That audio track is hiding itself somewhere...

[jairovital]

Hi guys

That's the matter:
I received a DVD from a friend that asked me to cut some parts of the movie. I don't have DVD-player. I use PowerDVD at computer to see DVDs. But this one has no audio!!! Weird... I phoned to my friend and he told me that movie does has an audio track. Then I came back and seeked PowerDVD for audio features and I found "Cyberlink Virtual Speaker". When I set this mode I can hear audio. Bingo!

I used DVDDecrypter and ripped it to HD. Then I use DVD-Lab to demux VOBs to MPV and AC3 files. Fine. Video is NTSC[DF], 352x480, 4:3, 2250 kbps and Audio is Dolby 2/0, CH:2 and only 256 kbps. When I play AC3 file on MediaPlayer I cannot hear anything. I import it to Goldwave but it seems to be an empty file, despite it processes long time to unwrap AC3. No audio at all, once again...

I have no clue what is going on with that audio... Why I can hear it when I set "Cyberlink Virtual Speaker" at PowerDVD? How to edit and author that DVD if I cannot have a proper audio file.

Thank you folks for any suggestion

P.S.: Ironically the movie is an opera... The most important stuff is the audio itself.

[aedipuss]

you may not have an ac-3 codec installed. you could try AC3 ACM and then re-booting.

[El Heggunte]

For Windows Media Player, AC3Filter or ffdshow would be "more suitable".
MPC Homecinema has built-in splitters and decoders for both AC3 and DTS.

( P.S.: For stereo AC3, 256kbps is quite adequate. )

[jairovital]

Hi aedipuss
Hi El Heggunte

Thank you for your replies and suggestions. But I think we didn't get the point yet. It is because I have K-Lite Codec Pack installed (latest version) and it does bring AC3/ACM and ffdshow stuffs.

I've also tryed your suggestion with MediaPlayerClassic HomeCinema to play the joined VOB file. No sound... I checked options and built-in audio switcher filter was enabled...

No audio yet... Let's think a little more.

[hech54]

Download and install GSpot.
Put the original disc in your drive.
Explore the disc.
Right click on a VOB
Open with GSpot.
Post a screenshot here.

[jairovital]

Hi hech54

I alredy have GSpot.
Below is a screenshot of first VOB.


[Attachment 2393 - Click to enlarge]

On the bottom pane (Proposed codec solution and test), Audio Button 2 gave me the screenshot above. There is a line where we can see:
"failed to connect Output pin 0x0987c344("AC3") on MMPEG-2 (demultiplexer to input pin 0x08bce994("Stream1") on filter 0x02b7a89c("Gretech Audio Filter"). ConnectDirect() failed. Error 0x080040207. [unknow]"
(screenshot show just the begin of that line.

When I press MS A/V button 1, the audio line is:
"(Src)-->>--(A)-->[Demultiplexer MPEG-2]>--(B)-->[ffdshow Audio Decoder]>--(C)-->[Default DirectSound Device]

If you need more info, let me know. Anything to fix that anoying of no audio thing.

Tkx

[hech54]

Screenshot didn't work.
So I'm guessing that GSpot could also NOT determine the audio characteristics?

[jairovital]

Screenshot didn't work? Could you see the screenshot? I don't understand what you mean...

Yes, GSpot could determine audio characteristics. Below infos from Audio Panel (you can see at screenshot of my previous post):
Codec: AC3, Constant Bit Rate (CBR)
Info 0xbd[0x80]: 48000Hz 256 kb/s, stereo 2/0
Codec Installed

When I realted that error, I could see that is only regards to Gretech Audio Filter. As you can see at screenshot, ffdshow, Cyberlink Audio Decoder, Nero Digital Audio Decoder and MainConcept MPEG Audio Decoder all of them did render OK.

If you want more screenshots of other tools, I'll get them.

Tkx

[jimdagys]

Here is the screenshot that I get from your screenshot. I can't see any of your video information in this screenshot.

[jairovital]

Thank you jimdagys. I don't know what happend with my screenshot because at my computer Firefox open another tab and show correctly that JPG image.

Now I change navigator to IE and try sending again.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

[aedipuss]

looks like the k-lite codec pack borked another system. the problem is the "gretech audio filter" whatever that is.

[filmboss80]

The problem is not that you don't have the proper codec installed. The problem is too many conflicting codecs -- a typical problem with codec packs. This is why a lot of us here warn against loading codec packs. Unless you know what you're doing, they can really bite you in the rear.

[hech54]

Yep. Whichever genius told you to install the Klite codec pack?....go smack him in the head.

[jairovital]

As you guru guys had warned me, I uninstalled that damn K-Lite Pack. But first, I went to smack that little genius in the head, the same who told me to use codecs packs, just before to kick him in the ass.

Now what? Everything is the same. No sound and GSpot show the same screen.

Gretech is the name of GomLab software, owner of Gomplayer.

Thanks, folk. Even not finding my solution, you all are helping me a lot.

[AlanHK]

As you guru guys had warned me, I uninstalled that damn K-Lite Pack. But first, I went to smack that little genius in the head, the same who told me to use codecs packs, just before to kick him in the ass.

Now what? Everything is the same. No sound and GSpot show the same screen.

Gretech is the name of GomLab software, owner of Gomplayer.

Thanks, folk. Even not finding my solution, you all are helping me a lot.

No, these guys aren't helping you.
They told you to uninstall something that was working, leaving the things that aren't working.
Whenever they see "K-lite" they just immediately, with no evidence, assert it must be the problem.

looks like the k-lite codec pack borked another system. the problem is the "gretech audio filter" whatever that is.

Right. Even though It isn't part of K-Lite, it must be to blame. Because it's evil.
http://www.codecsdownload.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm lists all the codecs included in K-Lite. Not including "Gretech".
In fact, I think only one of the audio codecs listed in your GSpot shot was included in K-Lite -- ffdshow, which is working (or maybe not now if you uninstalled it). The others came from sundry other players you have.

The real problem appears to be that Gom has its own set of codecs and these have taken over, and don't work on AC3.
K-Lite has a codec tweak tool that lets you activate or deactivate any installed codec. That could probably fix this.

Audio is Dolby 2/0, CH:2 and only 256 kbps.

"Only 256k"? That's pretty good unless you're a real audiophile, You can't get much better unless you want lossless.

As for converting, have you tried Audacity? (Latest beta, and include the ffmpeg filters.) That can import and process just about anything, just point it to the VOBs.

Though if you are making a new video, the best quality is not to convert at all and stick with AC3 (or expand to Wave if you have space).

[jairovital]

Hi AlanHK

Ok, Ok... You won. I reinstalled K-Lite 5.90 with default options. After that I uninstalled Gomplayer from the system. No problem because I have image file created with Ghost to retrieve all my olds settings when things goes wrong. Then, let's scramble my system for real.

I run GSpot again and that error had gone, that one with Gretech Audio filter. See new screenshot below:

If you need more info, let me know. I'll get it. I have to fix this problem and understand a little more about that. Nonsense -> PowerDVD can run sounds and nobody else can do it...

[jairovital]

I forgot to say: I used Audacity 1.2.6 (stable version). When I try to open VOB file it begins to do it and show progress bar.

After few seconds, progress bar stops and ETA starts to increase, showing that something is stopped. I tryed with all VOBs of the movie and got the same result.

I also tryed DGIndex but AC3 that came from its demux got the screenshot below (as you can see, too many problems):

[aedipuss]

about now if that was my computer it would be completely re-formatted and windows re-installed. i wouldn't put up with the mess codec packs make. never needed or used one. only install codecs individually on an as needed basis.

[Wolfen]

I agree only install the codecs you need but if I were you I'd just try to uninstall all codecs you can find maybe with a codecs registry editor like https://www.videohelp.com/tools/InstalledCodec . For ac3 I would install ac3filter https://www.videohelp.com/tools/ac3_filter I use version 1.46 which I find is the most stable but use the one for your system.

[jairovital]

Hi folks. That's me again fighting with the "no solution matter".

Now I bring to all of you that want to get in hands a piece of the problematic movie.

First I used Womble MPEG Video Wizar and cut a small part of the movie. Then I saved with default options to automatic mpeg-2 strem. I tested it with PowerDVD and checked the same behaviour: no sound when default "stereo" Output Mode is set, BUT WITH SOUND when "Cyberlink Virtual Speaker" Output Mode is set.

This piece of the movie has no sound using any of my players here, MPClassic, MPC-HomeCinema, MediaPlayer, Gomplayer, BS-Player,...

Only sound with PowerDVD "Virtual Speaker" setted.

Remembering what I need, it is just a valid ac3, ou wav file to author that DVD I refered at the beggining of the topic.

I'll listen your comments...

P.S.: I tryed to upload a 2.4 Mb mpg file here, but upload page told me "invalid file" after upload process. Repeated and "invalid file" again.

So I put it in 4shared. It is just 2.4 Mb file. Please go to:

http://www.4shared.com/video/BKC07Ri6/test.html

[manono]

Plays fine for me using MPC HC or VLC player. Nasty looking video, though.

Also, either demuxed to AC3 or decoded to WAV by DGIndex, the resulting audio plays fine.

[AlanHK]

I forgot to say: I used Audacity 1.2.6 (stable version). When I try to open VOB file it begins to do it and show progress bar.

I don't know if 1.2.6 can open AC3. The Beta (1.3.x) is much more advanced and can open and play the audio directly from the MPEG.

Your mpeg plays fine for me, in MPC.
Below are 1) my Gspot report of your file and 2) GraphStudio rendering the same file (you should find this under "Tools" in the K-Lite section of your start menu; or install it separately).

That shows that it's just using ffdshow for the AC3.

If you don't get that, try opening "ffdshow audio decoder", a config tool which you should find also in your start menu, and then "DirectShow control" and see the "merit" slider. Mine is on "ffdshow default". If that's what you have already, try pushing it up to the max, "very high". Then it should be the preferred decoder in MPC and most players.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what you are ultimately trying to do.
Do you want to make a new DVD, or make a video file playable on a PC, or just an audio file -- in what format?

You can edit the video mpg in Womble without any further loss of quality. The mpeg should be playable as-is (for most people), or you can reauthor it to DVD. Or convert to AVI, say, to make it more playable on a PC and smaller.
(The video quality is crap, you could make a whole other thread about how to improve it.)

[aedipuss]

plays fine here. 2.4 mb should have uploaded here fine. the ac-3 file is here.

[jairovital]

Hi folks

I think it is time to finish this thread. All of you gave me enough information and now I am sure I have a messed codec configuration system. Sad.

Now, the good news:

As AlanHK said, I can edit the video mpg in Womble without any further loss of quality. The mpeg should be playable as-is. I made a test with that test.mpg file and use DVD-Lab to author a new DVD. It worked and PowerDVD played the sound (even I have to admit, using that virtual speaker thing). It's enough. My friend needs a DVD, not codec configuration at all.

Explaining some stuff:
aedipuss, thank you for your test.ac3 file. I didn't understand why upload page here didn't receive my mpeg file. I tryed twice and got two "no"s...

Manono, agree with nasty looking video. Sorry. It is because my friend is an old collector and it is a part of a very rare opera called Mignon, captured from VHS tape. For that people, it is a piece of fine art.

AlanHK, thank you for your screenshots. I installed Audacity 1.3 Beta with ffmpeg plugin. No luck. It gave me a mute file. I try pushing up ffdshow audio slider to the max, "very high". Nothing changed... I will remake my whole system and take some advices: install codecs with caution.

Wolfen, I tryed InstalledCodec but it showed up some erros. Maybe that mess I made with the system.

And finally, all of you, I have to say a big thanks.

P.S.:
If one of you know a good manner to improve that crap video, let me know too. Maybe Vegas video filters? Maybe AviSynth scripts?

[davexnet]

Perhaps you should try Filmerit, and see what errors it finds with your directshow filters.

[jairovital]

davexnet, do you know how to improve video quality without need to convert to AVI? I know how to use Avisynth scripts and Vegas to aplly some nice filters.

The problem is that both requires AVI source files... If I convert VOB files to AVI without compression the output become huge, enourmous. If I use compress, the video become worst (source is crap, then compress goes to worst).

Thank you for your suggestion of filmerit. Great tool!

[davexnet]

Are you talking about re-encoding the source to the same format and applying some filters?
There are experts on this forum with far more experience in Avisynth and it's filters that I have,
so I'm not going to advise on that.
However, perhaps something like Avidemux could help, although I've never used it for this purpose.
I'll take a look at your short clip again. What kind of improvement do you have in mind?

[manono]

The problem is that both requires AVI source files...

Not true at all. AviSynth can use about anything as a source. If your source is a DVD, make a D2V project file using DGIndex, load the DGDecode.dll and open your D2V using MPEG2Source. Read the docs included in the DGMPEGDec package for the specifics.

[jairovital]

Thanks manono. I have to learn more about DGIndex. I will try to looks better that test.mpg I posted above. If all goes OK, I will apply to the whole opera Mignon.

[lordsmurf]

Uninstall the codec packs.
The use DXMAN to remove the crap codecs that the uninstaller missed.

And never use a codec pack again.