Suddenly can't read MP3 audio ?!?

[joeatsalot]

I'm converting some .avi files to VCDs to play on the tv. It's been working fine, but now I've got some more files that don't work.

The problem is, VirtualDub says "No audio decompressor could be found to decompress the source audio format (source format tag: 0055)". However, it read other .avi files with the same audio format fine, and it still does read those fine. Format 0x55 is mp3, which shouldn't be a problem I thought, and AVIcodec shows the audio format of the readable and non-readable files as being exactly the same.

Both types of .avi file play in Videolan player, and show as using the exact same audio and video codecs. (audio = "mpga") Media Player can play the .avi files which VirtualDub can read, but it can't play the video of the ones VirtualDub can't read, and plays the audio with regular glitches every 2s or so.

Apart from what came with windows, I have DivX, Xvid and AC3 codecs installed.

Are my .avi files fuXXored? But Videolan can play them. Can anybody suggest what the problem might be?

[Baldrick]

try extract the audio to wav with goldwave,avi2wav. use the wav in virtualdub or the vcd encoder you are using.

or try our hidden forum search feature and search for 0055 for other tips.

[kschang]

According to GSpot, 0x55 is Fraunhoffer MP3 Decoder (the original), ACM audio filter, handled through Quartz.dll, whichis a part of DirectShow.

So maybe reinstall DirectX?

[kschang]

Correction... Quartz.dll is just a passthru. There's an actual filter called L3CodecX.ax where X is a letter. Beware that some of these are licensed MS versions, and some of these are hacked warez versions.

[joeatsalot]

try extract the audio to wav with goldwave,avi2wav. use the wav in virtualdub or the vcd encoder you are using.

or try our hidden forum search feature and search for 0055 for other tips.

Yes, I was thinking of posting to ask if the forum has a search function...

Strangely, avi2wav produced a suspiciously small .wav output that didn't act like a .wav... then I looked on the avi2wav website:

"For formats that cannot be detected, AVI to WAV will also create correct audio file using original format from AVI. "

So it cheekily gives you the original audio format with whatever extension you ask for, hoping you won't notice. Ayayai...

Thanks for the tips - I'll try GoldWave now.

[joeatsalot]

Wow, GoldWave works perfectly, and has a wonderful batch mode too. Though it's taking its time - hopefully cause it uses a hi-fi method.

Thanks!!!

[KneeRow]

demmit i thought i;d be smart and I used Goldwave to adjust for the diffrent audio and video streams length ... that was unnecessary. Do as Baldrick says:
1 open the avi in Goldwave,
2. save as WAV
3. merge the avi with the WAV in Vdub.
Apperently, you don't even need to Demux the video which would have resulted in a mute video.
With Vdub, it seems to overwrite the VBR audio with the WAV.
Set the Video on Direct processing (or else it takes 45 mins) and Audio on Full process and on a compression (or else you'd have a file comprised of 300 mb video and 450 mb audio.)

But i guess you already knew that.