Problems creating a 'compilation' DVD!

[rasinton]

Apologies, but, I've tried to get help on this before and am still struggling.

What I am trying to do is use DVD Author to create a DVD made up of tracks from various sources (i.e. downloaded, multiple DVDs)

The problem I am having is with the tracks from existing DVDs and I am losing the sound. I have lost track of the things I've tried so am starting from scratch again!

Here's what I've just tried.....
1) Use DVD Decrypter, in File mode to rip the DVD onto my HDD
2) Use VobEdit to Demux one of the .VOB files into AC-3 Audio and Video files
3) Use TMPGEnc Pro, MPEG Tools to Multiplex the .m2v and .ac3 files into a .mpg file (MPEG-1)
4) Use DVD Author to select the .mpg file
This tells me that the 'Combined bitrate of the clip exceeds upper limit of standard DVD'
The video is 9800 and audio is 1538, which is greater than the max of 9848

All I want to do is get a file that I can use in DVD Author - that's not too much to ask, surely?!?!?!??!?!

I am open to suggestions for other (hopefully, simpler) methods of achieving this!

[Forum Troll]

I've got that same message lots of times in the past. I've always just ignored it, and all the discs have played perfectly.

[mpack]

The video is 9800 and audio is 1538, which is greater than the max of 9848

I don't know what you are doing wrong, but neither of those numbers sounds right, particularly the audio: 1538kbps is pretty much what you would expect for uncompressed LPCM, and about ten times what you might expect from an AC3. Yet you say this is an AC3?

[thecoalman]

192kbps is sufficient for AC3.

[rasinton]

OK, I've made 'some' progress I think!!!!!

I used AutoGK and have created an .avi version of a track ripped from the DVD (using DVD DeCrypter).

If I examine the file, in various programs, to see what the audio is....

AVICodec reports
17.102 MB, 448 Kbps, 48000 Hz, 2 channels, 0x2000 = AC-3 ACM Decompressor, Supported

VideoInspector reports
Number of channels: 2
Sample Rate: 48000 Hz
BitRate: 448 Kbps
Codec: ATSC/A-52 Dolby AC3

GSpot reports
Name: ac3 (0x2000) Dolby Laboratories, Inc
Stat: 4 compatible codecs installed
BitRate: 448 kb/s (224/ch, stereo) CBR
Fs: 48000 Hz

I tried TMGEnc Pro to split into 2 files and then DVD Author - still no sound

I tried VirtualDubMod to get a .wav file and that wouldn't load into DVD Author - said it was the wrong type.

So, the problem now boils down to getting the .avi file into a form that can be burned to DVD. Any ideas?

[rasinton]

Phew, finally done it!!!!!

The final piece of the jigsaw was to use ac3Tool to convert the ac3 audio into a .wav file.

So, the final sequence was....

1) Use DVD Decrypter to rip the DVD onto the HDD
2) Use ac3Tool to extract the ac3 from the .vob and then convert to a .wav file
3) Use AutoGK to convert the ripped files into a .avi file
4) Use TMPGEnc Pro to demux the .avi file into .m2v and .wav files (ignore the .wav)
5) Use DVD Author to combine the .wav file (from ac3Tool) with the .w2v file (from TMPGEnc) and create the VIDEO_TS directory ready for burning

I feel there has to be a simpler way, but, this did work!!!!

[andydd]

Why convert the ac3 to a wav file ?. Wav's are huge compared to ac3 and will use up a lot of space !

[rasinton]

Why convert the ac3 to a wav file ?. Wav's are huge compared to ac3 and will use up a lot of space !

If I use the .ac3 file, in DVD Author, I get a DVD with no sound!!!!!!!!

That's what I've been struggling with for the past few weeks

[sacajaweeda]

Do you have the AC3 dompressor installed on your system? Are you actually burning a disc that won't play in a set top unit with audio or are you just not getting sound when previewing the files locally on your PC.

Just checking the obvious stuff...

[rasinton]

Do you have the AC3 dompressor installed on your system? Are you actually burning a disc that won't play in a set top unit with audio or are you just not getting sound when previewing the files locally on your PC.

Just checking the obvious stuff...

Thanks!

I have the following installed....
"AC3Filter v0.70b - Copywright(C) 2002 by Vigovsky Alexander"

It is both playback in WinDVD and burned discs that have the problem (I have wated quite a few trying things out!)

Any suggestions gratefully received!