Can't use 5.1. Surround with Vegas Pro 18

JN- wrote on 3/5/2021, 2:22 PM

@James-inOrlando Known issue. Some info and threads here ...

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/6-channels-not-working-on-svp18-only-static-noise--126134/#ca784950

WWAAG ...

“AFAIK, Vegas has never supported AC3 inside an MP4 container--it imports AC3 only from transport streams (m2t, m2ts, mts) and VOB files. “

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/mpg-clips-will-only-import-video-and-not-audio--124988/?page=1

“Mpeg files, which is a less frequently used older format, use a main concept decoder which requires a different audio decoder to handle its AC3 audio than mts and m2ts media. We are no longer able to use that decoder. We are looking at routing this through a new demuxer so the audio would be available again, but for now we are recommending transcoding files of this type.”

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/ac3-5-1--126467/

VEGAS_EricD

The VEGAS line of products uses native Windows tools for stereo AC-3 encoding and decoding. It is not possible to encode 5.1 AC-3 files since they are not supported through the operating system.

fr0sty wrote on 3/5/2021, 2:24 PM

VEGAS Pro doesn't support 5.1 AC3 encoding anymore to the best of my knowledge, but you can export the channels as a multichannel wav (choose the option to split the files into 6 mono wav files), then use this free tool to finish the job.

http://wieslawsoltes.github.io/wavtoac3encoder/

wwaag wrote on 3/5/2021, 6:37 PM

You can also directly render 5.1 audio both separately or with video using the RenderPlus tool in HappyOtterScripts.

Marco. wrote on 3/6/2021, 3:08 AM

Rendering to AC3 5.1 still works fine here with Vegas Pro 18 (Windows 10 Home, version 20H2, build 19042.804).

James-inOrlando wrote on 3/6/2021, 11:00 AM

Marco, thanks for the feedback. What I am looking for is the process to get the template to accomplish the render. V18 message tells me I must download the template the first time I used the 5.1 render. Any attempt to download fails. Did you have to go through this process in order to make V18 work properly? I hate to keep running back to V17 to get the job done.

Marco. wrote on 3/6/2021, 11:13 AM

Could you post a screenshot of that message? I've never heard before of the need to download a template in order to make a process work in Vegas Pro.

James-inOrlando wrote on 3/6/2021, 12:45 PM

Marco, I hope you can make these images large enough to see. Thanks!

Marco. wrote on 3/6/2021, 12:49 PM

I see. It's not a template but a codec which Vegas Pro asks for to be downloaded. Though that should not be required for AC3 encoding in the latest build of VP18 as it uses the Windows integrated AC3 codec.

Which build of Vegas Pro 18 do you use?

James-inOrlando wrote on 3/6/2021, 12:56 PM

I am using V18.0 Build. 434. I have checked for updates but receive a message that says none are available.

Marco. wrote on 3/6/2021, 1:03 PM

Yes, that's the latest build. Strange.

JN- wrote on 3/7/2021, 8:14 AM

@Marco. @James-inOrlando Not sure if this long discussion is relevant? ...

“JN said ..."I don't have an issue in VP18 with AC3 as the codec is probably already there from previous builds."

“@j-v As I said in my previous post, I have no problem with the AC-3 codec, probably because it was there from previous builds. The problem may exist only for those users who have now just bought VP18 373 and had no previous VP.”

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/vegaspro18-playback-issues-after-rendering-as-mp4--125707/?page=3

As I recollect, cannot find the exact reference, post, Deckingham had a similar issue, being asked to download a codec, but ultimately it wasn’t going to happen, not able, allowed to download.

Found it ... Deckingman said, his 2nd. post, page 4 of the link below ...

“Whenever I try, it wants to download a software module but it always fails. “

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/vegaspro18-playback-issues-after-rendering-as-mp4--125707/?page=4

Marco. wrote on 3/7/2021, 10:11 AM

"[…] probably because it was there from previous builds. The problem may exist only for those users who have now just bought VP18 373 and had no previous VP.”

Yes, maybe that is it.

JN- wrote on 3/7/2021, 10:38 AM

@James-inOrlando

My summary of the AC-3 issue with respect to 5.1 audio.

Magix feedback ...

"Starting with recent versions of Windows 10, the VEGAS line of products uses native Windows tools for stereo AC-3 encoding and decoding. It is not possible to encode 5.1 AC-3 files since they are not supported through the operating system. To encode 5.1 audio, use another audio codec such as WAV."

My take on addressing it ...

#1 Transcode to another codec, say, AAC or WAV.

#2 In VP the Sony AVC and the WAV codecs support 5.1.

#3 Before using items #2 above, set the “Project properties” Audio to 5.1

#4 Create a new 5.1 render template using either one of #2 items.

#5 Note that these new render templates will only be visible to you when #3 is applied.

Malibu911 wrote on 4/11/2021, 1:38 PM

"[…] probably because it was there from previous builds. The problem may exist only for those users who have now just bought VP18 373 and had no previous VP.”

Yes, maybe that is it.

Would this problem be fixed if I downgrade my VP18 to (334) then back up to the current build (482)?

JN- wrote on 4/11/2021, 5:53 PM

@Malibu911 My guess would be no, but sure give it a try. The required codecs in place that don’t apply in vp18, probably came with earlier vp versions, not builds.

Malibu911 wrote on 4/11/2021, 6:21 PM

@JN-, I have VP15 and it can easily do AC3 files

JN- wrote on 4/11/2021, 6:40 PM

@Malibu911 Ok. So, have you tried your own suggestion?

Malibu911 wrote on 4/11/2021, 6:41 PM

Not yet. Currently rendering a standard mp4 format. Will downgrade to see if it changes anything.

Malibu911 wrote on 4/12/2021, 11:53 AM

@JN- downgraded vp18 and still having the same error message. Now I have to figure out how to render it out then convert in another program. 🤔

JN- wrote on 4/12/2021, 12:08 PM

@Malibu911 There are a few utils via my signature, plus of course Handbrake.