right channel audio line input doesn't work (always used the SCARTS before). So yes, stereo with silence recorded on the Right channel, and not a corrupted file.
For the raw VOB/MPEG in the timeline, it plays fine in both preview and when Smart Rendered as equivalent MPEG, but distorts as soon as 'Duplicate to Right channel' is activated, or when exported as a wav.
For the imported file from DVD-R, it distorts a fair bit when previewing the clip, and distorts twice as much when previewing the project or on rendering.
I've now tried the long-winded method I said earlier, and fingers crossed it seems to work! After about 45 minutes and one file break it's still in sync. I hope. Phew! Where it does go out of sync (by about 4-6 frames I'd guess) is where I split the original MPEG to insert an extra section. But thankfully that bit's not too critical, and if needs must I can shift the soundtrack for that bit backwards and forwards until it fits!!
I'd still rather be able to use Ulead for the Smart Render of video + audio, keeping them together, but at least if it's not possible
this convoluted method should work...Couple of other thoughts:
- tried other DVD-Rs from the DVD recorder, with stereo(!) sound, they give exactly the same distortion problems;
- dawned on me I've got AC3Filter installed on the PC, to be able to use Dolby AC3 audio with my other editing software - could that be disturbing Ulead's settings/CODECs, and if so, is there anything I can do about it? (If it were definitely the cause, I'd temporarily remove AC3Filter and re-install Ulead, but wouldn't do that lightly!)
-
Trevor Andrew
Hi Giles
1 /
Have you tried Jeff¡¦s suggestion of changing the audio to LPCM.
You may still have to duplicate the channels, but LPCM may cure the problem.
With the video file properties matching the project, edit only the project properties to Lpcm audio, render Share Create Video File to ¡¥Same as project properties¡¦
I tried playing with the duplicate option and got some strange results, the video would mute/fade out for no reason, I repeated the process a few times and now it appears to be behaving itself, strange.
2 /
You could try Mpeg Audio, changing project properties to mono, then render to ¡¥same as project properties¡¦. Should leave the left channel only.
Use the new mono Mpeg in a new project, Change the project settings back to stereo.
After final editing, render again to Same As Project, should create two audio channels.
(i suppose thats a manual way to duplicate channels)
I have used the AC filter in the past, not 100% stable, but seems to do the job. Whether its conflicting I wouldn¡¦t like to comment.
Uninstalling and re-installing is an option worth considering.
Trevor
1 /
Have you tried Jeff¡¦s suggestion of changing the audio to LPCM.
You may still have to duplicate the channels, but LPCM may cure the problem.
With the video file properties matching the project, edit only the project properties to Lpcm audio, render Share Create Video File to ¡¥Same as project properties¡¦
I tried playing with the duplicate option and got some strange results, the video would mute/fade out for no reason, I repeated the process a few times and now it appears to be behaving itself, strange.
2 /
You could try Mpeg Audio, changing project properties to mono, then render to ¡¥same as project properties¡¦. Should leave the left channel only.
Use the new mono Mpeg in a new project, Change the project settings back to stereo.
After final editing, render again to Same As Project, should create two audio channels.
(i suppose thats a manual way to duplicate channels)
I have used the AC filter in the past, not 100% stable, but seems to do the job. Whether its conflicting I wouldn¡¦t like to comment.
Uninstalling and re-installing is an option worth considering.
Trevor
-
felix2
Hi,
I've just tried changing the project settings to L-PCM, and then instead to MPEG audio. In both cases, unfortunately it didn't solve the problem - the Preview and export (as Project settings) both still had the distorted audio. As well as that, it forced the video to re-render as well, which for the whole 2x 1hr 15 minute DVDs would take a long time (!), and somewhat defeat the object of using Ulead VS and its Smart Rendering, making it re-encode the video again instead.
What I have done now is to use Ulead DVD Movie Factory to 'Import from DVD-R' to produce one de-multiplexed DVD compatible MPEG file (rather than 4 raw VOBs with a slight blip between each). Unlike importing from DVD-R in VS, that gives perfect audio, no problems at all. I do find it odd that Ulead would use 2 different codec systems for its different programs... Anyway, from the good MPEG file, I put the video into VS (and delete its audio), and separately put the audio from the good MPEG through another editor to make it a stereo (dual mono) WAV file, then put that into VS to line up with the video file. Amazingly (and thankfully!), once it's in sync in one place, there's no creep problems at all, and the whole thing is in sync.
Then, exporting 'Same as 1st video file' smart renders (i.e. doesn't render) the video - apart from the few AVI overlays I've stuck in - and converts the WAV audio, in sync, back to Dolby 2-channel audio. Which sounds fine!
So my problem with VS obviously isn't with exporting as Dolby audio, but must be something to do with importing it in VS (rather than in DVD Movie Factory). Thanks again for your help & advice, at least I've got it working now, although I wouldn't recommend this method to the faint hearted!! If Ulead ever work out why the Dolby audio import in VS isn't working on my system, I'd still love to know a fix for future reference... I did try disabling AC3filter but that didn't affect VS.
I've just tried changing the project settings to L-PCM, and then instead to MPEG audio. In both cases, unfortunately it didn't solve the problem - the Preview and export (as Project settings) both still had the distorted audio. As well as that, it forced the video to re-render as well, which for the whole 2x 1hr 15 minute DVDs would take a long time (!), and somewhat defeat the object of using Ulead VS and its Smart Rendering, making it re-encode the video again instead.
What I have done now is to use Ulead DVD Movie Factory to 'Import from DVD-R' to produce one de-multiplexed DVD compatible MPEG file (rather than 4 raw VOBs with a slight blip between each). Unlike importing from DVD-R in VS, that gives perfect audio, no problems at all. I do find it odd that Ulead would use 2 different codec systems for its different programs... Anyway, from the good MPEG file, I put the video into VS (and delete its audio), and separately put the audio from the good MPEG through another editor to make it a stereo (dual mono) WAV file, then put that into VS to line up with the video file. Amazingly (and thankfully!), once it's in sync in one place, there's no creep problems at all, and the whole thing is in sync.
Then, exporting 'Same as 1st video file' smart renders (i.e. doesn't render) the video - apart from the few AVI overlays I've stuck in - and converts the WAV audio, in sync, back to Dolby 2-channel audio. Which sounds fine!
So my problem with VS obviously isn't with exporting as Dolby audio, but must be something to do with importing it in VS (rather than in DVD Movie Factory). Thanks again for your help & advice, at least I've got it working now, although I wouldn't recommend this method to the faint hearted!! If Ulead ever work out why the Dolby audio import in VS isn't working on my system, I'd still love to know a fix for future reference... I did try disabling AC3filter but that didn't affect VS.