Where is my second track of audio?

Chris H wrote on 9/30/2004, 10:39 AM
Here's the situation. I created a short movie for a baby shower using a combination of stills and video. I have one track of video, one track of audio (music), and a second track of audio (voice-over). I render the project using the MPEG2 DVD Arch template. I burn that MPEG2 file to DVD using Architect. The movies plays fine on my computer and my tv. I send the DVD home with the couple and everything works but they don't hear the voice over track. They have an older tv that is not stereo. They are also using an RF modulator to connect their tv to their DVD player. Everthing works for them (video & music) but they don't hear the voice-over. Thinking this was a problem because their tv wasn't in stereo I tried again by rendering the two tracks of audio first to a .wav file and replacing the two tracks of audio with the new file. I then rendered the project to MPEG2 the same way as before. Same results as the first DVD.

Any ideas on why the voice over isn't being heard? Again the DVD (with the voice-over) plays fine on my equipment. We tried to show the DVD at church with the DVD player connected to a projection device. When the projection device is not hooked into the sound system through the audio out port of the projection device I can hear the voice over through the projection device speaker. When we connect the projection device to the sound board via the audio out connection (1/8" jack) I can't hear the voice over.

What am I missing? Thanks for your help.

Chris

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 9/30/2004, 11:19 AM
Is the voiceover mono (panned center)? I smell a phase inversion problem. Somehow when being played back either the left or the right channel is getting inverted. In this case someone listening on a mono system would hear the stereo music more or less well enough because the channels are different, but the voice over would get cancelled out completely.

What seems odd is that this happens both on the TV and with the sound system. I find it unlikely that both have a wiring problem that would cause a single channel inversion. This makes me think that it's a problem with the original recording instead. Load the rendered file onto the timeline (unless it's AC3, then you're stuck and you would have to re-render to something like WAV or MP3), right-mouse-button click on the audio track, choose channels/mono. If you lose the voice over there then the problem is with your recording.
Chris H wrote on 9/30/2004, 11:49 AM
The voice over recording was recorded using a wireless mike into my vx2000. It shows up on the timeline on the lower half of the track, nothing on top. I am using 4.0. When I right click on the track and select channels it has a check mark by "both". The other selections are "Left only", "right only", "combine", or "swap". Should I try to use the "combine" setting? The pan is in the center setting.

Thanks,

Chris
B.Verlik wrote on 9/30/2004, 12:06 PM
So your voice is on the 'Right' track only, correct? You can put a 'Pan' envelope on the track and move it towards the left channel until the voice sounds equal in both speakers. Then render it for DVD and listen to the 'preview' section of DVD-A and make sure your voice comes through both speakers. If they are watching your original DVD on a mono TV or somehow have the setting of their TV in mono without realizing it, you will usually only hear the left channel of playback devices. This is a good example of why you should never have any sound in only one track (meaning complete left or right.) Unless you're purposely panning in extreme for effect.
Former user wrote on 9/30/2004, 12:08 PM
If your voice is on the Right side only (lower half of audio track) then use the RIGHT ONLY option.

Dave T2
Chris H wrote on 9/30/2004, 12:22 PM
Thanks, everyone. I'll select "right only" and re-render. This forum has been very helpful. I am an infrequent poster but a daily reader. I bet there are many more folks like me out there!

Chris
Chris H wrote on 9/30/2004, 6:14 PM
It worked!!! Thanks again.
rbi wrote on 9/24/2005, 11:00 AM
Wow... almost a year later, and this thread help me with the same issue - an audio track that goes sour - but I'm confused why I'm having the problem.

Below are details for anyone interested... I resolved the issue in two ways.
1) Rendering to WAV instead of MP3 from Screenblast ACID 4.0
2) Or Select Right Channel Only (mono) in Vegas 6.

My issue is likely tied to new equipment, as I never had the problem until I bought a USB microphone (Samson C01U) which I LOVE. The USB mic works terrific compared to mini-audio jack input, but I did notice the balance was off. I suspect something relative to ACID 4 also, as it creates what appears to be an okay MP3.

I had to set level to far right in Windows Audio Device Properties to balance stereo. But I lose audio on certain playback devices, and especially if broadcast on the air (public access). The solutions above resolve it, but it's odd because the audio plays perfect in Acid 4, and appears to play perfect in Vegas 6, but it's after the render to AC3 that causes an issue.

The mic is fairly new, and suppose to have new drivers soon. This may resolve it, plus I need to experiment more. I just started to realize there was a problem when I went to AC3 for DVD. WMV's have been fine.