Muxing MPEG2 video with PCM audio

[rixware]

I'm capturing directly to MPEG2 files with MPEG audio (Hauppauge WinTV PVR250). I want to author all my discs with PCM audio (for maximum player compatibility).

My authoring tool of choice (for now) is Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2. It allows either using the MPEG files untouched, or reencoding both video and audio to get PCM. Trouble is, I don't want to spend all that time reencoding the video -- it's already MPEG2.

My idea is to demux the files, convert the MPEG audio to PCM, remux, then import onto DVDMF2.

TMPGEnc 2.51 won't do this type of mux (MPEG2 video with PCM audio). I've read elsewhere in this forum that version 2.59 will, but I can't find that download, and the version history contains this weird comment: "Audio corresponded to separating MPEG-2 file of linear PCM by MPEG tools. Multiplex of linear PCM cannot be supported."

Is there a better tool? A better process?

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[bunyip]

Actually you can use MovieFactory to mux and author, if you get the settings right it will only mux the files not re-encode them.

Do what you suggested and demux and convert the audio before using MF2.

Now in MF2 start a new DVD project and when you get to the 'capture' screen use the 'Add Video' option to insert the video portion (MPV) and use the 'Replace Audio' option to insert the audio (WAV).

Click on the 'Project Settings' box at the base of the screen, then 'Change MPEG Settings' and select 'custom', set all the options to exactly match your video characteristics, and set the Audio Format to 'LPCM'. (you can ignore the quality setting, it won't be used).

Now as long as you have 'Do not convert complient MPEG files' enabled it should only multiplex and not encode.

[DJRumpy]

I have to ask why you don't use AC3 audio? If this will be played in a player, and the format is DVD, use AC3 audio and save yourself the headache. Both PAL, and NTSC DVD format's fully support AC3 audio as part of the standard. You won't find a single player that won't play it.

[racer-x]

Converting the Mpeg Audio to PCM may not be a great idea. I created a dvd using MPEG-2 file with PCM. the audio quckly got out of sync. After 30 min., the audio was about 1 sec. ahead of video.

[rixware]

bunyip -- Thanks for the tip. I had tried this, but freaked out when the disk space gauge at the bottom of the screen went off the scale. I never tried just pressing forward. When I did, it worked fine (muxing only, not reencoding). Lesson: Cheap software doesn't always work like you expect or hope.

DJRumpy -- AC3 encoding is beyond my budget right now. I've tried using BeSweet, but have no means by which I can mux the audio back (DVDMF2 will not allow AC3 files in the "Replace Audio" step, though I understand it will accept files which already contain AC3). Do you have suggestions for cheap AC3 encoding/muxing/authoring?

racer-x -- Audio sync problems are usually introduced in the capture (PTS errors), not the muxing portion. If the MPEG capture is clean, demuxing and remuxing by themselves should not mess up the audio synch. I've had some problems with this, but it always goes back to the capture, not the later processing.

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[DJRumpy]

You can multiplex AC3 into the video stream using the MPEG Tools in TMPGenc. It will accept AC3, MP2/MPA audio streams.

If your looking for a DVD Authoring program that will accept AC3, I always suggest SpruceUp. Search Google for it. It's no longer for sale, but it can be found on the internet for download. It's about the easiest authoring program out there that will accept ac3 (5.1 and 2.1 streams).