Import Media with AC3 Audio to Timeline

rtbond wrote on 1/17/2011, 4:58 AM

I have read on the forum that there have been limitations with Vegas being able to import media that contains AC3 audio to the time line.

Running Vegas 10a (64-bit) I am unable to import an MPEG Program Stream (with MPEG-2 video, AC3 audio [with stereo down-mix]) to the time line. Vegas only sees the media (MPG container) as containing an audio stream and no video steam. The media plays fine in media players.

The source video is from Vista Media Center TV tuner card (the native WTV container replaced with an MPG container using a 3rd party application), whose captured video is being edited for personal use.

Any suggestions on how to bring this MPEG program stream media into Vegas 10?

Comments

PeterDuke wrote on 1/17/2011, 6:04 AM

Vegas cannot import a plain ac3 file but can import it when it is in an appropriate container with video.

If you see the audio but not the video then it is the video that is the problem.

Can you check your file using Mediainfo?

craftech wrote on 1/17/2011, 6:07 AM

You can demux the footage first using the free tsmuxer app. Then you can convert the AC3 audio to .wav using the free Super @ app. Then re-mux the video with the wav audio file with tsmuxer.

John

rtbond wrote on 1/17/2011, 6:19 AM

John - Thanks I will give that work flow a try

Peter - There is nothing wrong with the video, best I can tell. I have read the media details with G-Spot and MediaInfo and both indicate MPEG2 video in an MPEG PS. container The media plays properly in Windows media players (VLC, Windows Media Player, etc). Seems to be a Vegas issue.

PeterDuke wrote on 1/17/2011, 6:39 AM

Well I can assure you that Vegas will normally accept an MPEG2 video plus AC3 audio in an MPEG PS container. The devil must be in the detail somewhere.

Try just passing it through tsMuxer to make a TS file. It might blow some cobwebs away. You shouldn't need to convert the ac3 to wav.

rtbond wrote on 1/17/2011, 7:17 AM

Peter,

You may be correct (devil in the details). It appears Vegas does not like the MPEG PS container produced by the 3rd party WTV to MPEG Converter (http://www.dvr-ms.com/wtv-mpeg.htm). FYI, WTV is the native container type produced by the Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008 (added QAM and ATSC recording to Media Center)

If I use the tsMuxeR program recommended by John to change the container from the original MPEG2-PS to a TS or M2TS, then Vegas will properly import the media to the time line.

So, it appears I have a simple solution. The problem appears to be a container issue and not an AC3 issue. Thanks!

musicvid10 wrote on 1/17/2011, 9:05 AM

I was told in this thread that renaming AC3 to MPG allows it to be opened in Vegas Pro 10.
http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=730994

rtbond wrote on 1/17/2011, 9:15 AM

I did not have an AC3 elementary stream file, but rather an MPEG2-PS file that included an AC3 stream.

The bottom-line is that it appears Vegas did not like something with the MPEG2-PS file (*.mpg). Changing the container to a MPEG2-TS allowed proper importing to the time line. Likely an issue with the application that created the MPEG2-PS and not necessarily Vegas.

musicvid10 wrote on 1/17/2011, 9:34 AM

Does just changing the extension from .mpg to .vob work? This generally works in older Vegas versions.

rtbond wrote on 1/17/2011, 12:47 PM

No, Vegas still only sees the AC3 stream within the file and not the video stream.

I can live with using tsMuxeR to change the container type. There must be something in the container that Vegas does not like. I may open a Tech Support issue, as the file seems to be acceptable to other applications.

Rob Franks wrote on 1/17/2011, 3:20 PM

"You can demux the footage first using the free tsmuxer app. Then you can convert the AC3 audio to .wav using the free Super @ app. Then re-mux the video with the wav audio file with tsmuxer."

As rtbond notes, you actually don't have to go to this extent. Since the inception of avchd (and in particular Sony avchd cams with 5.1 sound) Vegas has become accepting of MTS and M2TS files with AC3.

All you need to do is import to TSmuxeR and change over to a M2TS container