.AC3 problem mmm????

[CoWbOyPoEt]

I have used the program PX3 Convert to successfully convert AC3 files to WAV in the past. Yesterday, I tried it again and after choosing the 4800 option and clicking ( Sart Convert ),the program flashes an error and closes. I annot tell youwhat the error is bescuase it closes sooo fast. The conversin using vdub_AC3 goes fine. Takes about 4 1/2 mintues to go thr this process. If I try to convert the AVI directly with TMPGEnc, I end up with no sound...

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated..

Thanx in Advance...

[Enchanter]

You can use Besweet to convert AC3 files to WAV.

[CoWbOyPoEt]

Hello Enchanter, I tried this and the only guide I found was at doom. I followed the guide and ended up with only a garble scratchy wav file that couldnt be used for anything except filling my desktop trashcan.. so so sad......The reason I need to do this is because the avi files I have will not convert in TMPGEnc with the audio. The video comes out great, but there is no audio.

[Enchanter]

Try using Graphedit then. Here's the combination you can use:
File Source (Async) [Open the AC3 file] -> AC3 Parser Filter -> Intervideo/Cyberlink Audio Decoder [whichever version you have] -> WAV Dest -> File Writer [Give a name to the .wav file].

This worked well for my 2.0 sound source. I haven't tested it with any 5.1 sound source though.

[CoWbOyPoEt]

Is graphedit a program which I need to install? If so, do you know where I can download it from?
Thanx again for your help Enchanter...

[CoWbOyPoEt]

I downloaded and started the program, but stillcannot get it to convert the ac3 to wav. an you please explain to me how to do this or provide me with a link to a guide?
Thanx again....

[Enchanter]

This guide on DVD audio extraction will serve as a good tutorial on using Graphedit. Once you have familiarised yourself on this, you can use my previously recommended combination to convert the AC3 file into WAV.

Keep in mind that you will need the filters mentioned to be able to load them up into Graphedit. These filters are easily available from anywhere, esp. a codec pack.

[CoWbOyPoEt]

I decided to try something so simple that I almost didnt try it because it seemed tooooooo simple. I loaded the ac3 file into my Nero Wav Editor,and saved it as a Wav file. Then I loaded the original avi into TMPGEnc and the wav which I made with the Wav Editor,and ended up with a perfect vcd with perfect video and sound. So simple...
Thanx for ally our help Enchanter.....

[Enchanter]

No worries. Thanks for sharing the tips too. Didn't know Nero would open an AC3 file!

[CoWbOyPoEt]

anytime Enchanter... Have a great day.....

[CoWbOyPoEt]

Oh, one more thing. Can youplease tell me exactly how to tell if the avi file has a .ac3 sound. Sometimes TMPGEnc accepts the complete avi and gives me a great mpg with sound and other times I get no sound at all. Sometimes I then convert the sound to .ac3 and it works great, and at other times when I convert, I still get no sound...

[Enchanter]

Oh, one more thing. Can youplease tell me exactly how to tell if the avi file has a .ac3 sound.

Simple. Just open the AVI file in Virtualdub and check its file information. Under the Audio section, you can find out what format the audio stream is.

[setarip]

"Can youplease tell me exactly how to tell if the avi file has a .ac3 sound."

A little additional, more specific, information. When you've opened the "File Information" under VirtualDub, if the audio is .AC3, it will be identified (in the audio section, as "Unknown (Tag 2000)"...

[CoWbOyPoEt]

So, if I understand this correctly, if in the file information in Virtual Dub under the Audio, I cannot see the words "Unknown (Tag 2000)", then the audio is not in ac3 format. Therefor, will TMPGEnc be able to handle this avi ok and produce a MPG with sound? If TMPGEnc still does not put out a MPG with sound,even though this is not in .AC3 format, what else can I do in order to achieve the desired results? ( which is a finished mpg with sound.. ) Thanx fo ryour time Enchanter....

[Enchanter]

So, if I understand this correctly, if in the file information in Virtual Dub under the Audio, I cannot see the words "Unknown (Tag 2000)", then the audio is not in ac3 format.

Correct.

Therefor, will TMPGEnc be able to handle this avi ok and produce a MPG with sound?

Not necessarily. For example, TMPGEnc does not handle VBR (Variable Bit Rate) MP3 and so it requires you to convert the sound stream to, for example, uncompressed WAV. I'm not sure about WMA or DivX audio though, since I don't have any AVI files with such sound format to toy with.