Sent my DVD in for mass replication and there is a problem..

[RB4580]

The guy who authored all my DVD's obviously did something wrong and I don't know how easy this is to fix but I'm looking for opinions since I have thousands invested in this.

The people at the busienss called and said they can't replicate from my master because the "Audio is everywhere, and not formatted correctly. It's not in PAL or NTSC and is in outer space somewhere".

What does this mean? Is it an easy fix? Please help, thanks!

[canadateck]

They must have said more then that>? More info needed to find the problem,How was it sent into them?Tape/DVDr?

[RB4580]

Oops, I'm sorry. I sent a DVD-R. That's exactly what he said. I should have more info after I talk to my film guy in a couple of hours

[RB4580]

Well I just talked to my film guy and he said he did what he always does and used the MPEG format for the audio and did it. I hope this is a quick fix... 8-(

I just don't see why there would be an audio error

[GeorgeW]

if the dvd was PAL, then mpeg audio should be fine (being a PAL standard). But if it was an NTSC DVD, then mpeg audio is not an NTSC standard (although many newer NTSC set-top dvd players can play it).

I just wonder what was meant when they said

"Audio is everywhere, and not formatted correctly. It's not in PAL or NTSC and is in outer space somewhere".

[FulciLives]

Did he actually Author the DVD or just make a Data DVD with the MPEG file on it?

Also MPEG audio is very unprofessional. He should have used Dolby Digital AC-3 or if space permits PCM WAV audio.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jdizzy40]

Please, post your complete technical info on the disk, format, program used, audio etc. Otherwise it's a neddle in the haystack.

[fmctm1sw]

Yeah, details. What was it authored with? Did you provide a quality DVD-R? Etc, etc, etc...

[drjtech]

Sounds like NTSC with MPEG audio, which is not DVD compliant. That was a serious error for a professional to make. Hobbyists can usually get away with it, but a pro should never author a non-compliant DVD.

Your replicator is quite correct to complain that the audio is non-compliant. It would be a bad reflection on his business to replicate an improperly mastered DVD.

Your DVD authoring service should refund their fee or fix the DVD at no additional cost.

-drj

[RB4580]

Thank you everybody for the remarks. I'm almost positive he authored NTSC with MPEG audio, he used Adobe Premier I know for a fact. He is talking to the replicators at 10am this morning and I will post detials. Thanks again

[fmctm1sw]

Thank you everybody for the remarks. I'm almost positive he authored NTSC with MPEG audio, he used Adobe Premier I know for a fact. He is talking to the replicators at 10am this morning and I will post detials. Thanks again

Yeah, gosh. What was he thinking? NTSC with MP2 audio? Oh well, everyone is entitled to one bonehead mistake...

[RB4580]

Okay, I have talked to my film guy, he did the video and audio in MP2. The Replication guy said that he needs the audio in AC-3 or PCM just as FulciLives said. He said he didn't have the AC-3 option in his program but he does have the PCM so he's doing that now. Hopefully it all works out! Thanks alot guys!

[housepig]

He said he didn't have the AC-3 option in his program but he does have the PCM so he's doing that now. Hopefully it all works out! Thanks alot guys!

hope there's enough spare room on the disc... PCM > mp2 or ac3.

[FulciLives]

Okay, I have talked to my film guy, he did the video and audio in MP2. The Replication guy said that he needs the audio in AC-3 or PCM just as FulciLives said. He said he didn't have the AC-3 option in his program but he does have the PCM so he's doing that now. Hopefully it all works out! Thanks alot guys!

Sounds like you need a new guy if his software can't do AC-3 then he really doesn't know what he is doing LOL

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[MOVIEGEEK]

Hell Sonic MyDVD 6 and TMPGEnc DVD Author can output to AC3 and they are only $70US,if you paid more than that I would do it myself.

[Cornucopia]

If your video material is equally as important to you as your audio (or maybe even at all), you DON'T usually want to go with PCM--go with AC3.

If you use PCM, not even counting the space constraints, that lowers the max bitrate left available for video, by ~1.1MB/sec (depends on the mp2/ac3 bitrate). This can be enough to change the quality. (Not even going to mention surround complications)

Heck, sounds like your author guy has never put out anything that has yet been replicated, or he would have known this. I'd make him get an AC3 encoder, and fix it w/o charging you. You've already lost face (and time) with the replicators.

Scott

[RB4580]

Well, he's using Adobe Premier and telling me he don't see the option for AC3. Are you guys saying that all we need to do is buy TMPGEnc DVD Author or Sonic MYDVD6 and convert it from MPG2 to AC3? Is it this simple??

[BJ_M]

Adobe Premier is not an authoring app anyway --

what is he using for authoring ?



get dvd author and buy the ac3 plug in ..

[RB4580]

He gets of work at 10pm and I'm going to find out how he did everything and post it

[jdizzy40]

I totally agree with all on AC3. What the heck was he thinking, but we all make mistakes in life. He can recover from this one and learn from his mistake. Hope you get the result you need in the end. Sounds like a good guy willing to put it right with you. Good luck. Please post back and tell us how it ends up. He needs some other options as far as software goes.

[BJ_M]

should have hired me

[lordsmurf]

MP2 audio isn't the end of the world. Most players DO ACTUALLY play it.

[proxyx99]

The people at the busienss called and said they can't replicate from my master because the "Audio is everywhere, and not formatted correctly. It's not in PAL or NTSC and is in outer space somewhere".

What does this mean? Is it an easy fix? Please help, thanks!

That master's comments is as professional as the DVD job itself. The disc ended up beeing NTSC with PAL sound and as LS mentioned not a big deal for a small project (can be corrected in 5 min.). Some authoring apps are actually encoding sound in MPEG in NTSC projects . Many DVD authoring apps won't even red-flag a possible compatibility issue like this one...

[fmctm1sw]

The people at the busienss called and said they can't replicate from my master because the "Audio is everywhere, and not formatted correctly. It's not in PAL or NTSC and is in outer space somewhere".

What does this mean? Is it an easy fix? Please help, thanks!

That master's comments is as professional as the DVD job itself. The disc ended up beeing NTSC with PAL sound and as LS mentioned not a big deal for a small project (can be corrected in 5 min.). Some authoring apps are actually encoding sound in MPEG in NTSC projects . Many DVD authoring apps won't even red-flag a possible compatibility issue like this one...

Yeah, that's why I didn't slam the guy. Honest mistake. Have him send a PCM file. No biggie....

[lordsmurf]

MPEG Layer II is not "PAL sound". That is by far the most dumbass thing I've read all month long.

(I don't know who said it first, so the comment is therefore not directed at any one person. In general, it's just stupid to say.)

If we want to REALLY get down to serious business, these days, the year 2005, MPEG layer audio is not part of ANY OFFICIAL SPEC. It was dumped from PAL some time back (or so I have been informed by two pros that know far more than I do). Use DTS, AC3 (Dolby), or PCM. You also have the option of mono, stereo, surround, and simulated (fake) surround.

It's an "unofficial" spec that most player can do SIMPLY BECAUSE the MPEG decoder chips used by most players are made from one of a few companies. The only "stubborn" players are typically ones that specifically CANNOT do "VCD" (which requires MPEG audio), and uses homebrew decoder chips.

This whole issue is being blown too big. The guy that authored the discs made a simple mistake (well, sort of ... you made the mistake of not pre-arranging the specs you wanted!). The replication company, on the other hand ... I'd give them a verbal ream job just for spouting stupidity at you. There's no sense in what they're telling you. They are not too bright, and their attitude frankly sucks. I'd take my business elsewhere.

Furthermore, like I said earlier, MPEG layer II audio is not the end of the world. There have been a time or two where I have PURPOSELY done it (reasons too long to explain, not important right now). In that instance, had this been me, I'd have told Mr. Smart Ass Dupe Guy to shut his yap and press my disc AS I WANT IT DONE, or else, again, I'll take it somewhere else.

[proxyx99]

Thanks for these warm words...

Here we go again, without going into too much detail here's an excerpt from dvd-replica.com putting is simple words these still, for some, confusing issues:

There are three major differences between DVD discs designed for playback on different television systems:

picture dimensions and pixel aspect ratio
(720x480 NTSC, 720x576 PAL),

display frame rate (29.97 frames/sec NTSC,
25 frames/sec PAL),

the default audio options (Dolby Digital with NTSC video, MPEG audio with PAL video).

All PAL DVD players can play Dolby Digital audio tracks, but not all NTSC players can play MPEG audio tracks.

mark the word "default" (above):

http://www.dvd-replica.com/DVD/dvdprimer-10.php

Now, this is a dumbass argument that PAL DVD players can play MPEG audio because they also play/decode VCD's... .
Of course, as usual, this comment is not directed at any person...
Btw. can I talk to these 2 pros as well? Are you sure they are not pro brick-layers... I think I've seen them too... Sorry, just having a good time...

[RB4580]

I ONLY sell my DVD's in the United States and now I'm hearing that with PCM it's to big because the DVD is already 2.5 hours long and I guess PCM is taking up more space because he's already used DVD Shrink. Do you think I can just have the Replicators go ahead and replicate???? Will it still be ok?

[lordsmurf]

proxy, you're simply wrong about how a player reads audio.

(and again, no comment about "PAL audio" was directed at you ... it appeared several times in the thread, though the wording may have varied)

If your player will handle MPEG audio on a CD, with few exceptions, it will also handle MPEG audio on a DVD, or even a pancake if the player accepts that as a valid media.

The decoder chips don't go stupid just because you changed the disc type. Those chips only see data. it is MPEG decoders that lack the ability to see MPEG audio (which would also mean CD formats are impossible).

Now, there are a couple goofy exceptions, where DVD MPEG layer II audio cannot be read, but VCD/etc can ... but those are very uncommon.

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There are three major differences between DVD discs designed for playback on different television systems:
- picture dimensions and pixel aspect ratio (720x480 NTSC, 720x576 PAL),
- display frame rate (29.97 frames/sec NTSC, 25 frames/sec PAL),
- the default audio options (Dolby Digital with NTSC video, MPEG audio with PAL video).
- All PAL DVD players can play Dolby Digital audio tracks, but not all NTSC players can play MPEG audio tracks.

This is also some pretty stupid crap here too. That represents maybe 10% of the full DVD spec (at most). And even then, it's somewhat flawed: MPEG audio is not default for anything whatsoever. Not all PAL players can play MP2 these days, and not all NTSC can handle AC3 (although they certainly should, and it need be noted part of this is due to "unlicensed" encoders ... including ones included in certain software, and I'm not talking Besweet or the other freebies).

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DVD Shrink? Are you kidding me?
Redo the disc, don't just slop it together.

PCM is a huge size. Either leave it as MPEG audio and tell the dupe guy to stick it, or get yourself a new authoring guy, one that knows what he's doing, and has the ability for AC3.

You're honestly headed down a road for disaster.

[RB4580]

So the bottom line right now is, is it that big of a deal if I just tell him to go ahead and press the DVD with the MPG2?

[lordsmurf]

Two choices:

1) Dupe it as is.
2) Redo disc (from source) using AC3 audio.

Your problems:
1- Authoring guy is clueless. Needs to do AC3.
2- Dupe guy is a jerk/clueless. MP2 audio can work, even if it is far from being the best option.
3- PCM is too big, so that's not an option.


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Sorry if I come off a bit rough on this topic, but I think it sucks that you're getting pushed around by two guys that obviously don't know what the hell they're doing (authoring guy, dupe guy).

Since the authoring guy used Premiere, I'm now starting to wonder if this was even AUTHORED ... or is just some MPEG data dumped onto a disc.

I feel for you. I hope this all gets worked out in the end.

Final note: by using the MP2 audio, you run a slight risk some of the NTSC guys cannot play the disc, but that will very likely be a small percentage, unless you just have a bad run of luck with everybody having a stubborn player.