VOB to MPG using TMPGEnc - ACM error

[marknyc5]

I'd like to frameserve VOB files from VirtualDubMod to TMPGEnc to create an MPEG with video and audio, but I keep getting the dreaded audio error:

"The error occurred when ACM was initialized"

How can I get TMPGEnc to decode the audio portion of a VOB along with the video? I have all the codecs installed, according to gspot. I'd rather not have to do two passes or demuxing, etc.

Thanks,

Mark

[guns1inger]

Use VOB2MPG and it will extract the audio and video (already in mpg form) for you. It will save you lots of time, and not cost you in a quality hit for needlessly re-encoding

[marknyc5]

Thanks (again) for this. I actually have a few programs that can convert VOB to MPEG, but I wanted to frameserve with VirtualDub so I could use some of its filters. Is there any way to get TMPGEnc to accept audio from a VOB?

[guns1inger]

Try installing AC3 ACM Decoder.

The best option, if you are heading to DVD, is to encode the video seperately, demux the audio, then put it all back together when authoring.

[marknyc5]

Installed it, but no change. Does it matter which version of TMP and VD I am using?

I'm editing the mpeg, so I need to convert the VOB to an MPEG with audio and video, using VD filters.

Thanks,

Mark

[guns1inger]

What dopes g-spot 2.60 actually say about the video ?

Posting a screenshot would help.

[marknyc5]

It says all the codecs are installed - or am I missing something?

(Click on the picture below to see it full size.)

[jagabo]

In VirtualDubMod, at the Open Video File dialog, checkmark Popup Extended Open Options. After selecting the VOB file you will get an options dialog. Checkmark the Allow Direct Audio Stream Copy option. VirtualDubMod will now Direct Stream Copy the AC3 audio.

[marknyc5]

When I get the Open Video File dialog, I have two options: "Ask for extended options after this dialog" and "Automatically load linked segments". If I choose the VOB file (there's only one) and check the extended options box, I get a box with only these options: Frame decoding: I- frames only, I- and P- frames only, All frames (I/P/B).

I don't see any audio options. I'm using 1.5.10, build 2540 - is that the right version?

Thanks,

Mark

[jagabo]

Sorry, my mistake. I was using a slightly older version of VirtualDubMod. The version you are using automatically uses Direct Stream Copy on MPEG files with AC3.

As I recall the AC3 ACM filter that guns1inger recommended works for VirtualDubMod to TMPGEnc frameserving. I use ffdshow as the AC3 decoder and that worked with both the VirtualDubMod version I was using and the one you have (I have that one installed too). Have you tried setting the AC3 audio stream in VirtualDubMod to Full Processing mode to force the decoding to happen within VirtualDubMod rather than in TMPGEnc (which can be more finicky)?

[marknyc5]

Thanks for checking in again.

Clicked on Streams > stream list and then the MPEG audio stream (AC3) and chose Full Processind Mode. No effect.

When I installed AC3 ACM, all I did was right-click on the AC3ACM.inf file and choose install - is that all that is needed to get it to work with VDub?

I had ffdshow installed, too, but I downloaded and installed the latest version - how do I make sure it is working with VDub?

[jagabo]

Installing AC3 ACM via right click on the INF file is correct. I don't remember doing anything else, but I haven't used it in a long time. Maybe it needs to be configured to downmix to stereo?

I'm pretty sure Ffdshow doesn't enable the AC3 decoder by default. Use Start -> All Programs -> ffdshow -> Audio Decoder Configuration. Right click on Codecs at the top of the left pane. Look for AC3 in the right pane and use the pulldown to select liba52.