"No Audio Compressor...." in VirtualDub

[rasinton]

Background
I have tried various tortuous routes and combinations of software to get tracks from a DVD to a form that I can write them to a compilation DVD.

The problem is around the audio that seems to go missings in some of the files!

I had a combination that worked twice last week, but, now doesn't. I suspect a codec or something has been overwritten.

Current Problem
I saw the advide to use VitualDub to grab the audio track and gave that a try.

However, when I try to write a .wav file it tells me "No audio compressor could be found to decompress this source audio format".

If I look in File Information it says that Compression is "unknown (tag 2000)"

Again it is all pointing towards codecs!

Anyone know what all this means?

[midnightsun]

I'm assuming this audio file that's giving you hell is straight off a dvd, If so, it's very likely to be a dolby digital track (ac3). In order to decoder such a track you need to have a ac3 decoder filter installed on your system. ac3filter (look in the tool section) is what you're looking for.

If I'm way off, then please disregard my post!

[bugster]

Try virtualdub_mod. It handles AC3 better than the regular vdub.

[celtic_druid]

Think that older versions of VDubMod had a built in AC3 decoder, but the newer builds don't so you still need an ACM decoder.

If they are loading VOB's then they are using VirtualDubMod, VirtualDubMPEG2 or similar anyway.

Not sure why you would be using VDub to decode the audio anyway if your desired target is DVD. Better to just leave the audio as AC3.

[rasinton]

In VirtualDubMod, I couldn't see how to output the .wav file!

I have ac3filter_0_70b.exe installed - I think this is what was recommended.

None of this is helping and, with celtic-druid's comment, I thought I would go back to the original plan and try to sort out the root problem here!!!!!!

So, I have a DVD.

I open DVD Shrink, in Re-Author mode, and create a set of files containing just 1 of the chapters

If I play it in WInDVD, there is no sound.

I openTMPGEnc DVD Author, pick "Add DVD Video File" and specify the directory just created above. In the 'Audio to use for Selected Title' box it says "Audio 1, Dolby Digital(AC-3) 48000 Hz, 2 ch" (there is also an Audio 2 option with the same details).

Once it's added it, the information shows
and .

• Audio Input Filename: unspecified
  Audio Input format: There is no audio

Any ideas why I cannot access the audio?

[cephus]

In VirtualDubMod (older versions with the AC3 codecs), you need to go into the Streams list, click on the appropriate stream (there is probably only one) and Demux the file. Once it saves as an MP3 audio stream, you'll need to use a program like dbPowerAmp to convert it back to a WAV and you can run it through TMPGEnc as usual. VirtualDub does not handle AC3 well at all.