Sound distortion

[Viddynick]

Hi everyone - is there any of you out there who could give me some sound (pardon the pun!) advice on the problems of sound distortion on completed video films.

Completed my film, created video file and burned it successfully. For this film I used copyright free music. Unfortunately, when playing back the burned disk, the sound "skids" and sounds somewhat distorted in places. Less so but still distorted is some of the spoken word in the film (ie the person on the film not voiceover). (Everything is fine when playing back the project in VS.) It's not so bad you can't play or hear it but obviously not satisfactory to my own pride! - letalone the viewer. I do not use the "normalise audio" function and wonder if this would make a difference? I had presumed until now that the normalise audio function would merely make all audio the same level - on whatever work I had done to make the sound/voice overs different, e.g. lowering sound at the point of voice-over etc. I should say I have used a lot of visual effects in the film - 6 overlay tracks - and wonder if I have exceeded the bounds of sensibility! Any advice appreciated. If nothing else, can anyone point me to the correct section on normalisation of audio in the help guide as I have yet to find it! Cheers, Viddynick.

[Black Lab]

What types of audio files are you using?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Nick

How did you burn the DVD?

Did you Share Create Video File-DVD, converting the project to a single video file?

If you did not, then can you do so, then play this file to check the quality.

All ok---open a new project, Share Create Disc –Add Video file.

And what version of video studio are you using?

[Viddynick]

Geoff and Trevor

Cheers for response. To answer both your questions, I am using Pro X 3 and mp3 files. This is copyright free (very electronic sounding!) music downloaded straight from the net. Yes, I created single video file first, then burned via Music Factory. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

Viddynick (Nick)

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Nick

Are you saying that the sound is ok after converting the project, then seems to get distorted after burning? That would indeed be a little strange.

MP3 type audio has given some problems in the past and converting to a Wav file has been a fix for some.

[Viddynick]

I didn't listen to the converted file - just went straight to burning. I think converting to WAV might be the answer - thanks for the suggestion. If I go down this route, I will report back. Also, do you think there is any use in using normalise audio?

Cheers for your help,
Nick. (Viddynick)

[Viddynick]

Hi all those who responded - again, thanks for your input. I have now created another project file and replaced my purchased copyright free music with the auto music in VS. This has worked well
and there is no distortion. This makes me think that the problem lies with my purchased copyright free music - which is in MP3 format - I think .WAV would be better and so will convert in the next few days.
I have had success with other MP3 music but guess that's all part of video work! Thank you very much again for your help. Have fun editing.

Nick (Viddynick)

[ajfudge]

What I experienced with VSPX3 is after I rendered a project into two video files (.mpg & .mp4), there was a jump on the final outcome. Not only the sound but the video as well jumped from 00:01:34 to 00:01:37. It was very noticeable. I didn't go deep into what had caused that. My theory was that point contained too much media (the tracks are filled). But I don't experience that now w? VSPX4.

[Black Lab]

As has been documented here, VS has always had some problems with MP3s, particularly those that use the LAME codec. Others seemed to work ok, and even I used to advocate using MP3s produced by iTunes.

But recent audio problems made me convert those MP3s to WAV files, and I used VS to do it. Interestingly enough I discovered that my converted MP3 sound track was 6 minutes and 17 seconds long, while the actual file in iTunes was only 6 minutes and 10 seconds long! So VS definitely has problems with MP3s.

I then used Audacity to convert the MP3 to WAV which produced a perfect 6:10 file, and I no longer have audio issues.

[Viddynick]

Hi - just dropping by to thank those who replied further to my problem of sound distortion - much appreciated and interesting. At least I know now it is pretty much the MP3 format and nothing else. Like others, I am now converting to WAV format and it has cured the problem - interesting point about the difference in size compared to ITunes. Cheers again for your comments.

Viddynick.