No sound after authoring in Spruceup

[CommanderXJL]

After capturing from my DV camera into Premiere, then encoding the AVI file in TMPG with the DVD template, I then brought the MPEG2 file into Spruceup and authored the DVD. The problem is I get no sound unless I play on an Apex or the computer. Spruceup never complained about the MPEG2 file or gave me any error messages. If I demux the MPEG2 and bring the seperate files into Maestro, after authoring Maestro gives me an error I don't have a PCM or AC3 track. For home movies I would rather just use Spruce, but what do I need to do differently so I get sound on all DVD players? Do I need to use a different setting in TMPG?

[BJ_M]

you have only a mpeg audio file which isnt supported (in n. america) on all players ...

you need to convert the mpeg audio to pcm or ac3 (ac3 is the way to go)

demux the audio stream or re-render a wave file only (better idea) from premiere and encode it to ac3 with besweet .. make sure its 48khz sample rate ..

then you have a m2v video file and an ac3 file -- load both into spruceup or maestro and away you go ...

[CommanderXJL]

So there is no way to author these MPEG2 files without demuxing and converting? Why does Spruce except these files and author them and report no errors if they are no good? I notice Nero complains when I go to burn the DVD but Primo DVD doesn't.

[BJ_M]

because it is allowable to have a mpeg2 muxed file with mpeg audio and mpeg2 video stream on a dvd - in europe players this is dvd compliant , but not everywhere else .. since spruceup is used worldwide - it doesnt discriminate.

[CommanderXJL]

Do I just need besweet to encode wave to ac3 or do I need some plugin or extra app to go with it?

[BJ_M]

the stuff is on the besweet page somewhere though i believe just get the new beta of besweet and its all built in ...

[Baldrick]

I just made a wav to ac3 guide
http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=129419

[CommanderXJL]

Thanks for the guide!

[CommanderXJL]

I converted my wave files to ac3 with besweet, maestro or spruce except them but the dvd plays back real bad (freezing), as soon as I use the wave files instead to author they play fine, I keep hating besweet more every time i use it, i can see why it's free. I wish someone had a list of what DVD players will support mpeg sound, my Apex does but not my Pioneer.

[BJ_M]

besweet works fine .. did you make the files 48k ?

did you use standard ac3 encoding bit rates ? many people try too a high a bit rate for ac3 thinking it will be better (well it is better but thats besides the point) but some players dont like non standard ac3 streams ..
384 for 5:1 , 192 for 2ch

[CommanderXJL]

It's from a home video capture, I used 224 bitrate. My Apex plays it but not my Pioneer. When I use just the wave files it plays fine in both. Is 224 too high for home video capture from DV camera? And yes the ac3 track is ok I think, the preview in maestro plays it fine, and the authored DVD plays on my computer. It just doesn't play in Pioneer, what do you think? Bitrate may be the problem , I guess I better not blame besweet. Also, can't I just convert the demuxed audio file from my encoded MPEG2 file to ac3?

[CommanderXJL]

well crap. I lowered the bitrate to 192 and same thing. DVD wants to freeze in my Pioneer, but plays perfect in my Apex or computer. I'm out of ideas, and I've been authoring DVD's for over a year now

[BJ_M]

i would go with 192 and try this .. load your video asset on the time line in maestro , right click on audio time line and select matching ac3 track for video asset (from a dir on your hard drive) - > have maestro write a new ac3 file and it will load automatic on audio time line ...

go from there .

[CommanderXJL]

ya that didn't work either, I really don't get this, I wonder if just this one player in 10 would have this problem, maybe I should just buy a different player