Extracting audio using VirtualDub

[vettesea]

I have been reading the link below which has described perfectly the problems I have encountered when trying to convert captured Home Video to DVD.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=724194&highlight=#724194

The user here was suffering from blocky effects and cloudy images when playing on a DVD. He eventually found out that the best process to follow was to split the AVI file into audio and video. He extracted the audio section using VirtualDub, and converted the video section using TMPGEnc. Following that he combined the two using TMPGEnc DVD Author.

This is a similar process to me. I hope that going down this path does not create out of sync video, but I shall cross that bridge if and when it occurs.

My question: I am trying to find a guide to just take the sound out of an AVI file using VirtualDub. Is it just a matter of selecting File - Save WAV once the AVi files is opened? I thought there may be more configuration than just this?

Any advice welcome.

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, under the audio menu, you can select Full processing (and then choose your output format under Compression) or Direct stream (no further options to set). The output is always started by selecting Save WAV under the file menu, and VirtualDub will always create a xyz.wav file, no matter what format the audio actually is. I suggest you go for Direct stream, then convert from whatever format the AVI audio is encoded in to whatever format you want it in outside of VirtualDub.

/Mats

[vettesea]

Cheers Mats

Does that mean that I will require it to be in a different format for TMPGEnc DVD to author it, or will the WAV file be sufficient. The guy that posted the original solution suggested it would. What would I need to convert it to after pulling it from the avi file bearing in mind it was captured direct from a DV camera.

[mats.hogberg]

will the WAV file be sufficient

A 48 kHz wav file is sufficent, but not space effective. (WAV takes an enormous amount of space.) Better convert to AC3.

bearing in mind it was captured direct from a DV camera.

I have no idea how the audio is encoded in a DV capture.

/Mats

[bugster]

bearing in mind it was captured direct from a DV camera.

I have no idea how the audio is encoded in a DV capture.

/Mats

DV audio is 12bit 32Khz PCM or 16 bit 48Khz PCM. If you intend to go to DVD, always set your cam to use 16 bit 48Khz audio.

[vettesea]

Cheers Bugster

That is what I am set up with. So, can I quickly comfirm a process please:

* Capture in AVI format and edit as required
* Use VirtualDub and select File-Save and select name for WAV file (no configuration for better quality required)
* Use TMPGEnc Plus to encode video only to MPEG format
* Use TMPGEnc DVD Author with both files created above to create final DVD.

thoughts?

[bugster]

You can do that and it should all work fine. However, putting wav audio (LPCM) onto a DVDR takes up loads of room and so limits the video bitrate and/or playing time available. If you only want an hour or so per disk thats fine but if you want longer consider encoding the audio to Ac3 or Mp2.

[vettesea]

The video is not that long so i should be fine. I will have a go at this tonight and see how it works.

Thanks