AC3 Player?

tadpole wrote on 7/30/2003, 8:43 PM
I recently burned a DVD (using DVD-Lab)
Brought in mpv video file and a AC3 stream (which i created using Bsweet)

Disc really didn't work for some reason (xbox player - no sound, skippy video)
I reburnt another copy, this time using the original 48K mpa file (instead of the ac3 file)

Disc played fine.
So i am thinking there is something wrong with the AC3 file (or possible, the mux part of DVD lab).. Would like to start trouble shooting by examing the AC3 file i created - need to get some attributes of the AC3 files (bit rate etc) first though.

Can't seem to find an app that will give me the 'details' of the AC3.. only apps that convert to .wav, mp3 ect

Any recommendations?

Also - anyone else using DVD-lab have problems using AC3 files?
thanks

Comments

MDVid wrote on 7/30/2003, 9:44 PM
ac3tool will analyze your AC3 file, you can find it at: http://www.divax.it/programmi.asp?file=Ac3%20Tool

Also has some other neat tools. Don't know if it will tell you what you want. I have found Besweet to be 'buggy', with some of the ac3 files noncompliant.

JTH
starixiom wrote on 7/30/2003, 9:49 PM
I remember reading somewhere that DVDlab doesnt really conform to standards. It allows you to adjust a lot of variables but if you start changing bitrates and such youll end up with a noncompliant disk. Have you tried other players? SOftware or Hardware?
tadpole wrote on 7/31/2003, 3:40 AM
Heres the thing (yes i know this isn't the DVD-Lab forum, but really appreciate some help till i can aford DVD-a)

After i compile the disc with DVD-Lab (again, using mpv video stream (from mpeg demuxed by DVD-lab software) and a AC3 file (.wav file converted by Bsweet))

I can play the vob files directly on my computer with no problem.
But, when i burn it to disc and put in my player (xbox) the video slowly chokes along and no sound.

The sound file must work, since i CAN hear it when i play vob file on computer...

Could the problem be with some IFO settings created by DVD-Lab compliation ??.. ::sob:: i know nothing about IFO files.. i just wanna make DVDs that work :)

(oh, and for the record the DVD plays fine if i replace the AC3 file with PCM audio - why i don't just use PCM is cuz i NEED the extra video space AC3 offers)

help please
thanks
farss wrote on 7/31/2003, 7:48 AM
tadpole,
you've hit a real problem. There just isn't a lot of knowledge around about the inner workings of DVDs. Thats not because we don't want to know but the bible on how to make one costs $5000.00 and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

That explains why the guy who wrote DVD-lab had to reverse engineer it!

I'm taking a guess here but how high is the bitrate on your AC3 audio?

You see on a DVD the audio and video aren't entirely separate, the streams are muxed together so maybe, just maybe, having too mauch audio data is knocking the video for a six.

BTW, is there a DVD-lab forum, you might get more info from the guys over there.
mikkie wrote on 7/31/2003, 8:15 AM
First thing I'd ask is if you've played any DVDs on your box with AC3? Does it decode them.

2nd thing I'd try is not demuxing the mpg2 - just create it as a video only stream. Then do your AC3.

3rd I'd probably try other tools and such to create the DVD - there are a few available, either as freeware or trials... assuming you use a rewiteable blank, & your box reads them, even if you get watermarks or something on the DVD you'll now what the prob is, or isn't.