out of sync

[cL0N31]

using tmgenc i'm trying to convert avi to vcd mpeg... avi has the ac3 audio stream... setting my avi file as input video and input audio streams i get mpg with out of sync... using syncview i defined the delay for audio... i loaded my avi to virtualdub and saved as wav... headac3he refuses to load this wav file saying that the source file is invalid... what's to be done?

[kschang]

Did you try using BeSweet to convert AC3 to MP3 CBR? You may be able to get them in sync by doing it separately. Then you can mux them back.

[SDeC]

If you are trying to preserve surround sound, then your plan is correct. The problem is that HeadAC3he relies too much on the file extension. The fix is simple: rename the demuxed audio stream as .AC3 (not .WAV).

Specifically, use VirtualDub to demux the AC3 stream 'as-is' (don't apply any decompression or conversoin). Then rename the audio file by changing the .WAV extension to .AC3.

Next, load the AC3 file into HeadAC3he to create a two-channel WAV file (uncompressed PCM). [Downmix 5.1 to Pro-logic surround, if you want a VCD with surround effects.]

Then use the AVI (preferrably a stripped-down version without the audio stream) and the new WAV file in SyncView to determine the best alignment setting.

Finally, feed the AVI and WAV files into the MPEG encoder to produce your VCD.

- SD

[kschang]

But he's converting to VCD, which only takes stereo...

[SDeC]

But he's converting to VCD, which only takes stereo...

Dolby Pro-Logic (surround) is derived from a stereo track. Many VCDs feature surround sound... so if you're converting a 5.1 program to VCD, you should certainly take maximum advantage of the source.

Look into this for your next VCD project

- SD

[cL0N31]

Did you try using BeSweet to convert AC3 to MP3 CBR? You may be able to get them in sync by doing it separately. Then you can mux them back.

i don't trust mp3 as it's by definition a compressed low-quality format

If you are trying to preserve surround sound, then your plan is correct. The problem is that HeadAC3he relies too much on the file extension. The fix is simple: rename the demuxed audio stream as .AC3 (not .WAV).

Specifically, use VirtualDub to demux the AC3 stream 'as-is' (don't apply any decompression or conversoin). Then rename the audio file by changing the .WAV extension to .AC3.

Next, load the AC3 file into HeadAC3he to create a two-channel WAV file (uncompressed PCM). [Downmix 5.1 to Pro-logic surround, if you want a VCD with surround effects.]

Then use the AVI (preferrably a stripped-down version without the audio stream) and the new WAV file in SyncView to determine the best alignment setting.

Finally, feed the AVI and WAV files into the MPEG encoder to produce your VCD.

- SD

ok i did the following: demuxed my ac3 stream using virtualdubmod... loaded it into headac3he... it said
'Warning:
Source file's last frame incomplete
or corrupt stream'
i tried to make wav out of it anyway but after a wjile i got message:
'Bad Syncword at frame 34796! The AC3 stream is probably corrupt.
...done
Closing I/O thread ...done
Freeing buffer memory ...done

Process aborted!'

i'll try virtualdub's wav file now

[cL0N31]

same thing... it seems that my ac3 stream is corrupt... any suggestions?

[cL0N31]

it plays fine through the whole movie though

[SDeC]

'Warning:
Source file's last frame incomplete
or corrupt stream'

I run into this message frequently, but it has never bothered my projects.

The other message you describe is one I have not run into. You might try different--but similar--movie files and check that you are not routinely getting 'syncword' errors. If not, then you are probably correct about that particular AC3 stream being corrupt.

- SD

[cL0N31]

other ones work smooth... how to fix this one?

[j4gg3rr]

Try using a basic AVISynth script to serve to TMPGenc.
Should keep it in sync.