Need Help to keep ac3 5.1 intact when exporting

[LEVEL42]

I am new to this forum, so go easy on me. I have been looking on this site for a couple of days. I have seen parts of what I want to do but need to complete it.

I just want to do compilations of my favorite scenes from my own dvds and I want to be able to keep the 5.1 surround sound when I export the clips. I have already used dvd shrink to extract clips. I have the following software , cyberlink powerdirector 3, Nero 6 ultra and womble video wizard. All of these won't let me keep ac3 .

I would like to be able to do editing, create menu's and keep 5.1 audio intact. All ideas and guides welcome. Thanks in advance.

[Forum Troll]

Rip the VOB that has the clip you want to your hard drive, then open the VOB in TMPGENC DVD Author and edit it there. It won't change the audio. You can import as many VOBS as you want, and make each a separate chapter, or make each a separate track with its own menus and chapters.

[jimmalenko]

Why not just continue to use DVDShrink in reauthor mode ?

AFAIK TDA will only output AC3 2.0 and not 5.1, but I could be wrong.

[LEVEL42]

I noticed a message that someone is in breach of forum rules. Who? and what for?.

[jimmalenko]

I noticed a message that someone is in breach of forum rules. Who? and what for?.

It's just Forum Troll's signature, it's not an actual warning.

[LEVEL42]

I could use dvd shrink but would also like to edit with some cool effects, transitions etc. but be able to return audio to 5.1.

[jimmalenko]

You might need to look at some of the more advanced authoring packages in the tools section. I can't see you being able to do it without spending some $$$ though.

[LEVEL42]

I have been reading thru some of the old posts and saw some programs like besweet or ac3 machine or hypercube. Can any of those work? if not? What kind of bucks are we talking?

[jimmalenko]

They can encode audio to 5.1 AC3, but isn't the problem putting transitions and things like that in ?

They are just audio encoders, too. You still need authoring software that will author in 5.1 AC3.

[LEVEL42]

thanks for the input. Didn't know those were just audio encoders. Yeah, I want to still be able to do transitions and stuff. Any other Ideas? I'll check back tomorrow. Thanks again

[SuprIndoCapmYodaWill]

Try the tools section. I'm sure there will be a coupel of proggies there that can do what you want that have a trial or limited version so that you can try before you buy.

[masterpug]

use mpeg video wizard by womble. import vobs or mpg2 that contain ac3 2.0 OR 5.1 audio, add transitions between clips (nice cross fades, page curl,etc), and even add audio track (with volume adjust) while keeping the original. it will ouput your project and keep the origianl 5.1 audio!!! no other program i know of will do this. if you have problems, just reply back here and i'll get you help. you'll love the product and surely buy it if it fits the bill.

[mythkiller]

Good luck with Mpeg Video Wizard. It hasn't worked for me. It exports my movies a few seconds out of sync, and their tech support is useless. I desperately needed an editing program that keep Dolby 5.1, and this was quite a heartbreak.

Masterpug, have you heard of this problem? Any possible suggestions?

TIA

[masterpug]

check out the trial for videoredo (tools section). it's renound for keeping audio in sync. it's a cutting/editing tool like womble, but more basic in features. it was the only thing that worked for my wintv usb pvr2 captures to keep sync.

however, do what the other member said and use tmpgenc dvd author. it's got the cut editor built in and accepts vobs with dd5.1/ac3 audio and will leave the audio alone. it has very easy and flexible motion menu creation,etc so should do what you're looking for all in one app!

[mythkiller]

Thanks for the speedy reply, Masterpug.

I need the ability to edit with fades and transitions. I know that tmpgenc dvd author cannot do this. Can videoredo? Otherwise, can you steer me to a comprehensive Womble help page? I've had a hard time finding anyone else who's having sync problems with Womble. I'm probably making one silly little mistake that's throwing off the whole project...

[masterpug]

videoredo does not have any effects,fades,transitions,etc...purely a perfect cut scene vob/mpg editor that has perfect audio sync always.

many times sync issues in womble if source is taken from non-copyprotected dvd rips is due to building a large timeline of several cut scenes you've taken across multiple movies/vobs. if that's what you've been doing (open vob, edit, close vob, open new vob, edit,etc), then just make sure to save each "mark in, mark out" cut scene as a seperate mpg. once you have an mpg for every scene then open them up one by one, do mark in mark out on the entire clip and build your timeline that way, then add transitions,etc and save whole project to new/final mpg. sync issues went away for me after i adhered to this method. hope it works for you. ***fyi, you won't lose your 5.1/ac3 UNLESS you do any effects to the audio and/or add a seperate audio track. if it has to rebuild the audio for any reason it will do so as a 2ch mpg audio only. you can edit the video any way you want. good luck!

[mythkiller]

I do plan on editing the project down the road, but for now I'm just testing how Womble simply exports an untouched VOB to Mpeg. But the sound is always 8 seconds out of sync. And I've noticed that the movie length that's displayed in the upper left corner of the little green time code box is always 8 seconds shorter than the length of the project on the timeline. I figure if I could get these two numbers to match up, the exported file will be ok. I've tried a complete GOP scan & fix. I've re-ripped my DVD. I check off the box that says "export work area". Still no luck. I'm not sure what else to try...

[masterpug]

do you have the latest version march 05 build?

[mythkiller]

Yup.

It's the strangest thing though. I just took the out-of-sync mpeg, and used TMPGEncDVD to reauthor, and the resulting VOB was fine. No sync issues at all. So I guess it doesn't matter if the sound is screwy on the Mpeg. I only hope the same rule will apply when I reauthor from an Mpeg containing edits and transitions...

That'll take some time, but I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for the advice.

~Jim

[masterpug]

i get out of sync with womble projects "that have fades/transitions" in it but out of sync "only" noticeable "after" create dvd! the mpg file created
by womble is in sync when playback on any media player. but somehow
during dvd authoring "compile" screws it up through the demux/remux of the mpg...any ideas? again, if the womble mpg was created without any transitions,etc then my burned dvds are in sync. mike