ffmpegX Convert but no sound

[Ma_Long]

Hello!

I drag a Video_TS (my own dvd previously ripped by Mac the Ripper) in ffmpegx to convert the file into a one track file (like Divx, Mpeg, avi) of 700/800 Mo. The conversion works but at the end there is no sound. I tried to change the setting in the audio category, choosing "1 track", then I tried 2, even tried the maximum 15, but it didn't do anything... afterwards I tested a few settings, but no results..;
Here is the process information of my last 2 attemps:

Thanks for your help


Encoding started on Sun Oct 16 02:29:58 CEST 2011
MEncoder dev-CVS-060307-04:23-4.0.1 (C) 2000-2006 MPlayer Team
FIXME:Hardenabling SSE and SSE2 without detection
Mac OSX static build for ffmpegX
CPU: Intel Pentium III Katmai/Pentium III Xeon Tanner (Family: 6, Stepping: 10)
CPUflags: Type: 6 MMX: 1 MMX2: 1 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0 SSE: 1 SSE2: 1
Compiled for x86 CPU with extensions: MMX MMX2 SSE SSE2
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
Reading disc structure, please wait...
There are 4 titles on this DVD.
There are 13 chapters in this DVD title.
There are 1 angles in this DVD title.
DVD successfully opened.
success: format: 0 data: 0x1918D800 - 0x28748800
MPEG-PS file format detected.
Too many video packets in the buffer: (4096 in 8265200 bytes).
Maybe you are playing a non-interleaved stream/file or the codec failed?
For AVI files, try to force non-interleaved mode with the -ni option.
MPEG: No audio stream found -> no sound.
VIDEO: MPEG2 720x576 (aspect 3) 25.000 fps 9300.0 kbps (1162.5 kbyte/s)
[V] filefmt:2 fourcc:0x10000002 size:720x576 fps:25.00 ftime:=0.0400
Opening video filter: [expand osd=1]
Expand: -1 x -1, -1 ; -1, osd: 1, aspect: 0.000000, round: 1
Opening video filter: [scale w=720 h=657]
================================================== ========================
Opening video decoder: [mpegpes] MPEG 1/2 Video passthrough
The selected video_out device is incompatible with this codec.
Try adding the scale filter, e.g. -vf spp,scale instead of -vf spp.
VDec: vo config request - 720 x 576 (preferred colorspace: Mpeg PES)
VDecoder init failed
Opening video decoder: [libmpeg2] MPEG 1/2 Video decoder libmpeg2-v0.4.0b
Selected video codec: [mpeg12] vfm: libmpeg2 (MPEG-1 or 2 (libmpeg2))
================================================== ========================
Forcing output fourcc to 58564944 [DIVX]
VDec: vo config request - 720 x 576 (preferred colorspace: Planar YV12)
VDec: using Planar YV12 as output csp (no 0)
1 duplicate frame(s)!
orrect movie aspect.
SwScaler: output Width is not a multiple of 32 -> no MMX2 scaler
SwScaler: FAST_BILINEAR scaler, from Planar YV12 to Planar YV12 using MMX2
videocodec: libavcodec (720x658 fourcc=58564944 [DIVX])
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
1 duplicate frame(s)!
2f ( 0%) 0.00fps Trem: 0min 2mb A-V:0.000 [0:0]
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Flushing video frames
Writing index...
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Video stream: 937.871 kbit/s (117233 B/s) size: 573278524 bytes 4890.040 secs 122251 frames
Encoding completed on Sun Oct 16 02:46:33 CEST 2011
------------------------
Then:

Encoding started on Sun Oct 16 02:13:56 CEST 2011
MEncoder dev-CVS-060307-04:23-4.0.1 (C) 2000-2006 MPlayer Team
Mac OSX static build for ffmpegX
FIXME:Hardenabling SSE and SSE2 without detection
CPU: Intel Pentium III Katmai/Pentium III Xeon Tanner (Family: 6, Stepping: 10)
CPUflags: Type: 6 MMX: 1 MMX2: 1 3DNow: 0 3DNow2: 0 SSE: 1 SSE2: 1
Compiled for x86 CPU with extensions: MMX MMX2 SSE SSE2
Reading disc structure, please wait...
libdvdread: Couldn't find device name.
There are 4 titles on this DVD.
There are 13 chapters in this DVD title.
There are 1 angles in this DVD title.
DVD successfully opened.
success: format: 0 data: 0x1918D800 - 0x28748800
MPEG-PS file format detected.
Maybe you are playing a non-interleaved stream/file or the codec failed?
For AVI files, try to force non-interleaved mode with the -ni option.
Too many video packets in the buffer: (4096 in 8265200 bytes).
MPEG: No audio stream found -> no sound.
VIDEO: MPEG2 720x576 (aspect 3) 25.000 fps 9300.0 kbps (1162.5 kbyte/s)
[V] filefmt:2 fourcc:0x10000002 size:720x576 fps:25.00 ftime:=0.0400
Opening video filter: [expand osd=1]
The selected video_out device is incompatible with this codec.
Try adding the scale filter, e.g. -vf spp,scale instead of -vf spp.
Expand: -1 x -1, -1 ; -1, osd: 1, aspect: 0.000000, round: 1
Opening video filter: [scale w=720 h=576]
================================================== ========================
Opening video decoder: [mpegpes] MPEG 1/2 Video passthrough
VDec: vo config request - 720 x 576 (preferred colorspace: Mpeg PES)
VDecoder init failed
Opening video decoder: [libmpeg2] MPEG 1/2 Video decoder libmpeg2-v0.4.0b
Selected video codec: [mpeg12] vfm: libmpeg2 (MPEG-1 or 2 (libmpeg2))
1 duplicate frame(s)!
=======================================
Forcing output fourcc to 58564944 [DIVX]
VDec: vo config request - 720 x 576 (preferred colorspace: Planar YV12)
VDec: using Planar YV12 as output csp (no 0)
Movie-Aspect is 1.78:1 - prescaling to correct movie aspect.
SwScaler: using unscaled Planar YV12 -> Planar YV12 special converter
videocodec: libavcodec (720x576 fourcc=58564944 [DIVX])
Writing header...
1 duplicate frame(s)!
available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Flushing video frames
Writing index...
Writing header...
ODML: Aspect information not (yet?) available or unspecified, not writing vprp header.
Video stream: 938.266 kbit/s (117283 B/s) size: 573519531 bytes 4890.040 secs 122251 frames
Encoding completed on Sun Oct 16 02:27:46 CEST 2011

[Case]

Encoding started on Sun Oct 16 02:29:58 CEST 2011
MEncoder dev-CVS-060307-04:23-4.0.1 (C) 2000-2006 MPlayer Team
Mac OSX static build for ffmpegX
[...]
MPEG: No audio stream found -> no sound.
------------------------
Then:

Encoding started on Sun Oct 16 02:13:56 CEST 2011
MEncoder dev-CVS-060307-04:23-4.0.1 (C) 2000-2006 MPlayer Team
Mac OSX static build for ffmpegX
[...]
MPEG: No audio stream found -> no sound.

- How does ffmpegX recognize the source audio format in the Summary tab?
- Does using the [Play] button in ffmpegX also lack audio?
- Does using an ffmpeg preset (e.g. XviD ffmpeg) result in output with audio? (It could very well be different from mencoder processing.)

[Ma_Long]

hello!

I don't know a lot about computing and logs
I post you pics of ffmepg just before I start to convert. It says "no audio" as you can see. But it has said that to every types of movies I tried to convert before...
Yes when I play a preview of the movie in ffmpeg, it lack the audio too.







thanks for your help

PS: does posting out on the internet my mac desktop address shown in the pics is not too wise or it doesn't matter at all ?

[Case]

... pics of ffmepg just before I start to convert. It says "no audio" as you can see. But it has said that to every types of movies I tried to convert before...
Yes when I play a preview of the movie in ffmpeg, it lack the audio too.

The line next to the "Ouvrir..."-button suggests that you opened or dropped the DVD folder in ffmpegX, where you should have opened or dropped the VIDEO_TS folder.
It should read something like "/Users/username/Desktop/MY_MOVIE/VIDEO_TS".
(Click to enlarge.)

PS: does posting out on the internet my mac desktop address shown in the pics is not too wise or it doesn't matter at all ?

Showing the account username is not a security risk in the IT sense, but the forum readers don't need to know it for helping you with video issues. You could hide it if that makes you feel more comfortable. It is not a big deal.

Personally, I like to play with it a little, like in my first screenshot above...

[Ma_Long]

Okay thanks! I'll give it another try tonight.

Actually, when I consider it, the video file that I want to convert, was ripped by Mac the ripper, it created a folder with the movie's name, and inside an audio folder and a video folder. But the audio folder was empty..(!?) So I thought that was why ffmpeg couldn't find the sound, I trashed the empty folder but ffmepgx still can't find the sound. Now I only have:

HONORABLE_STANISLAS

VIDEO_TS
VIDEO_TS.BUP
VIDEO_TS.IFO
VIDEO_TS.VOB
VTS_01_0.BUP
VTS_01_0.IFO
VTS_01_0.VOB
VTS_01_1.VOB
VTS_01_2.VOB
VTS_01_3.VOB
VTS_01_4.VOB

The movie when played with VLC works fine, video & audio. First I wanted to drop directly the DVD into ffmpegx but that doesn't work, I HAVE to rip it first, maybe Mac the ripper makes a mistake, because this is not the first time that it creates an empty audio folder..

I'll make another attempt today with some other movie, I hope it'll work..

[Case]

The video file that I want to convert, was ripped by Mac the ripper, it created a folder with the movie's name, and inside an audio folder and a video folder. But the audio folder was empty..(!?)

This is normal. The AUDIO_TS folder is empty on most DVDs, as both the video and audio of a DVD-Video are in the VOB files in the VIDEO_TS folder. The AUDIO_TS folder is reserved for "DVD-Audio", which needs a special DVD-Audio player anyway.

So I thought that was why ffmpeg couldn't find the sound, I trashed the empty folder but ffmepgx still can't find the sound.

When converting from DVD-Video, ffmpegX should start from the VIDEO_TS folder, where it should find both video and audio in the VOB files. Deleting the empty AUDIO_TS folder will not change anything.

First I wanted to drop directly the DVD into ffmpegx but that doesn't work, I HAVE to rip it first

ffmpegX wants to read files from the hard disk, not from a DVD disc. This is on purpose. This way it will not need to encounter copy protection, as that is already removed by MTR.

maybe Mac the ripper makes a mistake, because this is not the first time that it creates an empty audio folder..

No mistake, this is how it should be.

I'll make another attempt today with some other movie, I hope it'll work..

Good luck.

[Ma_Long]

Thanks Case ! It works fine ! I just dropped the Video_TS instead of the general folder and that's perfect !

[Ma_Long]

Btw, I'd like to ask you one more thing: I'm looking for the best codec to convert. For exemple I'm using Mpeg4 (.AVI) (mencoder) on a VHSrip (2,99 Go). I wish to reduce the size of the file to 800 Mo or so without loosing picture quality (not much at least). I first dropped the TS file, then under "paramètres video" I typed the original image size just like when I drop the TS folder in Toast Titanium it gives me the picture size: 720 x576. I don't know what to select: 99min mode 1 / 99 min mode 2 / etc... to get the best result, as good as the original picture.
Thx

[Case]

Btw, I'd like to ask you one more thing: I'm looking for the best codec to convert. For exemple I'm using Mpeg4 (.AVI) (mencoder) on a VHSrip (2,99 Go). I wish to reduce the size of the file to 800 Mo or so without loosing picture quality (not much at least).

h.264 should give the most quality per size.

[Case]

I first dropped the TS file, then under "paramètres video" I typed the original image size just like when I drop the TS folder in Toast Titanium it gives me the picture size: 720 x576.

720x576 is by far the most common resolution for PAL DVD-Video, and also the highest resolution that DVD supports. Do note that 720÷576=1.25, which is not 4:3, nor 16:9. This means that all DVD-Video movies are stretched to match the tv frame. And that means that the movie pixels are not square. If you could zoom without smoothing, you could detect it something like this:

When you convert to anything that is not DVD or DV, then ffmpegX will assume square pixels, just like your monitor. This means that the target width and height should have a different ratio than the DVD source. So you should NOT copy the width and height from the source, or the result will be deformed. Just keep it 4:3 (or 16:9). The current version of ffmpegX does not have settings to manipulate the pixel aspect ratio (PAR) on the output to do the same "trick" as DVD.
I hope this makes sense.

I don't know what to select: 99min mode 1 / 99 min mode 2 / etc... to get the best result, as good as the original picture.

Please start by reading what the developer wrote about the bitrate calculator on http://www.ffmpegX.com/video.html. Scroll down to the bullet point where a sentence starts with "The bitrate calculator box helps to ..."
Let us know if that makes it clear or if you have additional questions on the bitrate calculator.
Do note that the default bitrate is appropriate for the default settings after selecting a preset. Only make additional changes if the defaults are not good enough for your purpose. If you change any video settings, e.g. the Video size, then the video bitrate should be changed accordingly.

[Ma_Long]

Thank you Case! I have read the link you gave me about the bitrate calculator, although I didn't really understood... I'm not very good about computing and stuff + english isn't my native language so it's pretty harsh...

I just would like to know how to keep the same quality or at least the best that it is possible (all I need each time I have to use ffmpeg is to reduce the size of a dvdrip and keep the highest resolution possible). Eg: I rip a dvd, drop the TS folder into ffmpeg, then what should I do to get the best picture/sound quality ? Should I leave the settings the soft gives me or should I change some depending on the result I want ?

For exemple, this the software's own set up for one of a DVD I ripped (the DVD is: 720 x 576)



Why does it choose the "80 min mode-1" since the duration is 91' ? What if I select the 90 min mode ? What are the differences bitween 80 min mode 1 and mode 2 (maybe I didn't read good enough but I didn't see anything about that is the link you posted)
Also: the birate changes if I click on "rate", changes again if I click on "Best", dunno why...

You advised H264 (which one: "mencoder" or "x264" should I choose?) as the best codec to keep the highest image quality but when I've selected the h264 "mencoder" codec to convert my VHSrip in a 700 or 800Mo file, the result was worse than the previews attempts whith MPEG4 codec, I could easily see the pixels (although I didn't change the image size settings like you said). Maybe you'd know why.

Thx for yr help

[Case]

Why does it choose the "80 min mode-1" since the duration is 91' ? What if I select the 90 min mode ? What are the differences bitween 80 min mode 1 and mode 2 (maybe I didn't read good enough but I didn't see anything about that is the link you posted)
Also: the birate changes if I click on "rate", changes again if I click on "Best", dunno why...

The "1 CDs of 80 min mode-1" is just an optional tool to set a target output size. It is one of the steps that can be used to change the video bitrate. By itself, the "1 CDs of 80 min mode-1" means nothing, unless you use it to alter the bitrate. The "1 CDs of 80 min mode-1" option only sets the size in the field below it.
The "80 minute" refers not to the duration of your file, but to the capacity of a CD-R if it were used for an audio CD, which is the same as 700 MB for data (in regular "mode-1"). Mode-2 is a special way of using CD-R with less error correction, thus allowing more data. The most common use of mode-2 is VCD and SVCD, which are rarely seen these days anymore.
If your storage of movie files does not depend on CD-R, then these quick settings are not for you.
The [Best] button sets the video bitrate to what the developer thought was optimal for quality and size. That is, a lower bitrate would show to be inferior, but a higher bitrate could make the output much bigger without (much) visual superiority, or the excess bitrate would simply not be used. The [Best] button calculates the video bitrate based on video codec, video size and framerate. Note that it does not depend on duration or output size, or even content.

You advised H264 (which one: "mencoder" or "x264" should I choose?) as the best codec to keep the highest image quality

All mencoder presets can have a VIDEO_TS folder as input, but the x264 preset needs a file (not a folder) for input. Both use the x264 codec for H.264 compatible video, although their options differ a bit between mencoder and the other.

but when I've selected the h264 "mencoder" codec to convert my VHSrip in a 700 or 800Mo file, the result was worse than the previews attempts whith MPEG4 codec, I could easily see the pixels (although I didn't change the image size settings like you said).

Resizing from 720x576 to 640x352 will result in just 54% of the image area, so a lot of detail is lost.
An output size like 848x480 would have a almost the same number of frame pixels as the source (407040 vs. 414720, or 98%).

If you would want to keep the 720x576 and 16:9, then you should consider a tool like HandBrake, which does allow setting a pixel aspect ratio (or corresponding display aspect ratio) in MP4, and thus doesn't need to produce square pixel output by resizing.

[Case]

The [Best] button sets the video bitrate to what the developer thought was optimal for quality and size [...] based on video codec, video size and framerate.

There is another way to go for quality, by setting a fixed quantizer value and ignore the bitrate. This is done in the Options tab. There is a Qmin and Qmax field. For a regular encode with (almost) fixed bitrate, the encoder can change the quantizer value (and thus the quality) between two values (a minimum quantizer value and a maximum quantizer value).
But if you set Qmax to the same value as Qmin, then the encoder will ignore the bitrate in the Video tab, and encode for constant compression level, which is very close to what people perceive as constant quality. Note that the quantizer values and quality show inverse proportionality, as the quantizer sets the compression level (much compression for less quality, and little compression for high quality). Qmin (the lowest allowed quantizer value) sets the high quality scenes, and Qmax (the highest allowed quantizer value) sets the lower quality scenes. E.g. for H.264, Qmin=Qmax=22 would produce a high quality movie with a quantizer value of 22 throughout the movie. Qmin=Qmax=51 would produce a low quality movie. The quantizer scale is different for H.264 (2 to 51) than for many other codecs (1 to 31). The scale is also not linear. Qmin<20 is not recommended, as you will get VERY big files for which most people can not see improvement.

[Ma_Long]

Thank you VERY MUCH Case for the time you took answering precisely all my questions !
I will try the Qmin / Qmax option to see what happens. Anyway, I guess I need some practice with FFmpegx which is a pro tool that requires technical knowledge to master it. Btw, your knowledge in this area is very impressive !
About Handbrake, I tried it before but dropped it because (if I'm not mistaking with another software), supposing I drag a Video_TS folder in it, it compresses it into another Video_TS folder, but smaller. And I definitively need to get a file at the end (avi, mepg4...).
I came accross a few downloading websites like "500MB movies" or "Movie loo", that propose HQ movies like Star Wars, Lord of the ring, so pretty big movies with a lot of complex picture definition, in smaller size like 300 or 500 MB ! I'm really impressed. So I thought if some guys can do that with complex movies, I can do that with common DVD's or even with my VHSRip's that are too heavy to stay stored on external hard drives, so I need to convert them into smaller size (just like for exemple: 4,7 Go --> 700/800Mo).

I will make some tests to try and find what would be the best settings for what I want.

[Case]

About Handbrake, I tried it before but dropped it because (if I'm not mistaking with another software), supposing I drag a Video_TS folder in it, it compresses it into another Video_TS folder, but smaller. And I definitively need to get a file at the end (avi, mepg4...).

HandBrake outputs MP4 (M4V) and MKV only.

I came accross a few downloading websites like "500MB movies" or "Movie loo", that propose HQ movies, so pretty big movies with a lot of complex picture definition, in smaller size like 300 or 500 MB ! I'm really impressed. So I thought if some guys can do that with complex movies, I can do that with common DVD's or even with my VHSRip's that are too heavy to stay stored on external hard drives, so I need to convert them into smaller size (just like for exemple: 4,7 Go --> 700/800Mo).

1/ Those movies of small file sizes have a lower resolution. 90 minutes of H.264 video at 640x352 and 23.976 fps could be in a file of around 500 MB.
2/ Those movies with very good compression come from very good source files. Video files with noise and artifacts will not compress well. Complex scenes with 'random movement' (like a wavy water surface or fire) or fast movement also will not compress well. Scenes under e.g. red light will easily show artifacts because of the way color information is stored (chroma format 4:2:0). Most VHS-rips lack the source quality for compressing to small files while maintaining enough output quality. Temper your ambition for very small files.

[Ma_Long]

Okay, I get it, thanks!

[jeremy_m]

Hi Case (and Ma), I wonder if you could guide me with the same no-sound problem form a different video source. I'm trying to convert a H264.mp4 file into a DivX.avi for playing on my DVD player, and I'm getting no sound. Neither the source nor the target have any sound when played through ffpegX's in-app player Mplayer. I've tried encoding both with DivX mencoder and with DivX ffmpeg, and I have tried most of the audio tracks starting with the default 0 and randomly up to 15, still no go. Any ideas? What am I missing? Thanks so much for your help!
(and, where do find the logs for ffmegX?)

[Case]

Neither the source nor the target have any sound when played through ffpegX's in-app player Mplayer.

I've got a hunch about the underlying issue, but the log could confirm that. Please post a DivX ffmpeg conversion log.

I've tried encoding both with DivX mencoder and with DivX ffmpeg

I think there is an easy option to set to make it work with the DivX ffmpeg preset. Fixing for DivX mencoder would be more work.

I have tried most of the audio tracks starting with the default 0 and randomly up to 15, still no go.

When your source file has just one audio stream, just leave the audio track at the default "0".

and, where do find the logs for ffmegX?

After a conversion (or conversion attempt), click the blue "i" in the ffmpegX Progress window. A new window "Process Information" should pop up with the log details. Copy and paste that here.