5.1 Audio from Sony Handycam

WolfpacKMars2 wrote on 6/7/2009, 3:19 PM

I'm having trouble getting my 5.1 audio imported into my DVD project. The source files are MPG2 video files created from my Sony Handycam HDD, which records 5.1 audio and the video files it generates are supposed to be DVD-Ready without any further processing.

However, when I try to import my video file into DVD Architect (Pro 5.0b trial), the audio is not imported. When I tried to add the audio track using the same video file, it still wouldn't import audio. When I highlight the video file in the "Open Media" window, the Audio: line is blank.

When I open the same video in Vegas, I get all 5.1 audio tracks. If I then export the video from Vegas as a DVD NTSC file, it downsamples the audio to 2 channel stereo. At this point, I can import the audio (Stereo only). However, DVDA is supposed to support 5.1 audio... soooo.... what am I doing wrong here?

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:18 PM

Thanks for providing some basic information about the files you are trying to import.
Most new users think we are clairvoyant so they don't need bother to provide any details.

Since I don't own a Sony HDD camera, can you tell us what the file extension you are trying to import is?

Also, Vegas provides some convenient information. If you will right-click on the media event, go to Properties, and click the General tab, there is lots of useful information that will help in leading you to a solution if you will take the time to post it here. There is also a free utility called MediaInfo that gives a ton of information about your files. Thanks.

Steve Mann wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:31 PM

You are *much* better off to bring the video into Vegas to make the audio and video files for the DVD. You have complete control of the parameters rather than letting DVDA do it for you. If DVDA tells you that it needs to recompress, then your quality will take a hit.

WolfpacKMars2 wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:32 PM

I can do you one better:

General
Name: M2U00092.MPG
Folder: E:\Media\Videos\01 - Camera Video Import\Handycam Source Files\Original Files
Type: MainConcept MPEG-2
Size: 184.48 MB (188,907,520 bytes)
Created: Sunday, June 07, 2009, 10:13:13 AM
Modified: Saturday, March 22, 2008, 1:54:42 PM
Accessed: Sunday, June 07, 2009, 10:13:13 AM
Attributes: Archive

Streams
Video: 00:04:32.672, 29.970 fps interlaced, 720x480x32, MPEG-2
Audio 1: 00:04:32.736, 48,000 Hz, 5.1 Surround (stereo downmix), Dolby AC-3
Audio 2: 00:04:32.736, 48,000 Hz, 5.1 Surround, Dolby AC-3

ACID information
ACID chunk: no
Stretch chunk: no
Stretch list: no
Stretch info2: no
Beat markers: no
Detected beats: no

Other metadata
Regions/markers: no
Command markers: no

Media manager
Media tags: no

Plug-In
Name: mcplug.dll
Folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Sony\Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\mcplug
Format: MainConcept MPEG-2
Version: Version 2.0 (Build 5631)
Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

This is the file properties as given to me by Sony Vegas.

musicvid10 wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:36 PM

Hint #1: From the information you have provided, I suspect that renaming your file to .vob may allow it to be opened directly in DVDA with the audio intact.

Hint #2: AC-3 5.1 audio previews only as stereo on the DVDA timeline, but if your DVDA Project Properties are properly set for 5.1 audio, it will prepare and burn properly as 5.1.

You are awesome at providing needed information!

WolfpacKMars2 wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:39 PM

Here is the MediaInfo output:

General
Complete name : E:\Media\Videos\01 - Camera Video Import\Handycam Source Files\Original Files\M2U00092.MPG
Format : MPEG-PS
File size : 180 MiB
Duration : 4mn 32s
Overall bit rate : 5 542 Kbps

Video
ID : 224 (0xE0)
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : Main@Main
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Duration : 4mn 32s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 4 874 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 9 100 Kbps
Width : 720 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Interlaced
Scan order : Top Field First
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.471
Stream size : 158 MiB (88%)

Audio
ID : 128 (0x80)
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Duration : 4mn 32s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Video delay : -66ms
Stream size : 14.6 MiB (8%)

musicvid10 wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:43 PM

See above and let me know if it works.

WolfpacKMars2 wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:46 PM

Musicvid: You are awesome at helping! Thanks!!

You are quite right - converting to VOB allowed the audio to be imported from the source file (not sure why DVDA couldn't recognize it in the MPG file... but this will work)

Is there a way I can verify that the audio imported is 5.1 without actually having to play it on a 5.1 stereo? As you said, only 2 channels are displayed in DVDA.

The camera I have is a few years old - its a 40gb HDD model DCR-S200. I bought it because it created DVD compliant video files that could be copied straight to PC. My previous camcorder was a Hi-8 which only got used once. Analog import is for the birds! At that time a 1 hour video took 3 hours to import (Import by playing back 1hr, Re-encode for DVD format 1hr, encode DVD in program 1hr). It's not high def, but not many people who I distribute my videos to have HD TVs yet anyways.

musicvid10 wrote on 6/7/2009, 4:58 PM

"not sure why DVDA couldn't recognize it in the MPG file... but this will work'

It's a little (bug / feature?) that has been around for some time, a byproduct I surmise of the original licensing agreement with Dolby.

Is there a way I can verify that the audio imported is 5.1 without actually having to play it on a 5.1 stereo?

Yes. Prepare the DVDA project, and drag one of the newly-created .vob files into a 5.1 Surround Project in Vegas. All the audio tracks should show up.

You have found a solution to your issue because you provided detailed information. There have been two others in recent weeks with the same issue ( I suspect) who weren't told the trick because they got snotty and thought they didn't need to provide any details. Hope they both see this post as an example of how it works.

Welcome to the forums!

WolfpacKMars2 wrote on 6/7/2009, 5:49 PM

Thanks!
Indeed, a simple solution to what should be a simple problem :)

It does indeed work - reimported the output video file into Vegas and it contains all video tracks. Additionally, rendering was very fast (because the file didn't need to be resampled in any way).

musicvid10 wrote on 6/7/2009, 5:52 PM

[i]"Additionally, rendering was very fast (because the file didn't need to be resampled in any way)."

Yes, this should be true unless the beginning file size is greater than about 4.2GB.