DVD2SVCD conversion - prob with audio file not being produced

[whftherb]

Hello - I posted the discussion below in another forum and apparently no one there knows what to do as I have had zero response. So, even though we're not supposed to cross post, I felt I had to bring this here and maybe one of the kind folks here can lend a hand. It's kind of long I know but it's mostly the logs that I'm hoping to get some interpretation of.

I'm attempting to convert AVIs to DVDs using DVDtoSVCD and trying to understand the whole procedure converting avi-s to dvd-s . I've tried a full length avi numerous times but ran into the error snipped in below. Note: With a full length avi it takes a very long time so in order to decrease the wait time, I've actually replaced the full length avi with a much shorter one but it too yields the same error. I've checked each tab in DVDtoSVCD. Where else should I begin to start checking the settings in DVDtoSVCD because it looks to me like I have everything set properly. I've searched the forums here with no results.

Here's the error from the dvdauthor.log file:

DVDAuthor::dvdauthor, version 0.6.10.
Build options: gnugetopt iconv freetype
Send bugs to <dvdauthor-users@lists.sourceforge.net>

INFO: Locale=C
INFO: Converting filenames to US-ASCII
INFO: dvdauthor creating VTS
STAT: Picking VTS 01

STAT: Processing C:\Target\Standing\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg...
ERR: Error opening C:\Target\Standing\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg: No such file or directory

This is a copy of the entire DVDtoSVCD log file. I don't quite understand what an MPlex_Muxed_File is or what program inside DVD2SVCD is failing to create it. So I hope someone can enlighten. Note: I am ignoring the Unerase warning here - there's plenty of open space on the drive.

WNASPI32.DLL 4.71.2.0
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:14 PM
- AVI to SVCD Conversion
- AVI2DVD ver. 1.2.2 build 3
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
WARNING! You seem to be using "Norton Unerase Protection" and
you want to delete the temporary files created by dvd2svcd.
This can cause DVD2SVCD problems. Even though DVD2SVCD deletes
the temporary files, Norton doesn't, therefore DVD2SVCD
might run into diskspace problems. I suggest that you stop the
"Norton Unerase Protection" Service.
- C:\Target\Dogtfoot_1.avi
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:16 PM
- Free on drive C: 108432.58 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
AVIFileSize:=1722368
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:16 PM
- Free on drive C: 108432.58 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:18 PM
- Free on drive C: 108432.58 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Encoding Audio. Filename: C:\Target\Standing\Extracted_audio_1.wav
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Target\Standing\Extracted_audio_1.wav" -output "C:\Target\Standing\Encoded_audio_1.aif" -6chaiff -logfile "C:\Target\Standing\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -ota( -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 48000 )
Audio conversion of C:\Target\Standing\Extracted_audio_1.wav finished.

Executing MPEG51 Encoding. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\MPEG5.1\pub_enc.exe" -l 2 -m s -n d -r 48.0 -b 192 -L -p 3 -e -v 0 "C:\Target\Standing\Encoded_audio_1.aif" "C:\Target\Standing\Encoded_audio_1"
MPEG 5.1 encoding of C:\Target\Standing\Encoded_audio_1.aif finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:30 PM
- Free on drive C: 108432.52 mb
- Video Encoding using TMPGEnc
--------------------------------------------------------
- Encoding C:\Target\Standing\AviSynth_Script_file.avs
StreamSectors: 4666096988
AudioSectors: 292824
VideoPAPO: 72275796
ScanOffsetBytes: 216
SeqAligningBytes: 13728
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 0.00
PureMPEGStream: 4593514420.00
Seconds: 12.00
CalcMPEGStream: 4593514420.00
Frames: 240
CDSize: 4464.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 4460.00
Max. Bitrate: 8000
Avg. Bitrate: 7200.00
Min. Bitrate: 2000
Executing TMPGEnc. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\Pegasys Inc\TMPGEnc Plus 2.5\TMPGEnc.exe" "C:\Target\Standing\TMPGEnc_Project_file.tpr" /Encode /Close
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:41 PM
- Free on drive C: 108432.50 mb
- Multiplexing Audio and Video
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing MPlex. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\mplex.exe" -f 8 -o "C:\Target\Standing\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg" "C:\Target\Standing\Encoded_Video_TMPGEnc_PAL.mpv" "C:\Target\Standing\Encoded_audio_1.mp2"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:44 PM
- Free on drive C: 108432.50 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing finished.

Saving Subtitle Timecodes.
SVCD subtitles.
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/9/2005 2:36:49 PM
- Free on drive C: 108432.50 mb
- Authoring DVD
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing DVDAuthor. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\dvdauthor.exe" -x "C:\Target\Standing\DVDAuthor.xml"
DVDAuthor failed for unknown reasons!
For details open: "C:\Target\Standing\DVDAuthor_log.txt"
__________________
Hoib

This is the second post as I try to get some assistance


OK, no ideas yet. I'm thinking maybe this isn't an AVISynth error. I've reinstalled everything. I've also shortened up the various output paths thinking maybe I'm having trouble with too many nested layers. Still no luck. Some may recall that I had this issue some time back and that unticking "Do not convert audio - use source audio" was the answer. I thought it was but no. I've tried this with and without the tick several times - still get the same error. I'm using a very small .AVI to test with but the error happens with both a full length and my small test .avi.

I'm guess I really need to find out what exact process or what program is supposed to produce the file named: MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg - maybe it needs to be reinstalled?? Apparently "mplex.exe" is looking for MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg but can't find it causing DVDAuthor to fail to complete.

Also, am I posting this in the wrong forum?

Here's my latest log in case this would help someone steer me correctly:

WNASPI32.DLL 4.71.2.0
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:43:26 PM
- AVI to SVCD Conversion
- AVI2DVD ver. 1.2.2 build 3
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
WARNING! You seem to be using "Norton Unerase Protection" and
you want to delete the temporary files created by dvd2svcd.
This can cause DVD2SVCD problems. Even though DVD2SVCD deletes
the temporary files, Norton doesn't, therefore DVD2SVCD
might run into diskspace problems. I suggest that you stop the
"Norton Unerase Protection" Service.
- C:\Documents and Settings\Herb Salls\My Documents\My Videos\Dogtfoot_1.avi
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:43:28 PM
- Free on drive C: 108365.00 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
AVIFileSize:=1722368
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:43:28 PM
- Free on drive C: 108365.00 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:43:30 PM
- Free on drive C: 108365.00 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Encoding Audio. Filename: C:\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.wav
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.wav" -output "C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.aif" -6chaiff -logfile "C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -ota( -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 48000 )
Audio conversion of C:\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.wav finished.

Executing MPEG51 Encoding. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\MPEG5.1\pub_enc.exe" -l 2 -m s -n d -r 48.0 -b 192 -L -p 3 -e -v 0 "C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.aif" "C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1"
MPEG 5.1 encoding of C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.aif finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:43:41 PM
- Free on drive C: 108365.00 mb
- Video Encoding using TMPGEnc
--------------------------------------------------------
- Encoding C:\Movie\AviSynth_Script_file.avs
StreamSectors: 4666096988
AudioSectors: 292824
VideoPAPO: 72275796
ScanOffsetBytes: 216
SeqAligningBytes: 13728
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 0
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 0.00
PureMPEGStream: 4593514420.00
Seconds: 12.00
CalcMPEGStream: 4593514420.00
Frames: 240
CDSize: 4464.00
Number of CDs: 1
Cut point 4460.00
Max. Bitrate: 8000
Avg. Bitrate: 7200.00
Min. Bitrate: 2000
Executing TMPGEnc. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\Pegasys Inc\TMPGEnc Plus 2.5\TMPGEnc.exe" "C:\Movie\TMPGEnc_Project_file.tpr" /Encode /Close
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:43:53 PM
- Free on drive C: 108364.98 mb
- Multiplexing Audio and Video
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing MPlex. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\mplex.exe" -f 8 -o "C:\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg" "C:\Movie\Encoded_Video_TMPGEnc_PAL.mpv" "C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:43:56 PM
- Free on drive C: 108364.98 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing finished.

Saving Subtitle Timecodes.
SVCD subtitles.
--------------------------------------------------------
- 10/10/2005 7:44:00 PM
- Free on drive C: 108364.98 mb
- Authoring DVD
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing DVDAuthor. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\dvdauthor.exe" -x "C:\Movie\DVDAuthor.xml"
DVDAuthor failed for unknown reasons!
For details open: "C:\Movie\DVDAuthor_log.txt"

And from DVDAuthor_log we have...

DVDAuthor::dvdauthor, version 0.6.10.
Build options: gnugetopt iconv freetype
Send bugs to <dvdauthor-users@lists.sourceforge.net>

INFO: Locale=C
INFO: Converting filenames to US-ASCII
INFO: dvdauthor creating VTS
STAT: Picking VTS 01

STAT: Processing C:\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg...
ERR: Error opening C:\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg: No such file or directory

And from MPlex_log we have...

INFO: [???] mplex version 2.0.0 (2.2.3 $Date: 2004/01/13 20:45:26 $)
**ERROR: [???] Unable to read from C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2.

I do note the file "Encoded_audio_1.mp2" is present but is 0 bytes in length. Could that possibly be the reason that MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg isn't getting created?

Hope someone can help me knock this one out once and for all. Thanks.
__________________

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Are you possibly using a free or trial version of TMPGEnc, for which MPEG2 processing is not/no longer available?

[whftherb]

Using TMPGEnc 2.5 Plus. That's the right one, no?

[setarip_old]

Using TMPGEnc 2.5 Plus

Did you purchase it?

[whftherb]

Yes, I did!

[setarip_old]

Then that should not be the cause of your difficulty...

[Nick]

From that log you have MPEG 5.1 selected in the audio tab.
This is not the same as AC3 5.1 audio cannot be used in DVD mode.

Either set Output mode to Stereo in the Audio tab, or, if your input AVI actually has an AC3 5.1 stream, that is when to check "Use source audio".

[whftherb]

Nick thanks once again for coming to the rescue! Again, I'm just using a small test AVI so I can try to learn a little how this thing operates before I start wasting time on larger projects.

Now - Please disregard this reply. I'm discovering more since I first replied about an hour ago. If I need another help, I'll reply back. I don't think there's any way to simply delete a post.

[whftherb]

Here's where I am at this point. I'm still getting the MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg... not found error whether I check or uncheck "use source audio" on the Audio Tab. I am assuming no AC3 based on what I discovered below.

At first I was unable to exactly tell if the audio is AC3 or not as GSpot gave me what I thought was two answers (because I'm unsure of what to look for). In the Audio section, GSpot claimed PCM audio uncompressed but down in the renderer I reported that it saw an audio stream with an AC3 filter. VDub also states PCM Uncompressed, so I'm assuming that the preponderence of evidence denotes PCM Uncompressed therefore no AC3.

Nick, based on your input, I did find that MPEG 5.1 was checked, so I changed it to Stereo. Incidentally, VDub also complained that no MPG4 codec was found. I fixed that by d/l the latest and installing it.

So, with all that accomplished, I tried the AVI conversion again both with Use source audio checked and Use source audio unchecked. In both instances the same error results:

DVDAuthor::dvdauthor, version 0.6.10.
Build options: gnugetopt iconv freetype
Send bugs to <dvdauthor-users@lists.sourceforge.net>

INFO: Locale=C
INFO: Converting filenames to US-ASCII
INFO: dvdauthor creating VTS
STAT: Picking VTS 01

STAT: Processing C:\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg...
ERR: Error opening C:\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg: No such file or directory

Now, this is the line I see in DVD2SVCD.log having to do with MPlex:

Executing MPlex. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVDAuthor\mplex.exe" -f 8 -o "C:\Movie\MPlex_Muxed_File00.mpg" "C:\Movie\Encoded_Video_TMPGEnc_PAL.mpv" "C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2" . I do see that Encoded_Video_TMPGEnc_PAL.mpv is indeed created and is 35 Kb long. And, I also see that Encoded_audio_1.mp2 is created but is 0 (zero) bytes long. Is that my problem?

(Mplex_Muxed_File00.mpg not getting created) is occurring before the final encoder gets involved so I'm ignoring an encoder issue for now.

That file just doesn't get created for some reason. I wonder if this caused by the fact that the AVI is at 25 fps? I'll stand by for any additional input. Thanks folks (and you especially, Nick).

[Nick]

OK. Questions
1) How big is the file Extracted_Audio_1.*** and what is the extension where I've put the asterisks?

2) Can we please see your MPlex log?

3) 35K for your mpv file?! That doesn't look right. How long is the clip?

[whftherb]

Answers:

1) Extracted_Audio_1.wav is: 245 KB long. Looking at it's properties in Windows Explorer I see 8 bits/PCM.

2) Mplex log follows:

INFO: [???] mplex version 2.0.0 (2.2.3 $Date: 2004/01/13 20:45:26 $)
**ERROR: [???] Unable to read from C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2.

Interesting!! Encoded_Audio_1.log follows, just in case it's needed:

BeSweet v1.5b26 by DSPguru.
--------------------------
Using Shibatch.dll v0.24 by Naoki Shibata & DSPguru (shibatch.sourceforge.net).
Using MP2enc.dll v1.129 (23/5/2002), Engine 1.129 <http://www.cdex.n3.net>.

Logging start : 10/23/05 , 14:48:54.

C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe -core( -input C:\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.wav -output C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2 -logfile C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.log ) -ota( -g max ) -shibatch( --rate 48000 ) -2lame( -e -b 192 -m s )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSweet -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : C:\Movie\Extracted_audio_1.wav
[00:00:00:000] | Output: C:\Movie\Encoded_audio_1.mp2
[00:00:00:000] | Floating-Point Process: Yes
[00:00:00:000] | Overall Track Gain: 10.622dB
[00:00:00:000] +------ Shibatch -----
[00:00:00:000] | Source Sample-Rate: 8.0KHz
[00:00:00:000] | Dest. Sample-Rate: 48.0KHz
[00:00:00:000] | Attenuation : 0.0db
[00:00:00:000] +------- MP2ENC ------
[00:00:00:000] | Bitrate method : CBR
[00:00:00:000] | MP2 bitrate : 192
[00:00:00:000] | Channels Mode : Stereo
[00:00:00:000] | Error Protection: Yes
[00:00:00:000] +---------------------

3) I do expect a small file size. Reason is, I got tired of waiting 2-3 hours through a full length conversion only to have this fail. I've been working with this error for about 2 months, trying different options, trying to understand and read as much as I can so I can fix it myself. I'm at the end of patience, so to further my experimentation, I downloaded a smaller .AVI and have using that to play with. The video (dogfoot.avi) reports out as 22 secs long.

So, am I now correct in assuming something's wrong with BeSweet? Also, in the interest of consistency, I'm not running anything through DVD2SVCD and leaving that same conversion as is, open and on screen, until this gets narrowed down and hopefully resolved.

Thanks. And I'll be standing by...

[Nick]

OK. I suspect there is something funny about this AVI. Even for one so short, I would expect to see filesizes for the audio and mpv of x MB rather than x KB.

Firstly, try the latest build of DVD2SVCD, as some audio extraction issues have been fixed. Secondly try both Internal and WFV routines for audio extraction (see dropdown box in audio tab).

The BeSweet log shows the process lasts for 0.0 seconds! There is clearly something at the very beginning of this file that DVD2SVCD really doesn't like.

I presume you have tried the Resave-from-VDubMod trick in the first post of the AVI problems sticky...

[whftherb]

OK, I've uninstalled the old and completely installed the all new. Everything went through without a problem. Fired up the project again. Ensured MPEG5.1 was off and Stereo was on. There are BeSweet sub-settings (for AC6 and AC3) which I left alone. Tried it with VFW selected and with Internal selected. Same error each time through. Just as a lark, I tried it with "Convert Audio" checked with both those settings. Same error each time. So is it the AVI? It plays fine in WMP, sound OK, video OK but I know that probably doesn't mean much.

Here's what I did just a moment ago. I took some screenshots of DVD2SVCD and GSpot and posted them to ImageShack. Maybe a quick look will be able to tell what setting is off:

http://img449.imageshack.us/img449/612/dvd2svcdconversiontab9mt.th.png (http://img449.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dvd2svcdconversiontab9mt.png)

http://img449.imageshack.us/img449/174/gspotsshot2ef.th.png (http://img449.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gspotsshot2ef.png)

http://img449.imageshack.us/img449/5782/dvd2svcdframeservertab2rl.th.png (http://img449.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dvd2svcdframeservertab2rl.png)

http://img449.imageshack.us/img449/334/dvd2svcdencodertab4gk.th.png (http://img449.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dvd2svcdencodertab4gk.png)

http://img449.imageshack.us/img449/364/dvd2svcdaudiotab1yt.th.png (http://img449.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dvd2svcdaudiotab1yt.png)

Next thing if this doesn't help - I could try another short AVI. I'll start the search now. Note I've tried 2 other different movie style "full length" .avi-s and got the same result which got me into this. BTW, yes I have converted quite a few AVIs to DVD before this. Many came out OK, a few had audio synch issues. I suppose I could take another different full length .avi and try to use VDub to cut a small chunk off and try that. Sound sensible?

(Hope these ImageShack links come out...)

Again, I'll be standing by and interested in what might come next.

Thanks.