To expand on MV10 response, the audio that is created with your settings is not standard DVD audio. Some players will use it with no problems, others might not.

The best practice is to create two files. A video file and separate audio file (either AC3 or WAV). If you give each file the same name and save to the same folder. DVDA will import both files when you import the video file.

This should fix your problem, but let us know if it doesn't.

Actually, the embedded Mpeg 1 Layer II ("mp2") audio track was how all DVDs were burned in the 1990s. Horrible compression artifacts, high frequency loss, inflexible audio track choices, and of course no surround.

But that was then. There is simply no good reason to do that now . . .

thanks, I worked through your audio instructions and finally made a copy
however, I still got distortion, so I went back to the original clips and the audio was distorting a little. I tried rendering a clip with reduced volume and then render in DVD architect, and still got distortion. so I think that any small distortion increases in value as each time it is rendered to a new file.
also, I rendered the full volume clip and it had the least distortion on playback, but the clip would be too loud for the story line if I kept it at full volume.
are there any other ideas about how to achieve minimum distortion from a clip

Are you using any volume controls, effects (EQ, Reverb) or processing (compression) that adds volume? Rendering itself is a unity gain process that will NOT increase the volume nor cause distortion. However, if you have anything added that does increase the volume, then these increases will be in the rendered file. If your increase causes the output to go above 0dB then you will get distortion.

If you haven't added anything that increases the volume then you can render infinite generations without any added distortion.

Sounds like your audio source is distorted or clipped.
Very little you can do about that, sorry.

thanks guys
yes, the original source is clipped slightly
however, when playing back the original clip I hear a little distortion, but I can make out the words.
I do not add any volume, in fact I reduce the volume to match the levels of other lower volume clips on the time line.
it seems that after rendering, the distortion is really noticeable, as if the clipping is enhanced by rendering.
as I said before I tried just working with the clip in a separate timeline and experimenting lowering the volume and rendering separately
I think I may be over a barrel

Dennis, are you comparing apples with apples? Presumably you are listening to your source on preview on your pc. Are you also listening to your rendered output on your pc?