What's wrong with ac3fix?!!

[JohnnyWadd]

Hey, guys. Am I the only one having problems with ac3fix? For some reason, when I try to run the executable, the command prompt window only flashes for a split second before closing.

Any idea what the heck is going on?! I tried this on two different computers and got the same result. I'm baffled.

Any help is greatly appreciated
Jon

[Skith]

ac3fix is a command line program, it does not have a GUI. If you check the tools section, I am pretty sure there is another tool that is a GUI for ac3fix. You could also learn how to use the command line to run the program.

The command prompt window disapears because no input/output was specified.

[johns0]

Just click on the link you posted and you will find the gui version right away.

[guns1inger]

start->run->type cmd ->OK
cd to the folder you have ac3fix installed in. Type ac3fix and it will run without closing the window.

Or get the gui

[JohnnyWadd]

I haven't used a DOS prompt window since high school, which was quite some time ago. So, bear with me, as I'm a bit rusty.

Anyway, I opened the DOS window by typing cmd in the Run box. Then, I changed directories to find ac3fix. I got the following:

ac3fix V0.3

Removes bad frames from .AC3 files
Usage: ac3fix <infile> <outfile>
Error level returned:
0: No bad frames found
1: One or more bad frames found and removed
2: Error in execution

Anyway, what I'm trying to do is eliminate the delay from an audio file that I demuxed from a PAL to NTSC conversion that I'm working on. I typed in the following command:

ac3fix c:\Audio.ac3 c:\Fixed_Audio.fixed.ac3

Here's what ac3fix said to me:

Starting. Input file is c:\Audio.ac3, output file is c:\Fixed_Audio.fixed.ac3
Frame length is 1792
Checking frame 183198: OK (It counted up to this number, checking every frame along the way)
Finished. No bad frames encountered

It kicked out a file called Fixed_Audio.fixed.ac3 as expected, but I suspect that file is identical to the input file. How can I check to see if the 16ms delay has been corrected? If it hasn't, how do I get rid of this delay?

I just want to be able to watch this Australian DVD that I bought here in the States. Why does it have to be this damned complicated?!

Thanks for your help, fellas!!
Jon

[celtic_druid]

What you want is AC3 Delay corrector, not AC3 fix. You can run fc Audio.ac3 Fixed_Audio.fixed.ac3 to see if they are identical.

[JohnnyWadd]

Groovy. Thanks celtic!! I'm eliminating the delay from my audio file even as we speak with ac3 Delay Corrector. Appreciate the help.

Got another question... in regards to delay values, I assume "ms" means "milliseconds". Is this correct? If so, that's not much. Does it really make a noticable difference correcting 16 ms?

In fact, why does the audio file even need to be corrected at all? Is it because the video file was altered with TMPGEnc (and subsequently DGPulldown)?

Thanks for your help, guys!!
Jon