Importing of VOB Files to VS8: No Sound

Ying · Post by **Ying** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:40 am

I need to import some VOB files into my VS8 SE DVD.

I did it by renaming the extension of these files to mpg and opening the files in the VS8 SE DVD. These files played beautifully when I view them using Window Media Player. But there is no sound at all when I view them in VS8.

Can anyone please tell me what could be the potential problems?

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:07 am

Check if the file contained AC3 audio.

I keep telling people that simply renaming a VOB file to MPEG is not always going to be the same as importing it using UVS' "Insert DVD/DVD-VR" option: the latter will extract the LPCM audio stream if it is available, which renaming the file will not accomplish.

The DVD standard says that a DVD can contain AC-3 audio, but that it must also include a LPCM audio stream. In practice that isn't always the case of course, but I would expect a commercial DVD to be compliant and thus be importable, though maybe not by renaming the file.

Ying · Post by **Ying** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:33 am

Thank you, THoff.

I've also tried to use the "Insert DVD/DVD-VR" option. The result is the same: no sound.

The DVD I am using is one that I have recorded using my Sony DVD-camcorder. I am not sure if it contains the LPCM stream or the AC3 audio.

How can I check?

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:56 am

Right click one of the clips in the timeline and choose properties

Ying · Post by **Ying** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:33 am

I checked: the Audio Type is Dolby Digital Audio.

Is this related to my problem of not able to have sound on my clip?

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 8:47 am

VS 8 required an additional plugin to be able to use Dolby Digtal

AC 3 dolby digital plugin, this you have to pay for.

But Video Studio Version 9 has just been released which includes AC 3, it may wise to upgrade video studio rather than buying the plugin.

Hope this Helps

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 6:31 pm

DVD-based camcorders use AC-3 audio to save precious disk space, since the Mini DVDs they use only hold about 1/3 of what a full-size single-layer DVD can hold.

Using AC-3 reduces the audio storage requirements to about 1/6th of what LPCM requires, with no loss in quality. AFAIK, even if the increased storage requirements were acceptable to you, the Sony camcorders cannot be configured to record LPCM.

As Trevor wrote, upgrading to UVS 9 (boxed version!) is probably the best solution.