Problems Converting WAV Audio To NTSC

[ThePumpKinKing]

I've tried using AC3Machine as well as BeSweet by itself and am unable to convert a WAV file extracted from an AVI from PAL to NTSC. When I try to set either AC3Machine or BeSweet to convert it while transcoding the file to AC3, the audio comes out sounding like the chipmunks. Any ideas? Also, I've always understood that PAL is 25 FPS and NTSC is 29.97 FPS. Now that I've been reading some of the guides on this site I've seen reference to NTSC being 23.97 FPS. What's the deal with this? When I load the NTSC DVD template in TMPGEnc it sets it at 29.97.

[ThePumpKinKing]

Bump due to editing post

[DJRumpy]

Can you be more specific. I'm not sure I'm getting you right. It looks like your converting an AVI from PAL to NTSC?

It that is the case, your AVI should be slowed by a frame per second back to 23.976 frames per second. AVISynth is very good at this using the AssumeFPS command. Your audio should be processed seperately using BeSweet, and the PAL to FILM option (25fps to 23.976fps). One you have both your audio, and video back down to 23.976 frames per second, you can then begin your encoding to MPEG2. The encoder will simply add pulldown flags to telecine the material to 29.97 frames per second during playback. The actual length of the movie is unchanged during the telecine process, so your audio will not lose sync.

[ThePumpKinKing]

Sorry; yep that's correct. I have a PAL AVI trying to burn it to NTSC DVD. I've re-rendered the video by itself using TMPGEnc and started by loading the NTSC DVD template, which it sets at 29.97 FPS. I've modified the settings using a guide from this site.

The audio I've extracted using VirtualDub to a WAV file (which it left at the PAL 25 FPS while extracting). When trying to convert this WAV to an AC3 file using either AC3Machine or Besweet, I'm trying to re-synch the audio to NTSC. When I use the preset switch in the BeSweet GUI (PAL 25 FPS > NTSC 29.97 FPS) it speeds the audio up too much. Almost sounds like you're fast forwarding it while it's being played back.

So according to your answer then I should re-encode my M2V using TMPGEnc and manually enter 23.97 FPS instead of the preset 29.97? Or is TMPGEnc already doing this but just telling ME that's it's rendering it at 29.97?

[DJRumpy]

Sorry, I don't use TMPGenc for encoding, but yes, it sounds like your trying to speed up your audio from 25fps source to 29.97 fps.

PAL versions of NTSC movies are simply sped up by 1 frame per second. You should slow down your movie to 23.976 frames per second from 25fps.

I don't think TMPGenc offers this option. Again, I would suggest you use AVISynth for this, as I can't guarentee what results TMPGenc will give in regards to quality.

You can get the installer for AVISynth here:
http://home.concepts.nl/~hzon00008/bin/AvisynthPackagev2_00.zip

The script is very simple. It looks like this, and can be written in any text editor, like Notepad:

AVISource("c:\temp\yourmovie.avi")
AssumeFPS(23.976,False)

Of course, you'll need to point the AVISource part to the actual location and filename of your AVI. I used 'C:\temp\yourmovie.avi' in this example. If you save your .AVS script in the same directory as your AVI, then you only need to specify the AVI's filenme, and not the full filepath. Save your script as FILENAME.AVS (where filename is whatever filename you want to give it. Double click the file, and choose to open it in Windows Media Player. The file should play just as if it was the original AVI. The FALSE parameter is to basically tell AVISynth to ignore any sync for the audio, as your processing it seperately.

In TMPGenc, your VIDEO tab setting should be set to 23.976 for framerate. (forgive me if I mis-rember...I never use TMPGenc)
(((NOTE: I ran a quick test on this, and my output was still 23.976 fps. You may need to run your M2V file through PULLDOWN.EXE to get the proper pulldown flags added. It's in the TOOLS section. This will make your video playback at 29.97 fps.))))

This AVS file is your VIDEO SOURCE for TMPGenc, and it can be drag n dropped right onto TMPGenc as if it was an AVI. The audio file, once you've slowed it down in BeSweet, is plugged into TMPGenc as your AUDIO SOURCE. On the advanced tab, select '3:2 Pulldown'.

Your ouput should look like a 29.97 FPS MPEG, with audio in sync.

[DJRumpy]

Ughh..How do you use TMPGenc. The filters/pointclick/gack are confusing enough, without multiple tabs with no clear SOURCE / OUTPUT settings. They should have seperate TABs with settings for SOURCE ONLY, and OUTPUT ONLY, and the sub settings for each.

If I had to use TMPGenc, I would leave your output at 23.976 fps, and just use PULLDOWN.EXE to add the pulldown flags to the final MPG.

TMPGenc's pulldown setting doesn't seem to be working for me. Unless someone who uses this more can help out here, on getting a proper 23.976 MPEG with telecine pulldown flags. Anyone?

[ThePumpKinKing]

SO what do you use for your video rendering?

[ThePumpKinKing]

BTW; with TPMGEnc, the "Video" tab is settings for the output and the "Advanced" tab is for the source settings.

[DJRumpy]

You would think they'd be labled properly, as settings from each look identical independant of input/output.

I use CCE for encoding. For the full conversion, if my source is MPEG/VOB, I use DVD2AVI to open the MPEG, and save the project file. AVISynth, and MPEG2DEC to open the DVD2AVI project file. CCE to open the AVIsynth script.

Encodes for full CCIR-601 DVD resolution usually encode at about 1.0 to 1.5 times the playback speed of the movie, and MUCH faster for VCD/CVD/SVCD. If the source is AVI, then I just serve it with AVIsynth, directly to CCE, resizing/resampling/filtering on the fly.

[mats.hogberg]

This must be the same as NTSC 23.976 to PAL 25 but in reverse. If so, I'd go about it like this:
Extract the audio to wav with VDub.
Edit the AVI with AVIFRATE and change the fps to 23.976
Stretch the wav by a factor of 1,0427093760427093760427093760427 (Use GoldWave or try WavWorks - I really like the latter!)
Now, you have an AVI and a wav that are in sync at a new frame rate, that will play a little slower than the original.

/Mats

[DJRumpy]

Just open the AVI in AVISynth, and use the AssumeFPS command. It stretches your AVI, or shrinks it, depending on your desired output (NTSC, or PAL). The audio can be dropped into BeSweet GUI, which comes with prebuilt NTSC <---> PAL selectable options. Just give it the WAV and it'll do the rest.

Multiplex and your ready to roll...