Hi again,

The "Include audio stream" was checked when rendering the project.
Seems like it is a default setting in V9.

I will keep on trying here, but hope that any of you might have an answer to this problem.

When you render to a DVDA template, the audio is not checked by default, nor should it be.

For DVDA, you want to create a compliant MPEG-2 video-only file, which is what the template does, and a compliant AC3 audio file, also using the appropriate DVDA AC3 audio template. That is two separate files.

Both files import into DVDA and are muxed in the final dvd preparation. The reasons for this are preferable to other methods. Hope this helps.

Ok, so if I understand you correctly; the audio file has been created, but won't mix with the video before burning to dvd?

Still it seems that the audio is checked by default. Should I uncheck it?

Hi Vid. Does the compliant AC3 audio only apply to the 5.1 format? On 'some' of the DVDs I receive, there's nothing in the audio file folder. The stereo audio is embedded in the DVD's VOB files I assume.
I don't deal with MPEG video or video DVDs much so my expertise in this area is limited.

rraud,
Does the compliant AC3 audio only apply to the 5.1 format?
A separate AC3 audio file should be used in all DVDA projects, whether stereo or surround. With DVDA Pro, multiple AC3 audio tracks can be used, which could include a stereo soundtrack, a 5.1 surround soundtrack, or both. Additionally one could include other languages, narratives, karaoke, or whatever the mind could possibly dream up. Additionally, you can replace an audio track selectively in the project without re-encoding the video (see post below).

The stereo audio is embedded in the DVD's VOB files I assume.
Yes, all AC3 audio files in the project are muxed into the corresponding .vob files during preparation. The multiplexing operation goes much faster than rendering video, for instance.

There should be nothing in the AUDIO_TS folder. It was deprecated some time ago, and a dvd can live just fine without it.

I don't deal with MPEG video or video DVDs much so my expertise in this area is limited.

Well, that is the only area in which your expertise is limited. As a sound engineer, theater producer, and touring musician with college training and nearly forty years of technical experience, I have benefited from and referred to your audio advice often over the past decade.

Shine,
Ok, so if I understand you correctly; the audio file has been created, but won't mix with the video before burning to dvd?

First of all, and just so there is absolutely no misunderstanding, DVDA = "DVD Architect", which is an authoring program that is included with Vegas Professional, unless you purchased it from certain third-party vendors.

The AC3 audio file needs to be created before authoring the DVD. There are two separate render processes, one for audio, and one for video, that you must undertake in order to create two separate files for inclusion in the DVDA project. I did not misstate this previously, and the audio file is not created automatically, so I really hope this is clear. Assuming the AC3 file has the same name and directory as the MPG file, it will load automatically when you load your video media into DVDA.

Once more, the DVDA templates do not have the audio checked by default. If one of yours is, then it has been saved that way by you (see below).

There is an absolute and fundamental difference between DVD templates and DVDA templates when rendering Vegas projects. I really think that you are looking at one and thinking it is the other. The DVD templates should never be used in a DVDA project, and the only use I could possibly see for them is in another authoring program that does not have nearly the audio capabilities of DVDA, such as Ulead (see below).

Rendering MPEG-2 with premuxed MPEG-1 Audio for DVD creation is soooo old-school. With AC3, you get better quality, surround sound, multiple audio tracks (with DVDA Professional), and the ability to replace an audio track in your dvd project without re-encoding the whole darned video, which is a huge timesaver. Again, rendering that as a separate file, rather than pre-muxed, offers the serious editor some distinct advantages.

Once again, hope this helps. I know if you have been used to authoring amateur DVDs the old way, this method requires some adjustment in your thinking.

Hello again,

I have rendered the project with the template "DVD Architect PAL Widescreen Video Stream" and have opened it in DVDA.
So far so good.
How do I render the audio separately?
There are no instructions about this weather in VP nor in DVDA.
Just telling me to render separately.
I'm sure one of you can enlight me :-)

Render As->Dolby Digital AC3 Pro->Stereo DVD

In Custom, set Dialog Normalization at -31
Set DRC line mode "Off"
Set DRC RF mode "Off"

These are the best settings to keep your audio the way you heard it.

Hi again,

Great!
Things worked now, and I have burnt a test dvd.
Videoquality seems good.
Audio though is, from one reason or another, really poor.
Settings as suggested by "musicvid"
The audio is music, and not the audio from the raw material.
Distortions all the way. In V9 the audio sounds perfect. Also in DVDA and on printed tape.
Any tips here?

Is there clipping either on the timeline (flat-tops on the waveforms) or in the output (red peaks in the mixer) when you play the project preview? If a) there is nothing you can do, and if b) you need to turn down your gains to keep the output below OdBFS. If you just added a music file you probably clipped it.

Can you upload a sample of the raw audio and also the same audio rendered as AC3 to mediafire.com or somewhere?

With a good audio source and proper mixing, it's like being in a movie theater.