Can I open this file in DVDA?

musman wrote on 9/5/2004, 6:58 AM

Just worked on a short film and was given a copy of the movie on dvd. I'd like to be able to include the movie in a collection I'm making and can open the video file, but not the audio file.
The film was edited and burned on a mac and when I open the audio folder DVDA shows it as empty.
Kinda of a newbie to this kind of thing, but can anyone tell me how to open a mac audio file like this?
Thanks for any help!

Comments

ScottW wrote on 9/5/2004, 7:39 AM

The AUDIO_TS folder will always be empty. The audio information is multiplexed together with the video information in the VOB files located in the VIDEO_TS directory.

It sounds like you're trying to open a VOB file - if so, you'll need to use something like DVD2AVI to extract the AC3 audio from the file. neither Vegas or DVDA contain an AC3 decoder.

--Scott

musman wrote on 9/5/2004, 1:25 PM

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it. Yes, I was told to look for and open both an video and an audio vob. I'm not familiar with what you said here, "you'll need to use something like DVD2AVI to extract the AC3 audio". Just did a search and found a number of links for a free program called dvd2avi, but lots of disclaimers about how it doesn't work well. Would I be losing any quality us this program?
Can you fill me in a little bit here with a workflow or maybe a link to a site that might help?
Thanks again!

Cunhambebe wrote on 9/5/2004, 1:58 PM

You can go to www.videohelp.com (IT SEEMS SERVERS ARE DOWN, SEARCH WITH GOOGLE) and search for TMPGENC Plus. It's not freeware! DVDA will accept the VOB file, but for the audio, you have to demux it with the help of TMPGENC. Open TMPGENC, select <MPEG tools>, and then <De-Multiplex>, browse for your VOB file, select audio and hit <Run>. That's it. You'll get an AC-3 file. Open DVDA, drag and drop your VOB, select this video and on the right of the screen, browse to select you new AC-3 file for the audio.
;)
PS: IT SEEMS SERVERS ARE DOWN FOR VIDEOHELP ...DO YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE?

ScottW wrote on 9/5/2004, 4:02 PM

I've not had a lot of problems using DVD2AVI to simply demux the audio. Lots of resources at www.doom9.net - take a look at some of the various guides they have.

No matter what you do you will be losing some quality. The AC3 audio has already been compressed, you can demux it and decompress it using DVD2AVI but then when you put it in your new DVD project it will be recompressed. Same goes for the Video - by using the VOB you are basically using an MPEG-2 video steam. DVDA will likely decompress that and recompress it as well.

--Scott

Cunhambebe wrote on 9/5/2004, 4:35 PM

That's why I find the TMPGENC way, one of the best options ;)

musman wrote on 9/5/2004, 5:32 PM

I'll look into all that. QUite a bit of stuff and lots to experiment with. Thanks everyone!!