Sound is missing after encoding (X8 Ultimate)

[Cornishrose]

I have a source video in MP4 format that has an audio track on the original source. I import the video into VideoStudio X8 Ultimate, split the video to remove and reorder some segments, then output the video to MP4 again.
The output video file has no audio - the audio track appears to be present but is silent. The rendering process is not corrupted and completes fully. There have been times when the output file renders sound on some of the cut segments but not all.
The audio settings within VideoStudio has volume assigned on the properties panel so the track isn't quiet, and audio plays for the complete video on the preview window on the Export tab in the application before producing the encoded video.
Does anyone know what may cause this and any possible solution to the problem? This has started occuring recently and no system changes have occured as far as I'm aware that might suggest a cause.

I have tried several different tasks to try and counteract this issue, but none have worked;

- installed Videostudio onto another PC and tried to render the project file there. (same issue)
- split the original audio from the source MP4 into a sound layer (and a recorded sound layer on another attempt) and attempt to render the project
- checked the original MP4 videos on another video encoding software to see if it is the source files that are corrupted, but they seem fine
- transferring the saved source videos on my D/: to an external SSD and edit, save and render through that.
- clean up the cache files on the PC, check for updates, etc
- seperated the audio from the original video. saved the project as an audio soundfile. then opened a new project and added the MP3 as a layer over the source file.

It seems to me that there is an issue with the project files. this is an issue that I had with the Videostudio X4; the first few months the software works fine, then a similar issue occured where sound would no longer product on video ouput. I've had X8 for 3 months and then suddenly the same behaviour has manifested.

the original MP4 source files are recorded game footage. I havent changed or upgraded my recorder.

[Cornishrose]

Edit, also need to add the info


X8 Version 18.1.0.9
Original sourcefiles from recorded game footage using Overwolf Recorder, saved directly onto D:/
Sourcefiles are saved as MP4

Properties in X8

H.264 High Profile Video
24 bits, 1920 x 1080 16:9
25.000 FPS
15000 kbps

MPEG AAC Audio
48000Hz, 16 bit stereo
256kbps

[Ken Berry]

Welcome to the forums!

The first thing we need to know is what the exact Properties of your video and its audio are... So could you please right click on one of the original clips in the VS timeline and copy ALL its Properties here, or take a screen shot of the Properties box and upload it here as an attachment.

In any case, it looks as though you have been pretty thorough in your various workarounds... My own suggestion would have been the last one you mention -- saving the audio part of the project as a separate file. However, I would have saved it as a standard .wav file and not an mp3. VS sometimes has problems with certain mp3 codecs, notably the LAMEmp3 codec, in case that is on your computer somewhere. You can use VS for that (Share > Audio and choose the .wav option) or else open the separated audio file in a third party audio editing program such as the freeware Audacity, and convert it there to .wav.

You say the video is "recorded game footage" but what exactly do you mean by that: was it recorded off a TV or do you mean software gaming? If so, what software are we talking about and what was used to record it?

The other thing which might be useful to know is whether you ticked the box in Preferences beside "Show message when inserting first video clip into the timeline"? If so, then in a new project when you insert the first clip you should get a message asking whether you want the Project Properties to match those of the clip. If you accept, then after finishing your editing you can go to Share > Same As Project Properties, and this should produce a new video with the audio intact and playable.

EDIT: I see you have now added the Properties which I was asking for above. Thank you. But have a look at my other suggestions. Otherwise it is a bit of a mystery since most people don't have trouble with AAC mpeg audio...

[Cornishrose]

Sorry, was supposed to pop this in the original message.
the footage is software gaming on the pc


I didnt have the properties set as you mentioned. I have changed this and will see if this improves.

Thank you!

[Ken Berry]

That confuses things a bit... I can see that the image comes from VS, but where did the first lot of properties you posted above come from? Are they just the project properties or something else as they are quite different from the image in terms not only of the frame size and audio format, but the image also shows a very peculiar frame rate (57.583 fps) -- not that that should affect the video.

But have you had time to try my suggestion for matching the Project Properties to those of the video?

[Cornishrose]

Sorry, should have mentioned.

The image above is properties from the source video, the information from the earlier reply is the properties from a completed "faulty" project. I do get what you mean with the fps difference, there is a reduction of quality. would there be any chance that those properties are causing it?

I have attempted a project with the preferences you noted, ticking the "show message when inserting video..." with no improvement on the rendering

Tried another project by separating and saving the audio as a standard .wav, creating a project through X8 and sharing as MP4.... again, unfortunately no improvement.

Have listed the settings of the "faulty" share file of the project made with the settings.

MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1920 x 1080, 30 fps
Frame-based
H.264 High Profile Video: 15000 Kbps
48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 256 Kbps

Is there a suggestion you could make regarding the project properties? I have the current format as HDV

Am really raking my brains about this.
Think what I'll do is record a vid of my desktop and upload to youtube (unedited) of a quick overview of what i usually do. someone may notice some silly rookie mistake that I'm not aware of

[Ken Berry]

What exactly do you mean by "no improvement on the rendering"? Is there no audio again in the two cases you mentioned, or is it something else?

You say you have the current format as HDV. Where have you set that and why? HDV is high definition mpeg-2 not mpeg-4 like your original and has very fixed properties including 29.97 fps frame rate, 1440 x 1080 frame format; 25 Mbps bitrate; and mpeg layer 2 audio. I don't think you should be going there.

I am also not sure why you chose the output properties you did. If the original is 1280 x 720 there is no real point in changing it up to 1920 x 1080. That won't improve the quality beyond what it already was. And changing the frame rate down to 30 fps means you are in effect throwing away just about one frame in every two. I would be trying 1280 x 720 at 60 fps since your frame rate on the original is nearly that anyway...

[Cornishrose]

I've done a quick recording of how I usually go about using the software, (hopefully youtube will get its act in gear and process the upload to 720....)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqq6rER ... e=youtu.be

un Jul 19, 2015 12:32 am
What exactly do you mean by "no improvement on the rendering"? Is there no audio again in the two cases you mentioned, or is it something else?

- It is the no sound issue in both cases

You say you have the current format as HDV. Where have you set that and why? HDV is high definition mpeg-2 not mpeg-4 like your original and has very fixed properties including 29.97 fps frame rate, 1440 x 1080 frame format; 25 Mbps bitrate; and mpeg layer 2 audio. I don't think you should be going there.

- I was looking into the project properties last night, and the preset was on mobile, so changed it to HDV, purely as an experiment. I get what you are on about now.

I am also not sure why you chose the output properties you did. If the original is 1280 x 720 there is no real point in changing it up to 1920 x 1080. That won't improve the quality beyond what it already was. And changing the frame rate down to 30 fps means you are in effect throwing away just about one frame in every two. I would be trying 1280 x 720 at 60 fps since your frame rate on the original is nearly that anyway...

- that was a slip of the finger on my part. i meant to do 1280 x720. I have been doing examples of rendering at both 50 fps and 60 fps, just to see the difference.


Please let me know if you need any elabouration regarding things in the video, it is a very simple explination of what I've been doing for ages.

[asik1]

At any time in your video you didn't go to sound mode to see waves etc.
Why you capture your games sound as MP3? and what codec you use for it?

[lata]

Hi

Ken mentioned the audio as Lame MP3 can cause problems for video editors, your audio does indeed seem to be that format.

Are you able to set the Overwolf Recorder, audio to use another type maybe PCM audio?

You said you converted the audio to Wav using Video Studio, a thumbnail of the audio clip will be placed in the library, does that wav clip play ok from the library.

If yes then it should play ok when added to the project / timelines.

[Cornishrose]

At any time in your video you didn't go to sound mode to see waves etc.
Why you capture your games sound as MP3? and what codec you use for it?

You said you converted the audio to Wav using Video Studio, a thumbnail of the audio clip will be placed in the library, does that wav clip play ok from the library.

- My original communcation issue. original separated audio files were saved as the standard Audio Sharing profile: MPEG-4 Audio Files, 44.100 KHz, 16 bits, Stereo. And also later on saved as Microsoft WAV Files, PCM, 44.100 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo. went throught the rendering process, the file completed, thumbnail in the library, no sound.

[lata]

Hi

Are you able to set the Overwolf Recorder, audio to use another type maybe PCM audio?.

[Cornishrose]

Hi

Are you able to set the Overwolf Recorder, audio to use another type maybe PCM audio?.

Have had a look, it doesnt seem so

[lata]

Hi
Cornishrose

Cornwall nice part of the country, that’s if you live there, good name anyway.

I don’t know what’s going wrong with your videos.
You may be best uploading an original sample to a sharing site, Windows One Drive works well, google Drive and Dropbox have also been used

Then we can download and try to replicate your problem.

I assume you have the latest version of QuickTime installed on your pc, apologies if this has been raised earlier.

I am on holiday from Friday and won’t be available on the forum for a few weeks, (5) but sure others may help.
Ken Berry may also be absent for a while, I notice he replied to your earlier posts.

Hopefully others will help

You may be best to convert the video files to a more editable format.
Format Factory seems to work well, however installing does try to install other bits, Toolbars, malware etc.
Deselect all options for any add-ons, Format Factory will install without those.

[Cornishrose]

*Sigh of relief* Thank you all for your suggestions. I have managed to fix the issue by changing an Overwolf setting to record lower fps. still mildly frustrating that I cannot render the past few weeks worth of videos with sound. but at least now i know somewhere in the ball-park what went wrong.

basically somehow my recorder had been set to record 60fps, I lowered that to 40fps, and now the video editing works fine.