MovieFactory2 Mpeg Audio Problems

[MBarrett]

Okay, this is weird 'cause we're talking very simple stuff, but here goes. If I author and burn a DVD in Ulead DVD Moviefactory 2, the only way I can get the DVD audio to play on my stand alone player is to switch the audio output from Bitstream to PCM. But this only happens if I author and burn with DMF2.

I don't have the DVD plugin for NeroVision (and I'm not buying anything until I know it works), so I can't try that.

MyDVD transcodes to PCM automatically, and this will play fine without switching from Bitstream output. But I would prefer to stay with Mpeg audio for several reasons.

I also wanted to use MovieFactory because of the price, ability to add chapters, author without a menu, trim video and it's general ease of use.

I'm capturing directly to and/or encoding to Mpeg 2 video with Mpeg Audio with all the proper settings. (Double, triple-checked and on, and on, and on...)

I've tried:
Using my AIW 8500DV with MMC 7x for direct DVD Compliant Video and Audio Capture. Author and burn with DMF2 and same problem. I even tried upgrading to MMC 8x. Much nicer captures, but still no luck.

TMPGEnc - Tried encoding various files, Mpg, AVI, DVD backups, etc. with DVD Compliant settings. Then author and burn with DMF2 and no luck.

In DMF2 I've made sure I have Mpeg audio checked everywhere. I haven't watched to see if it's transcoding audio, but if it is, it's set for Mpeg. And I have tried letting it re-encode the video with the same result. And yes I remembered to change the audio type from LPCM to Mpeg.

But this is what is so weird. Sound always plays in the preview and on my PC. Just not on the player. Also, after I load the filein DMF2 and check the file info, it shows up as Mpeg Audio with all the correct parameters.

I can play any other original DVD I own, and I have a large collection, without switching to PCM audio out. Although, I'll bet almost all of those are at least Dolby Digital.

I have several hundred VCDs and XVCDs that I've created TMPGEnc using Mpeg Audio and no problems with them either.

I can backup a dvd with DVD Decrypter, DVD Toolbox, DVDXCopy, Nero, just about anything and never have to change a thing on my player.

I can take a video and encode it as a VCD or XVCD using TMPGEnc with Mpeg audio, burn it and it plays fine. But if I encode the same file as DVD Compliant Mpeg2 and burn it as a DVD with Mpeg Audio in DMF2 (making sure to use the correct settings in both TMPGEnc and DMF2 for DVD) I have to change to PCM out on my player.

This is probably so simple that I just can't see it. But I've been searching, reading and trying to figure this out for a week. I've even done a fresh OS and software install, just to be safe, but with no luck. I was going to use DMF2 for now, for the reasons I stated above and later move up to the new MediaStudio7. But now I'm concerned about spending that kind of money on another Ulead product.

The only thing I can think of is that it might be transcoding the audio to LPCM, regardless of the settings, although that should still work fine in bitstream out and I wouldn't know how to check the final audio produced anyway. So if anyone has any ideas, I would really appreciate it. I'm afraid I'm completely lost on this one...

Thanks in Advance!
MBarrett

[shardison]

That's life with MF2. I had the same problem.

From what I hear, a DVD is compliant only with a AC3 dolby digital sound track, although a MP2 sound track works.

I now use Besweet to re-encode my MP2 audio to 2-channel AC3. (Demux/remux in TMPEGnc) before authoring. Movie Factory says it's doesn't do AC3, but it will if it's muxed to a MPEG2 video.

You can check to see that you have AC3 sound after authoring by using INFOEDIT.

Also, when you play the DVD through a surround sound system, you'll get a light or other indication that it's playing Dolby Digital.

And the sound comes out of either hookup; digital or analog.

[MBarrett]

Thanks shardison! I don't know why I didn't think of BeSweet.

I had wanted to try out the TMPG DVD Author software anyway, so I took your advice and decided to just convert the audio. I have to take a couple of extra steps, but they don't take long.

I just demux with TMPGEnc, convert the mp2 to AC3 with BeSweet, remux with BBMpeg and author in TMPG DVD Author. At least now that I'm not using MF2, everything is fine. DD audio and no hassles with changing the player output.

BTW, I know TMPG doesn't burn, I use Nero for that. And it lacks some other functionality the other software in the price range has. But I love it! Unlike other software, it works with AC3, does chapters and works everytime. I don't need all the bells and whistles for my captures. I just need something that provides the right combination of tools and works consistently. Besides, it's still relatively new. They'll be adding more as time goes by. So I guess I'm going to have to buy this one when the trial is up.

Anyway, didn't mean to change the subject. Thanks for the idea!!!...
MBarrett