No audio when DVD Folder is played on Netgear Digital Entertainer.

[Back2Future]

I have a Netgear Digital Entertainer Multimedia EVA8000 server. When I play a DVD folder that I've authored with DVD-Lab, there is no audio. The EVA8000 may be contributing because when the DVD folder is played with Roxio DVDMAX Player, the DVD audio plays fine. When I burn the folder to a DVD it also plays fine on my DVD player. I am also pursuing the answer in the Netgear forums but so far no one has any suggestions.

The EVA8000 is capable of playing many types of Audio and Video formats, including mpeg, mp3, VIDEO_TS folders, VOBs, *.iso and MANY other formats. The EVA8000 IS able to correctly play the mpeg file that was imported into DVD-Lab. The EVA8000 is also able to play other DVD folders that I've authored with Ulead DVD Movie Factory and ripped from other DVDs. So something about the DVD-Lab authoring seems to be making the audio unplayable. Here is info on the source mpeg file:

File Name: D:\TyVideo\Star Trek- Enterprise-08-06-07-Two Days and Two Nights.ty.mpg
File Size: 874194948 ( 0.81 GB )
Program Duration: 00:59:58.18
File Type: PS - MPEG2
Encoding: MPEG 2
Video stream Id: xE0
Encoding Dimensions: 480 x 480
Display Size: 480 x 480
Aspect Ratio: 4/3
Frame Rate: 29.97 FPS
Bit Rate: 15.000 Mbps
VBV_Buffer: 224 KB
Profile: Main/Main
Progressive: Prog or Int
Chroma: 4:2:0
Audio Format: Layer 2
Audio Stream Id: xC0
Audio Bit Rate: 192 Kbps
Audio Sampling Rate: 48000 Hz


Here's my work flow for this file:

- Extract the video stream from my DirecTiVo with TyTool. Make it an mpg file.
- Import into DVD-Lab. Allow DVD-Lab to de-mux the file.
- Create menu and add movie (audio and video). Link it up and compile. I tried both Main and alternative muxing.
- DVD-Lab warns that this is SCVD format (due to the 480x480 Encoding, I think. This is the encoding D-TV uses.)
- The actual bit rate of the video is about 1500 kbps.
- Play the DVD folder on the EVA8000

Any suggestions, where can I look for clues?

Thanks.

[guns1inger]

Interestingly, the data sheet for the device doesn't specify DVD as an allowable format, although it does support mpeg-1 and mpeg-2 video. It also doesn't list Mpeg-1 Layer-2 audio (or AC3 or DTS for that matter). You have Mpeg-1 Layer-2 audio in your DVD, so that may be your problem.

Does it play other DVDs ?

[Back2Future]

Actually, I signed up for their Beta program and I'm running a much newer version of the firmware. The version you get 'out of the box' didn't do well with the DVD layouts. (Plus a whole lot of other stuff is badly broken.) The latest beta is getting pretty good but not without its problems. This version does play DVDs and folders as I've listed.

In my EVA manual the MPEG-1 Layer-2 audio is supported. What's leading me astray is that the audio in the source mpeg file DOES play correctly on the EVA8000. BUT when I author this into a DVD with DVD-Lab, the audio no longer plays. The video is fine.

It may be something with the MPEG-1 Layer-2, because I created a DVD with AC3 and the audio plays fine. I don't know how to find out what is wrong. If I extract that source out of the DVD, the EVA can again play the audio in the mpeg file.

[guns1inger]

This is why they call it Beta.

For the moment I suggest you convert the audio to AC3 and hope they get it fixed.

[Back2Future]

Ok, here's some more tests I ran. This still shows that DVD-Lab appears to cut the DVD format in a way that confuses the EVA. I would still like to hear of some tools or info I can look at to see what's set in the compiled DVD that could give me a clue to what's happening.

As far as converting the audio to AC3. What tools would be good to do that? (hopefully it's ones I already have or can get for very low cost.)

I'm sure the EVA could be having a problem. I'd like to give Netgear a specfic scenario that shows the problem.

- Original mpeg has the specs shown above. This video does play correctly with Roxio Player and on the EVA.
- Import this file info Ulead DVD Movie factory. This compiled DVD plays correctly on Roxio and on the EVA.
- Import this file into DVD-Lab. The compiled DVD plays correctly on Roxio Player. It does NOT play correctly on EVA (no audio).
- Extract the mpeg file from the DVD-Lab DVD with VideoRedo. The extracted mpeg file Plays correctly on Roxio Player and on EVA.

This seems to conclusively show that DVD-Lab is creating a DVD that doesn't play correctly on the EVA. But the problem is subtle enough that most DVD players can handle it.

Anyone have any clues to where to look? Are there tools that can be used to examine the DVD structure in detail?

Thanks,

[guns1inger]

I would suggest you report the issue at the mediachance forums so the author is aware of it and can look into a solution

[mats.hogberg]

I think it's LordSmurf who use to point out to all us DVD-Lab fan boyz, that DVD-Lab creates somehow non std output.

/Mats