Sony Vegas 9 can't play audio of my AVI file!

[darkdestiny]

I've just noticed this problem while importing my videos. For every single video, there will always be the same message in the Audio section (it's in the Explorer tab): Stream attributes could not be determined.

I've checked online for some answers, but it appears there's no definite solution. Most of the problems involve DivX (I am using XviD for my video), as well as K-Lite Codec Pack (which I use) as the possible cause of the problem. But nothing's definite yet, so I don't want to touch anything in case something goes wrong.

Just a bit of information about some of my videos.

Video Codec: XviD MPEG-4
Video Size: 1280x720
FPS: Around 25.000 or 29.970fps
Audio Codec: MP3

The clips were originally MP4 format, so I converted them to AVI to make it edit-friendly in Vegas 9 Platinum.

If anyone got a solution, please post it here. Thanks!

[poisondeathray]

I would avoid the conversion to AVI if you could, that is lossy, assuming your original wasn't already xvid

What were the specs of your original file (use mediaifo view=>text)?

If you install lamemp3acm I think it should be able to decode mp3. Alternatively instead of converting to mp3, you can convert to wav and import the audio as a separate track

[darkdestiny]

Will try converting to WAV. But will that affect the audio after that?

Anyways attached is the analysis. Of course, it's a MP4 H.264/X.264 format, that's why I have to convert it (it's not too editing-friendly for Vegas).

P.S. What other formats/codec can I convert to make it editable in Vegas 9?


mediainfoanalysis.txt

[poisondeathray]

Use tsmuxer to re-wrap into .m2ts transport stream. This way you lose no quality, no time spend re-encoding, and vegas should be able to edit it.

EDIT: you have bigger issues, the video is VFR (variable frame rate). You will not be able to edit it without sync issues, or first converting it to CFR (constant frame rate)

When you converted to xvid/mp3, was that file in sync? Make sure you check throughout the video. And how did you do the conversion?

[darkdestiny]

Yes, I've checked a couple files & the audio-video sync seems OK. Besides, I've checked with Windows Movie Maker (XP ver.) & the audio appears fine as well. So I don't think there's any issues about the VFR during the conversion.

Do I use the tsmuxer on the original or the AVI file? if the latter, do I have to convert?

P.S. I don't know if Mac users are experiencing slowdown issues with Vegas when using MP4 files, but every time I play one the video lags like crazy.

[lowellriggsiam]

When "Stream attributes could not be determined" there are two methods that seem to work well. The first would be to try and change the association by using fourcc setting it to "divx" this is primarily when the video attributes cannot be determined, when the audio attributes cannot be determined recode the audio using virtualdub, or strip the audio by saving it as "filename.wav" from virtualdub.

[poisondeathray]

use tsmuxer on the original file, otherwise you lose quality

vegas (all NLE's) adds significant overhead, so it will be slower than playing a file in a media player

h.264 is difficult to edit in real time in a NLE. You need a quad core, preferrably overclocked. If it's unbearable, or you don't have access to a faster computer, you may have to suffer with editing the conversion

[darkdestiny]

I don't have Quad core in my laptop, but I'm not too sure for my computer. But I think likely I'll be converting since a friend of mine recommend it. Will update later.

Thanks for the suggestion of the tsmuxer.

EDIT: Nope, my computer isn't either. Only have Pentium.

[darkdestiny]

@poisondeathray: Any steps on how to exactly re-wrap the original videos using tsmuxer?

Anyways having a little problem. Some of my files seem to be unreadable by the software. All have the same format & codec (x264, AAC, .mp4). Any idea what might be the reason?

[poisondeathray]

Unreadable by what software? tsmuxer or vegas platinum?

What is the exact error message?

Are you using version tsmuxer 1.10.6? Just push the add button, select your .mp4, hit the .m2ts radio button, press start muxing

I just tried on a couple similar spec videos as the mediainfo you posted, and it works fine for me in tsmuxer. I don't have vegas platinum to test, but it works on pro, and it worked for another user in the past on platinum with almost the exact same question you had.

It might be the VFR causing issues. You can try unwrapping to elementary streams with yamb, then re-wrap with tsmuxer. You file may have sync issues but, this might be hard to determine as you computer probably has difficulty playing back the original file in realtime

If nothing works for you , I guess you can edit the lossy converted file, and just import the audio as a wav track

[darkdestiny]

double post sorry

[darkdestiny]

Firstly, it's unreadable by tsmuxer.

Secondly, the error message is:

Unsupported Format

Some tracks not recognized. This tracks was ignored. File name "zzz"

(zzz being the path of the file)

Perhaps I should post the mediainfo of those that I cannot add into tsmuxer. Of course, the one I sent was added in.

See attached.

Files 6, 9-11: tsmuxer can read the video track of each of the files. As for the rest (5, 7, 8), no track can be read.

file5.txt

file6.txt

file7.txt

file8.txt

file9.txt

file10.txt

file11.txt

[poisondeathray]

Not sure why some work.

Did you try importing the ones that did work into vegas studio platinum?

[darkdestiny]

They all work fine, except that the audio stream attributes cannot be analyzed as usual.

I'm gonna try on another computer to see if tsmuxer can work on the same files or not.

[darkdestiny]

Nope doesn't seem to work. poisondeathray didn't get the question in your last post, but my Vegas Studio Platinum froze the moment I click on the .m2ts file. Maybe my laptop is not meant for video editing?

Sony Vegas appears to be blaming my K-Lite Mega Codec Pack for the issue. Will try updating the software to the latest version to see how it works.

BTW, attempted to switch to XP Codec Pack 2.5.0 but the same AVI files don't work.

[johns0]

Uninstall k-lite crap,install ffdshow and haali media splitter.Dont install codecs packs cause they they cause more problems than solutions.

[darkdestiny]

I attempted to test drive the MP4 files with johns0's suggestion, but it didn't work either.

I suspect though, that my sound card isn't right. Most of my videos work fine, except the audio problem.

Either way I'll use YAMB to see if the problem can be resolved for good.

[darkdestiny]

Looks like you are right poisondeathray. The main problem is the VBR. This is an error message that I got from VirtualDub while attempting to edit the file for sending to Sony Creative support:

AVI: Variable bitrate (VBR) audio detected. VBR in audio is non-standard & you may encounter sync errors up to 0ms when attempting to extract WAV files or playing in some players. If there is a problem, use Full Processing mode is recommended to decompress & recompress the audio.

Perhaps yAMB is the solution to rectify the problem?

[ashguy1370]

Vegas pro 9 used to play both avi and xvid when I used XP but I just got windows 7 and I cant import them. Vegas just says that it cannot determine the video part, just the audio, I even downloaded the xvid codec, ffdshow, and divx and still nothing. WHAT HAPPENED!!!???

[darkdestiny]

Try without ffdshow ashguy. See what happens after that.

Anyways still trying to figure out the problem on my end. It ain't the VBR problem; the problem also includes my DivX files as well (yes, they are CBR). Still trying to figure out the problem, but I suspect Quicktime/iTunes might be part of the cause here.