Subject:Encoding for DVD authoring.

Posted by: vonhosen

Date:12/17/2002 3:13:16 PM

SF

Were .ac3 files produced from this plug-in tested with Pinnacle DVD Impression Pro. With the 5.1 template output I'm getting a "mux error - invalid audio" error in the build. Just wondered if any had been successfully used with Impression ?

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: SonyEPM

Date:12/17/2002 4:54:49 PM

Files created with the new AC-3 encoder that shipped with the 5.1 Surround Plug-in pack were not tested not tested with Impression. We did test compliance with DVDSP 1 & 2, Reel DVD, 2 different Dolby hardware decoders, a few users tested with Spruce and other apps, Dolby signed off on the files produced by the encoder (a shipping requirement), and the files behave as expected when burned to DVD and played back in quite few different players.

So it could possibly be a problem with the encoder, but I would expect other apps to reject the files also (never mind Dolby- their tests were pretty rigorous). I noticed on the Pinnacle web boards a few other people had this problem with externally generated AC-3 files- perhaps there's some particular setting expected by this or all Pinnacle apps? Does your app have a "what constitutes a valid AC-3 file" listing in the documentation?

Rest assured, we'll keep an eye on this and post any further info we dig up.

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: vonhosen

Date:12/17/2002 5:44:31 PM

Unfortunately they don't have a "what constitutes a valid Ac-3 file" only that ac.3 up to 5.1 is supported.

I have e-mailed Pinnacle's customer support requesting what parameters they require for their ac-3 files & await a reply. (Unfortunately Pinnacle's customer support reputation is not as good as SF's but here is hoping)

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: dvdmike

Date:12/18/2002 7:43:09 PM

I have successfuly authored a 5.1 ac3 encoded (in Acid) audio file into ReelDVD by Sonic and burned the disc using ReelDVD and played the disc on consumer DVD players. So far so good with my applications.

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: CAPNDigital

Date:12/18/2002 10:22:51 PM

I'm not sure if this may relate to your problem with Impression but I remember some posts on the Impression Forum at Pinnacle regarding AC-3 Files that were encoded with the "Save frames with the Intel byte order" option CHECKED (selected) caused similar problems. I do not yet have the AC-3 Plug In so I'm not sure if this option is selected by default with the 5.1 output template or not - I believe it is NOT set by default in Soft Encode.
Keep us posted... I will be purchasing the AC-3 Plug In soon and Impression DVD Pro was my authoring app of choice (don't own it yet either) but your findings have me wondering?

Good luck,
Chris

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: vonhosen

Date:12/19/2002 1:23:17 AM

Yes I've looked at those Pinnacle posts as well.

There is an option in the SF plug-in for Intel byte order & it is "unchecked" by default, so it's not going to be that.

I can get ReelDVD at a dscounted price, so it looks like more money may be going on this !

If you "reel-y" want 5.1 you may be better going ReelDVD route.

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: CrazyRussian

Date:12/19/2002 5:36:42 PM

Well, Pinnacle Impression DVD NEEDS ac3 file with Motorla byter order. I've encoded couple of files with SoftEncode, and can cofirm that this is the case. I dont have the plug-in you guys are talking about here, but it looks like there is a bug in it (read post in this forum), it looks like when "Save in Intel byter order" is checked then plug-in safes it in MOTOROLA byte order, and wise versa. So, go ahead, check that box to safe in Intel byte order (which actualy will make plug it to save it in Motorla byte order), re-encode and Pinnacle should import that file no prob.

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: CAPNDigital

Date:12/19/2002 10:15:17 PM

Thanks CrazyRussian and SonicEPM for clarifying this. I see the SoFo folks already have a fix in the works...
Vonhosen, any success after applying the "workaround" with the Intel Byte order?

Also, anyone else using Impression DVD Pro and successfully importing 5.1 AC-3 files created with the new SoFo plug-in?

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: vonhosen

Date:12/20/2002 12:31:43 PM

I have got the 5.1 encodes to work with Impression DVD Pro

You have to check the "Intel Byte order" check box as earlier suggested & you also have to encode the output at 384kbs . Impression will not accept files that even fractionally go over 448kbs & if you encode at that rate you invariably get little spikes going over that rate & Impression gives an error.

With the check & 384kbs encode all builds fine & then playsback great on my stand alone players.

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: CAPNDigital

Date:12/24/2002 11:58:23 AM

Thanks for the info, that great news. Hopefully an updated build of the plug-in will be released soon with the "byte order" bug fixed.
Any problems with Audio/Video sync on long (1 hour or more) projects when using the AC-3 files?

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: vonhosen

Date:12/24/2002 12:47:35 PM

I've just put out a couple at 65mins total & they are fine , none longer than that though yet.

When you load the audio track in Impression it reports it's length down to the nearest second , so it may appear a fraction shorter than the video track above it if the video trcak doesn't finish exactly to the second. It's apparently a bug in Impression & it doesn't affect the output or sync.

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: CAPNDigital

Date:1/1/2003 1:14:19 PM

Thanks for the info...

Subject:RE: Encoding for DVD authoring.

Reply by: paulw9

Date:1/14/2003 7:50:06 AM

I was able to author a DVD using Impression and AC-3 files encoded at 448 kbps. Impression listed some of the files at data rates somewhat higher than 448 kbps, but created the disc image without a problem (as long as the "Intel Byte Order" check box was selected).