Noob problems: audio sync and AC3

[Zimdvd]

I got a new DVD player that (finally) plays CDRs, and wanted to "kick the tires" to see what it could do.

I have 2 movies (avi files) that I wanted to convert and test with...

Movie A: according to VLC: DIV3 video (576x304, 24 bits, 23.976 frame rate ), mpga audio. I've tried VCD with this and the resulting MPG audio is out of sync.

Movie B: DIV3/a52.. what I'd like to do is match up any kind of mpg video conversion with the AC3 soundtrack and see what my DVD player does with it... some of the reports indicate that if I'm just passing the audio stream out the digital connector to my receiver I might get AC3 audio, with VCD(?) video. I have not figured out how I can do this? (strip off the AC3 stream and marry it back up with the converted video)

Sorry, these are prob repeat questions, but the foum search errors on "audio sync" (too many results).. wasn't sure how to narrow it down.

Thanks for any tips,
Mike

[Zimdvd]

Sigh, things seem to go backwards for me...

I saw the other thread about 3:2 pulldown and turned that off... but on the 1st try the audio failed (tho I thought this had "worked' during my out of sync try earlier)

INFO: Opened WAV file, freq = 48000 Hz, channels = 2, bits = 16
INFO: format = 0x1, audio length = 0 bytes
INFO: slots/frame = 731
INFO: frac SpF=0.429, tot bitrate=224 kbps, s freq=44.1 kHz
INFO: Fractional number of slots, padding required
INFO: System is big endian
**ERROR:
Error reading wave data

So I did have the .m1v file and thought if I turned off the check mark for "encode video" I could just have it re-do the audio.. sounds reasonable? Well its overwriting the m1v file... looks like you also have to choose "passthrough".. isn't that redundant if you de-check encode video?

anyway, waiting to see if something different will happen this time.

Thanks,
Mike

[Zimdvd]

I give up.. I've tried VCD with/out 3:2, both video encoders (dunno if that make a diff), fastVCD, and a separate movie audio to mp2, then re-mux. All ended way out of sync

Is this just something ffmegX cannot do?

Thanks,
Mike

[Zimdvd]

So I thought, maybe its just VCD... so I tried SVCD (from quick settings)

INFO: [yuvscaler] Normal exit: end of stream with frame number 116862!
INFO: [mpeg2enc] Guesstimated final muxed size = 776485349
INFO: Opened WAV file, freq = 48000 Hz, channels = 2, bits = 16
INFO: format = 0x1, audio length = 0 bytes
INFO: slots/frame = 731
INFO: frac SpF=0.429, tot bitrate=224 kbps, s freq=44.1 kHz
INFO: Fractional number of slots, padding required
INFO: System is big endian
**ERROR:
Error reading wave data

still no luck.

What are my alternatives programs to try (if ffmegX can't do this)?

Thanks,
Mike

[major]

Your AVI file has AC3 sound. You're using "Decode with Quicktime", but, Quicktime can't read AC3 sound.

So, proceed as follows:

1/ Convert the video with the process you have used (after the error, you should have a valid .m1v or .m2v file)
2/ Convert the audio by selecting the "Movie audio to mp2" quick preset
3/ Mux the video and audio in the Tools tab, by selecting the .m1v file in the first Browse.. field, the .mp2 file in the second Browse.. field, selecting Mux as.. "VCD" (or SVCD as applicable) and click "MUX".

[Zimdvd]

My original question was relative to 2 different conversions...

conversion a) can I somehow convert the AVI video and keep the AC3 audio (put back together in what package?) and see if my DVD player will forward the AC3 out to my DD receiver... I've not messed with this, primarily I have been trying

conversion b) ffmpegX reports "VIDEO: 3VID, size: 576x304, 23.976 fps, 1065 kbps. AUDIO: mp3, 48000Hz, 128 kbps." This is the movie I CANNOT get audio sync for (and for which I have posted log clippings). Unless I mis-understand, that audio mp3, not AC3.

I have tried VCD, SVCD, and disabling the 3:2 pulldown. By 40 minutes into the movie, I am easily 10-15 seconds out of sync. About half of the time, the conversion fails complaining about the WAV file (note logs above), yet I can always get the "movie to mp2" to work. Muxing those still does not get me in sync tho ;-(

Is there something from presets that I need to be changing?

Thanks,
Mike

[major]

a) can I somehow convert the AVI video and keep the AC3 audio?

No, for now mpeg-2 encoding and authoring only uses mp2 audio. I'll add ac3 audio support in later versions.

"VIDEO: 3VID, size: 576x304, 23.976 fps, 1065 kbps. AUDIO: mp3, 48000Hz, 128 kbps." This is the movie I CANNOT get audio sync for

Which settings are you using to encode it? (framerate, etc). Save a preset file and email it to me at major4@mac.com