Not hearing 5.1 Sound in DVDA

Mark Seibert wrote on 1/22/2008, 11:17 AM

Hey All,

I'm trying to burn a disc using 5.1 Surround Sound. I have built audio and video in Vegas 8.0b. The test video I built runs the audio around from one speaker to the next, isolating it in each channel. Everything works fine in Vegas. I render out the DVDA video and then AC-3 files for the audio (Selecting the 5.1 template). I've tested the rendered AC-3 file using an external application and everything works as expected. However, when I load the files into DVDA, all the material that should get played on the rear channels ends up on the front channels. I have set my project properties in DVDA to 5.1, but no-dice. The preview plays everything on the front channels, and all burned DVD's play on my test system with all audio on front channels.

Anyone else seeing/hearing this? Am I doing something wrong?

Using Vegas 8.0b, and DVDA 4.5b

Comments

bStro wrote on 1/22/2008, 11:54 AM

You're not going to hear 5.1 when previewing in DVD Architect. Its preview mode downconverts everything to stereo. The actual file that ends up on the disc will be intact so long as all your project settings are correct.

That said, I'm not sure why your test system is also playing it in stereo. What are you using for your test system and do other 5.1 DVDs play properly in it? One thing you can do is play the disc in a software-based DVD player (WinDVD, DVD MAX, Windows Media Player if you have the proper codecs installed). Most of them have an "information" function that tells you the properties of the video you're watching. If the audio is encoded as 5.1 surround, this will tell you so. If that's the case, the problem is with your test system's setup.

In DVDA, make sure that not only your project properties are set to 5.1 (as you've done), but also check the Optmize DVD dialog (File > Optimize DVD) to be sure that the Audio tab for your movie is set to From Project or AC-3 5.1Surround.

Rob

Mark Seibert wrote on 1/22/2008, 1:11 PM

Thanks bStro. I have all the properties set in DVDA as you described. It's good to hear that the Preview in DVDA should not play in 5.1 as that eliminates that as a possible source of the problem.

I can render a WMV with 5.1 sound from Vegas, and that plays fine in Media Player. The rendered AC-3 files play also fine in (VLC). The problem is that I can’t seem to burn a disc that keeps the rear channels on the rear speakers – it always ends up playing on the front channels.

My system works fine with factory disc’s, no problem with audio on the rear channels for movies. Any other ideas?

jbolley wrote on 1/22/2008, 2:34 PM

I had this problem until I realized I had to engage the proper decoding on my home theatre receiver. For some reason it wasn't the same as when I put in a factory disk. Maybe my player only but it really had me frustrated for a bit! Silly me.

Jesse