No sound in VS 9 edited clips

[amosspector]

I've been using Video Studio 9 for quite a few years now, and can generally operate it without too many problems. There IS one problem, though, that I have been encountering every now and then, which I don't know how to solve: Sometimes, when I create a video file in MPG2 format, I don't get any sound. The sound is not there when I play it on the computer with Windoes Media Player, nor is it there when I use VS 9 to play back. Needless to say, the source file DOES contain sound.

This is NOT a permanent problem. On most occasions, I get the sound in MPG2 file, but it keeps popping up with some irregularity (or some regularity that I could not detect).

Any idea?

[Black Lab]

Obviously because it doesn't happen all the time it will be difficult to pinpoint the problem. Is there anything similar about the clips that don't produce sound, as apposed to those that do?

[amosspector]

Thanks for your reply, Jeff.

As I said, I couldn't detect any pronounced regularity, but I THINK (not sure), that the no audio happens to me when I (1) use VS9 to take in a WMV movie, and save it as an MPG2 one (in these cases VS9 is MUCH faster in the edit stage), and then (2) save the edited movie as a MPG2.

I hope this helps.

Amos.

[mitchell65]

use VS9 to take in a WMV movie, and save it as an MPG2 one

Can you right click on one of your original clips in the timeline or library and go to properties and copy down all the details and post here. Are all your clips from the same source. If not do the above for a clip from each different source. Also put one of your saved MPEG-2 files into the timeline and do the properties thing with that. While you are on details can you fill in your System details.

[Ron P.]

Does the sound in these periodic clips happen to be Dolby Digital? I'm not 100% sure, but if I recall, VS9 required an expensive plug-in to encode Dolby. You could use a freebie codec found on the internet to hear Dolby Digital in you project, but it will not encode/render to Dolby without that plug-in. This plug-in vanished shortly after VS10 was released, since Ulead included support for Dolby in VS10 and all subsequent versions.

[amosspector]

Thanks Mitchell65 and Ron.
I went back to the files to do what you suggested, and found out that the audio is there !!! Apparently, I had turned the computer off, and the familiar thing happened: upon turning it on again, everything is back to normal. I have a name for it: Bill Gates.

Sorry for crying wolf.

Amos.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Ron

Afaik Digital Dolby was introduced as part of VS 9.

The earlier VS 8 required the extra DD plug-in

Time passes

[Ken Berry]

But VS 9 SE and 10SE certainly did not have Dolby for licensing reasons... don't know about 11 onwards (and don't even know if there were SE versions of those!! )

[Ron P.]

Hi Ron

Afaik Digital Dolby was introduced as part of VS 9.

The earlier VS 8 required the extra DD plug-in

Time passes

Missed it by 1.. Memory is not as good as it once was...

[amosspector]

I am back, guys. Same problem: source file - WMV, plays fine. Saves as MPEG 2 by VS(, and no sound (video is OK). This time I already DID the regular aspirin: turned the machine off, then back on, and tried saving again. No good.

Mitchell ^% suggested that I post the properties of both (source and converted) files. Here they are, including those of the videos:

Source file (WMV):

data rate: 1524 kbps
Video: wmv 9
24 bits, 640 X 480 25 frames/sec
Audio: WMA 9
44100 Hz, 16 bits stereo,
--------------------
VS 9 output (MPEG 2):
video type: MPEG 2 video
Attributes: 24 bits, 720 X 576, 4:3
Frame Rate: 25 frames/sec
Data rate: VBR (max 6000 kbps)
Audio MPEG Audio layer 2 files
Total samples: 1305600 samples
Attributes: 48000Hz, 16 bits stereo
Layer: 2
bit rate 224 kbps.

(I wish those dialogue boxes could be copy/pasted-ed the easy way).....

Any suggestion will be appreciated.

Amos.

[Trevor Andrew]

(I wish those dialogue boxes could be copy/pasted-ed the easy way).....

Any suggestion will be appreciated.

Amos.

Hi

Some of them can............

There are ways to copy and paste the video properties.

From file Preferences, make sure you have ticked Show Messages when inserting First video¡K¡K

Start a new project add a video file to the timeline, it must be a compatible video file which its properties are suitable to create the project properties.
Your Mpeg file should do fine.

An info window will open , select ¡¥Details¡¦
Using your mouse select the text in the right hand panel.
Keyboard Ctrl + C will copy
Ctrl + V will paste (to the forum/word)

It will not work using WMV files as these are not suitable for project properties.

Or
From Share Create Video File-Same as First Clip.
Copy and paste the details in the lower left panel (Properties)
Then just cancel the create video file process

[Black Lab]

Trevor, I read it as he wished he could copy the info in the dialog boxes to this forum.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

That¡¦s how I read it Jeff¡K..copy the info

Amos has typed in the properties of his video file, it¡¦s a bit of a pain as VS take full control of the desktop. So you have to constantly switch from VS to the forum, that¡¦s if your memory is like mine¡K..
I assumed he wanted an easier way to copy the video properties, not necessarily from the dialog box, the video properties info is what he wants. Its just one option.
¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K.
A little more complicated would be to grab a screen shot (Alt-Print Screen) of the properties window, at least this works for all dialog boxes. Save this as an image and upload to your/a server.
You would then link the image to your post.
If you don¡¦t own web space you can probably use some of the free options. I'm sure someone can advise

Further details of how to link your images can be found at the FAQ¡¦s at the top of this post.

[amosspector]

Trevor, Jeff, and anybody else: The question of how to copy the file properties from V S 9 onto this forum is secondary. My main problem was - and still is - that I have an OK WMV filr, which I edited and saved as an MPG2 file, but the MPG2 is soundless. I tried it a number of times, turned the machine off and on, and still - no sound.

The reason I posted the properties was that it had been suggested to me, so that someone who knows more than I about VS9 could help....

Any ideas how to resolve the no-sound problem?

[Ron P.]

First and foremost what system or you running VS9 on? I hope not Win7, or for that matter Vista. It's such an old program, and will constantly cause you problems trying to do so.

Do you have the boxed or ESD (download) version? Do you still have all the files to install it? Do you still have the updates and patches files? Finally do you have any newer versions of VS installed?

I currently do have VS9 installed on my desktop, which runs XP HP SP3. I'm attempting to replicate your problem, using a WMV file, then converting it to MPEG-2, using MPEG audio layer 2, which is the only option available when creating MPEG-2 (DVD non-compliant ) video files. The only difference would be, I use NTSC.

1. The audio plays fine on the WMV file from within VS9.

2. Not knowing if your WMV file was composed of video or a slideshow, I'm grabbed one of the first ones I could find on my system, which happens to be a slideshow.

3. I do have numerous versions of VS, and other NLEs, DVD authoring programs installed, so VS9 may be using a codec installed by these other programs.

4. I have in the past found for some unknown reason, or cause, the volume slider for WAV files turned clear down. This was not done by me. Have you checked to see if that might have happened on your machine?

My Findings/Results
The MPEG-2 video file played, complete with audio in VS9, WMP Classic Home Cinema, and WMP version 11.