Strange behavior of AC3 plug-in

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Thu May 12, 2005 8:54 pm

I can't tell if I myself am causing this glitch or if it's something wrong with the Ulead product. Or possibly something with my computer.

When I get to the Share > Create new MPEG file stage, usually I would expect to see an option to use my AC3 plug-in. But it doesn't appear. The drop-down menu contains only the two standard choices.

So I reinstall ("repair") the plug-in by double-clicking on the icon labeled uvs8_powerpack_ac3_e.exe and the install program tells me I have Video Studio running in the background and would I please close that. So of course I do. Then I repeat my initial actions. The AC3 plug-in installs and I "finish."

After that one of two things occurs. I again open VS8 and go to the Share stage. Either I now find the AC3 plug-in as an available option; or I don't.

Can anybody explain this to me? I had to reduce bitrate recently because I was unable to benefit by the efficiency of using this feature.

Keith

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu May 12, 2005 10:11 pm

Hi Keith

Using VS 8 i also found that the AC 3 plug-in option dissapeared.

I had to uninstall / reinstall the plugin to use again.

This happened several times.

I was not happy with the plugin, especially as you cannot capture using this option, but have to render to use the plugin.

I have now upgraded to VS 9

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Thu May 12, 2005 10:12 pm

You can't choose AC3 audio if the Media Type in the Compression tab is set to MPEG2, you have to select DVD encoding.

MPEG2 encoding is strictly for LPCM and MPEG2 audio. If you select either NTSC DVD or PAL DVD for the Media Type, you should be able to select AC3 audio.

erock1 · Post by **erock1** » Fri May 13, 2005 2:39 am

THoff wrote:You can't choose AC3 audio if the Media Type in the Compression tab is set to MPEG2, you have to select DVD encoding.

MPEG2 encoding is strictly for LPCM and MPEG2 audio. If you select either NTSC DVD or PAL DVD for the Media Type, you should be able to select AC3 audio.

In theory THoff is correct but unfortunately in the actual application of the AC3 Power Pack plugin he isn't or perhaps the disappearing AC3 option in VS8 only affects a few of us. I too have purchased the plugin and encountered the same exact problem that kebrinton and trevor andrew described. I just did another test and made sure that in the Share phase my file was NTSC DVD compliant, but alas the AC3 audio option was not available. In order for it to work I have to uninstall and reinstall each and every time I want to use it.

My suggestion is to e-mail Ulead tech service and if you purchased through Element 5 do the same. Document your correspondence with each. Give each ample time ( a few days) to respond with a fix. When Ulead and/or Element 5 can't solve the problem or respond to your request, demand a refund. If you purchased the plugin with a credit card, especially via the internet you have very specific rights and should be able to contest the charge and have your bank obtain a refund.

There is no way you should let a company sell you a program that doesn't work properly.

kebrinton · Post by **kebrinton** » Fri May 13, 2005 4:13 am

Okay, well, I'm making DVDs of an opera at which I was the lone videorecorder and I have two more chances to use AC3. I'll pay attention this time and see at which stage I can actually select it.

In fact, next-to-last time I tried using it, it WAS available at the MPEG-rendering stage as I originally described. And I used it. But then one of the videos I included was the wrong one so I had to go back...and by then AC3 had left me!

A further question: Didn't somebody just say they had this problem, struggled with it, then gave up and bought USV9? Does that mean that v.9 has AC3 built-in, or set as default? I've held off on this purchase till now.

Keith

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri May 13, 2005 8:13 am

Ac 3 Digital Dolby is a part of the VS 9 software. No need for the plug-in.

Using VS 9 you can capture with the AC 3 option.

So why doesn't the plug-in for VS 8 work that way. (annoying)

Using VS 8 i had to use the AC 3 during Create Video File.

When in the burner module selecting AC 3 from the options only worked if i unticked 'do not convert complient mpegs', thus forcing a render.
Which is not what i want to do.

Trevor

erock1 · Post by **erock1** » Fri May 13, 2005 1:47 pm

Even though there are a few apps in VS9 I would really like to have like the AC3, I won't upgrade from VS8 yet till a few more of the bugs get worked out by Ulead. If Ulead wants me to beta test for them and provide fixes and reports to their techies, they should provide the software for free or a drastically reduced price.

What bothers me is the fact that Ulead offered no help at all to try and resolve the problem with the disappearing AC3 plugin. I called and e-mailed numerous times. No response. I know some VS users have had good results with Ulead's tech support. Unfortunately I haven't. As I outlined earlier, when you purchase with a credit card you have specific rights. A retailer has to sign a banking agreement to accept and process a bank's credit card. Same as you agree to a user's agreement with the bank. As long as you try in good faith to resolve your problem and keep documentation your bank should be able to get your accounted credited in full with a reputable retailer.

Bottom line for me was, I tried in good faith to resolve the problem with Ulead without success and tried this forum too a week or so ago, also without success. Ulead and Element 5 have agreeded in writting to credit my account for full purchase.