sound related problem, need codec help

[wendlle]

Hi

I am having major codec troubles, I have a few video files that won't play sound. I get an "Error downloading codec" message in Windows Media Player and also if I try to burn them to DVD there is no sound.
Using aFreeCodec i've found out that the codec needed is: MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3) but i've tried to download over half a dozen of these codecs and the file still will not play.

Can anyone recommend a codec that will work?? I'd prefer one that isn't in .rar format as I'm having trouble extracting them. I'm using XP home edition (not sure if that makes a difference) I really wanna watch these files and can't and even though I know getting frustrated won't help, I am!

[Baldrick]

HOW do you burn them to a DVD???

try play with videolan?
try install ac3filter....afreecodec could be wrong...or try identify with gspot instead.

use winrar, www.rarsoft.com, to extract rars.

[wendlle]

Thanks, I tried the codec and it still won't play sound. I got Gspot and here is what it says under Audio:

0x0055(MP3) ID'd as MPEG-1 Layer 3
It also states that I have two compatible codecs installed.
So why wouldn't it be working? Does it have something to do with settings in Windows Media Player?
BTW, I use Nero to burn.

[redwudz]

What Baldrick said. Try VLC media player. It uses it's own codecs and if it plays OK, then you have a codec problem with your installed codecs or a problem with WMP.

You might run those through VirtualDub Mod and see what it says. May be a problem with MP3 VBR audio, though the computer should play that alright. VDM may also be able to extract the audio and you could reencode it to a compatible format.

[wendlle]

OK, VLC will play the file with sound. Now what?? Sorry but i'm only new at all of this codec stuff, I don't know much about it. All I wanna do is put the files onto DVD! I had no idea that it would be so hard.

The thing that I don't get is that when I put other files that I have into Gspot or aFreeCodec they have the exact same specs as the other files that don't work, and they do work! I can burn those with audio and they play in WMP with no problems, why would some work and others not? They are all .avi files and have the same audio and video specs. I'm very confused!

[redwudz]

I would assume you have a missing or damaged MP3 codec. DxMan or Codec Sniper can check or remove them if needed.

But I would try to extract the audio first with VD Mod as a WAV file and use that to encode with, along with the original video. Here's a guide for that.

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=280779

[wendlle]

thanks a bunch. I ended up getting the sound to work on all the files that it woulnd't work on.
But Nero still won't add the sound. Anyone know of a good program that will burn multiple AVI files to DVD with good menu options??