No / empty / blank audio on 2nd (second) track at bitrate of 80 (eighty)??!

[JFerguson]

Just noticed this on a couple of recent rips where I switched from doing 96 to 80 kilobits for the second audio track (commentary). No sound could be heard when switching to the second audio track on the finished SVCD.

I've confirmed it with a few quick tests I did this afternoon on a short chapter from a movie. At 96, I got sound; at 80 I get nothing; at 64, I got sound. In each case, an Encoded_audio_2.mp2 file of length (non-zero byted) was created, but the one generated at 80 kilobits will not play (i.e., in Windows Media Player).

I'll post the log files here, but I compared them to their 96 kilobit counterparts and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Any ideas? Thanks...


DVD2SVCD_LOG.TXT:

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:27:20 PM
- DVD to SVCD Conversion
- DVD2SVCD ver. 1.0.9 build 3
--------------------------------------------------------
Initializing
Initializing finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:27:22 PM
- Analyzing subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x20 Language: English
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x23 Language: English
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x21 Language: Español
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x22 Language: Français
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x24 Language: Español
Subtitle found: StreamID: 0x25 Language: Français

Executing subtitle selection/verification.
Subtitle selection/verification accepted.
1 subtitle streams selected.
Saving Subtitles ini file
--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:27:31 PM
- Free on drive D: 13795.40 mb
- Internal rip
--------------------------------------------------------
Preparing vobfiles to be ripped:
- D:\MTest\VTS_04_1.vob
- D:\MTest\VTS_04_2.vob
- D:\MTest\VTS_04_3.vob

Ripping: D:\MTest\VTS_04_1.vob
Ripping finished. Speed: 2335

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:27:57 PM
- DVD2AVI
--------------------------------------------------------
Creating DVD2AVI INI file:
- C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.INI

Variable settings:
iDCT_Algorithm: 32-bit SSE MMX

Executing DVD2AVI.
Executing DVD2AVI. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe" -CS=2 -YR=1 -EXIT -OF=[D:\MTest2\DVD2AVI_Project_file] -IF=[D:\MTest2\VTS_04_1.vob]
Analyzing DVD2AVI Project file
Force Film activated!
Framerate: 23976
DVD2AVI processing done.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:28:05 PM
- Free on drive D: 13738.38 mb
- Extracting the subtitles.
--------------------------------------------------------

Subtitle extraction finished. Extracted these subtitles:
SVCD Stream no: 1 Language: English Num. of subs: 22

Saving Subtitles ini file
--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:28:11 PM
- Free on drive D: 13738.07 mb
- AUDIO Extraction
--------------------------------------------------------
Found AC3 stream id: 0x83
Filename: D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_2.ac3
Found AC3 stream id: 0x80
Filename: D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Audio1 delay: -320 ms
Audio2 delay: -352 ms
Audio extraction finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:28:15 PM
- Free on drive D: 13731.39 mb
- AUDIO conversion
--------------------------------------------------------

Converting Audio to MP2. Filename: D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_1.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_1.ac3" -output "D:\MTest2\Encoded_audio_1.mp2" -logfile "D:\MTest2\Encoded_audio_1.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -g max ) -ota( -d -320 ) -ssrc( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 192 -m s )
Audio conversion of D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_1.ac3 finished.


Converting Audio to MP2. Filename: D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_2.ac3
Executing BeSweet. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_2.ac3" -output "D:\MTest2\Encoded_audio_2.mp2" -logfile "D:\MTest2\Encoded_audio_2.log" ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -g max ) -ota( -d -352 ) -ssrc( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 80 -m s )
Audio conversion of D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_2.ac3 finished.

Audio conversion finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:29:18 PM
- Free on drive D: 13728.04 mb
- Converting Pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
Converting: D:\ShallowHal.BMP
Converting: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DefaultChangeCD.bmp
Finished converting pictures
--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:29:26 PM
- Free on drive D: 13726.26 mb
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft
--------------------------------------------------------

Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.
StreamSectors: 832542788
AudioSectors: 3260572
VideoPAPO: 12846024
ScanOffsetBytes: 2518
SeqAligningBytes: 160007
DVDBytes: 0
VideoEndHeader: 4
SubtitleSectors: 132468
EmptySectors: 238.00
PictureSectors: 600.00
PureMPEGStream: 816141194.93
Seconds: 94.50
CalcMPEGStream: 816141194.93
Frames: 2098
CDSize: 800.00
Cut point 794.00
Variable Settings:
Frames: 2098
Anti Noise Filter: Off
Passes: 4
Image Quality: 17
VAF file creation: On
Video Encoding Mode: Multipass VBR
Min. bitrate: 300
Max. bitrate: 2530
Avg. Bitrate: 2230
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (borders added, encoded as 4:3)

---AVS Begin---
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\SIMPLE~1\SIMPLE~1.DLL")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\MPEG2Dec\mpeg2dec.dll")
mpeg2source("D:\MTest2\DVD2AV~1.D2V")
SimpleResize(480,360)
AddBorders(0,60,0,60)
ResampleAudio(44100)
----AVS End----

Closing program
CCE Max Speed: 1.020
Video Encoding finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:37:31 PM
- Free on drive D: 13702.21 mb
- Video Pulldown
--------------------------------------------------------
Executing Pulldown. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pulldown\pulldown.exe" "D:\MTest2\Encoded_Video_CCE_NTSC.mpv" "D:\MTest2\Pulldown_Encoded_Video_NTSC.mpv"
Video pulldown finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:37:40 PM
- Free on drive D: 13678.85 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "D:\MTest2\TitlePicture.bmp.mpg"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:37:43 PM
- Free on drive D: 13678.31 mb
- Converting Pictures from ES to PS
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "D:\MTest2\ChangeCDPicture.bmp.mpg"
--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:37:46 PM
- Free on drive D: 13679.28 mb
- Multiplexing and cutting
--------------------------------------------------------
Saving bbMPEG settings: C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\default.ini
Offset in Seconds: 0
Executing bbMPEG.
Variable Settings:
Movie offset: 0 seconds
Cut point: 794 mb

Executing RunbbMPEG. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe" "D:\MTest2\bbMPEG_Muxed_File.mpg"
Multiplexing and cutting finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:37:53 PM
- Free on drive D: 13652.49 mb
- Determining length of audio
--------------------------------------------------------
Analyzing: D:\MTest2\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
87.301 seconds D:\MTest2\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
Analyzing finished.

Saving Subtitle Timecodes.
SVCD subtitles.
Length of D:\MTest2\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg
87
--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:37:58 PM
- Free on drive D: 13652.47 mb
- Multiplexing SVCD Subtitles
--------------------------------------------------------
Muxing English subtitles, CD 1
Executing SubMux. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\WinSubMux\WinSubMux.exe" -s0 "D:\MTest2\bbMPEG_Muxed_File00.mpg" "D:\MTest2\Subs\en1-1.sub" "D:\MTest2\bbMPEG_Muxed_File-subbed00.mpg"
Muxing subtitles finished
--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:38:07 PM
- Free on drive D: 13625.55 mb
- Creating CD-Images using VCDXBuild
--------------------------------------------------------
- No. of chapters to create: 1

CD image #1: CD_Image_File_CD1.bin

Executing VCDXBuild. Commandline:
"C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe" --verbose --cue-file="D:\MTest2\CD_Image_File_CD1.cue" --bin-file="D:\MTest2\CD_Image_File_CD1.bin" "D:\MTest2\VCDXBuild_Script_1.xml"
CD-Image creation finished.

--------------------------------------------------------
- 8/4/2002 4:38:12 PM
- Free on drive D: 13595.94 mb
- SVCD Creation finished!
--------------------------------------------------------


Encoded_audio_2.log:

BeSweet v1.4b12 by DSPguru.
--------------------------
Using azid.dll v1.8 (b825) by Midas (midas@egon.gyaloglo.hu).
Using ssrc.dll v1.28 by Naoki Shibata & Dg (shibatch@geocities.co.jp).
Using MP2enc.dll v1.129 (23/5/2002), Engine 1.129 <http://www.cdex.n3.net>.

Logging start : 08/04/02 , 16:28:52.

C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe -core( -input D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_2.ac3 -output D:\MTest2\Encoded_audio_2.mp2 -logfile D:\MTest2\Encoded_audio_2.log ) -azid( -L -3db -c normal -g max ) -ota( -d -352 ) -ssrc( --rate 44100 ) -2lame( -e -b 80 -m s )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSweet -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : D:\MTest2\Extracted_audio_2.ac3
[00:00:00:000] | Output: D:\MTest2\Encoded_audio_2.mp2
[00:00:00:000] | Floating-Point Process: Yes
[00:00:00:-352] +-------- AZID -------
[00:00:00:-352] | Output Stereo mode: Dolby surround compatible
[00:00:00:-352] | Total Gain: 9.1dB, Compression: Normal
[00:00:00:-352] | LFE levels: To LR -3.0dB, To LFE 0.0dB
[00:00:00:-352] | Center mix level: BSI
[00:00:00:-352] | Surround mix level: BSI
[00:00:00:-352] | Dialog normalization: No
[00:00:00:-352] | Rear channels filtering: No
[00:00:00:-352] +-------- SSRC -------
[00:00:00:-352] | Source Sample-Rate: 48.0KHz
[00:00:00:-352] | Dest. Sample-Rate: 44.1KHz
[00:00:00:-352] | Attenuation : 0.0db
[00:00:00:-352] +------- MP2ENC ------
[00:00:00:-352] | Bitrate method : CBR
[00:00:00:-352] | MP2 bitrate : 80
[00:00:00:-352] | Channels Mode : Stereo
[00:00:00:-352] | Error Protection: Yes
[00:00:00:-352] +---------------------
[00:01:27:264] Conversion Completed !
[00:01:27:264] Actual Avg. Bitrate : 80kbps
[00:00:23:000] <-- Transcoding Duration
Logging ends : 08/04/02 , 16:29:15.

[JFerguson]

DVD2SVCD.INI:

[Executables]
PVA Executable=
vStrip Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\vStrip\vStrip.exe
DVD2AVI Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DVD2AVI\DVD2AVI.exe
BeSweet Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\BeSweet\BeSweet.exe
MadPlay Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\MADPlay\madplay.exe
MPEG51 Executable=
CCE Executable=C:\Program Files\Custom Technology\Cinema Craft Encoder SP\cctsp.exe
VFAPI Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VFAPI\Reader\VFAPIConv-EN.exe
TMPGEnc Executable=
Pulldown Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\pulldown\pulldown.exe
SubMux Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\WinSubMux\WinSubMux.exe
bbMPEG Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\bbMPEG\RunbbMPEG.exe
I-Author Executable=
VCDImager Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\VCDImager.exe
VCDXBuild Executable=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\VCDImager\VCDXBuild.exe
CDMage Executable=
RunPerCDImage Executable=
RunFinal Executable=
MPG2Dec DLL=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\MPEG2Dec\mpeg2dec.dll
InverseTelecine DLL=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\InverseTelecine\Donald Graft\decomb.dll
Subtitle DLL=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Avisynth Subtitler.dll
BMP Loader DLL=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\Avisynth BMP Loader.dll
SimpleResize DLL=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\SimpleResize\SimpleResize.dll
Title Picture=D:\ShallowHal.BMP
Change CD Picture=C:\Program Files\DVD2SVCD\DefaultChangeCD.bmp
[Folders]
PVA Folder=D:\MTest2\
DVD2AVI Folder=D:\MTest2\
vStrip Folder=D:\MTest2\
Audio Folder=D:\MTest2\
CCE Folder=D:\MTest2\
TMPGEnc Folder=D:\MTest2\
Pulldown Folder=D:\MTest2\
bbMPEG Folder=D:\MTest2\
I-Author Folder=D:\MTest2\
Subpictures Folder=D:\MTest2\Subs
[Settings]
XPos=163
YPos=45
FirstRun=0
Resize AVS Position=1
TemporalSmoother AVS Position=2
Sharpen AVS Position=3
UsePVA2SVCD=0
UseDVD2SVCD=1
UseAVI2SVCD=0
UseMPEG1=0
UseMPEG2=1
Convert to Canopus codec=0
Convert to Divx4=0
Use Frameselection=0
New Default Folder=0
Anamorphic Aspect=1
DVD2SVCD Level=0
UseDVDRip=1
UsevStrip=0
UseInternalRip=1
Eject DVD=0
iDCT=0
DVD2AVI Pause=0
Luminance Gain=0
Luminance Offset=0
Audio1Downsampling=1
Audio2Downsampling=1
Audio1BitRate=9
Audio2BitRate=4
tooLame Mode=0
Autodetect Azid Gain=1
Folder Structure Source=
Folder Structure Video=
Folder Structure Audio=
Folder Structure Muxed=
Folder Structure Subs=Subs
Intra=8,16,19,22,26,27,29,34,16,16,22,24,27,29,34,37,19,22,26,27,29,34,34,38,22,22,26,27,29,34,37,40,22,26,27,29,32,35,40,48,26,27,29,32,35,40,48,58,26,27,29,34,38,46,56,69,27,29,35,38,46,56,69,83
NonIntra=16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,19,20,21,22,23,24,26,27,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28,21,22,23,24,26,27,28,30,22,23,24,26,27,28,30,31,23,24,25,27,28,30,31,33
Matrice Preset=
Use deafult Matrice=1
LFEDownmixLR6Ch=-3
LFEDownmixLFE6Ch=0
CenterDownmix6Ch=0
SurroundDownmix6Ch=0
DynamicCompression6Ch=1
StereoDownmixType6Ch=0
RearChannelFiltering6Ch=0
DialogNorm6Ch=0
LFEDownmixLR2Ch=-3
LFEDownmixLFE2Ch=0
CenterDownmix2Ch=-1
SurroundDownmix2Ch=-1
DynamicCompression2Ch=1
StereoDownmixType2Ch=0
RearChannelFiltering2Ch=0
DialogNorm2Ch=0
No Audio Conversion=0
TemporalSmoother Strength=2
TemporalSmoother Radius=1
Use TemporalSmoother=0
Use Sharpen=0
Sharpen Value=0
ResizeMethod=2
Avisynth Bicubic b Value=0
Avisynth Bicubic c Value=0.75
Flip Vertival=0
Add ResampleAudio=1
Resize To=0
Use CCE=1
Use TMPGEnc=0
CCE Safe Mode=0
NoOfpasses=4
CCE Image Quality=17
CCE Anti noise value=2
CCE Anti noise=0
CBR=0
One Pass VBR=0
Multi Pass VBR=1
CCE Field Order=2
Progressive=1
Auto Intra DC=0
DVD Compliant=0
Restrict auto I frame insertion=0
Close all GOPs=0
Intra DC=2
M GOP=3
MN GOP=5
SEQ Header=1
Constrained Parameter Set=1
TMPGEnc Rate Control Mode=2
TMPGEnc Motion search precision=4
TMPGEnc Field Order=2
Frames pr spread=50
Spread=40
OffsetFixed CQ Value=80
Use fixed CQ Value=0
DC component precision=2
Output YUV data as Basic YCbCr not CCIR601=0
Use floating point DCT=1
No motion search for still picture part by half pixel=1
Soften block noise=0
Soften Intra=35
Soften NonIntra=35
TMPGEnc GOP I Pictures=1
TMPGEnc GOP P Pictures=4
TMPGEnc GOP B Pictures=3
TMPGEnc SEQ Headers=1
TMPGEnc Max frames in GOP=0
TMPGEnc Close GOPs=0
TMPGEnc Detect Scene Change=1
Enabled Padding=0
Dont Delete Files=1
Create VAF=1
QFactor=5
Linear quantizer scale=1
Zigzag scanning order=1
Use2Streams=1
Pri1Audio1=28
Pri1Audio2=28
Pri2Audio1=-1
Pri2Audio2=-1
Sub1=28
Sub2=-1
Sub3=-1
Sub4=-1
Sub5=-1
Sub6=-1
Sub7=-1
Sub8=-1
Azid Gain Offset=6
SubOutputPalette0=clBlack
SubBlendPalette0=0
SubOutputPalette1=clWhite
SubBlendPalette1=15
SubOutputPalette2=$001E1E1E
SubBlendPalette2=15
SubOutputPalette3=clGray
SubBlendPalette3=15
Rip subtitles=1
Min. Delay. Between Subtitles=100
Resize Subtitles=100
SVCD subtitles=1
CVD subtitles=0
Permanent subtitles=0
PAL Y-Pos=-1
NTSC Y-Pos=-1
bbMPEG MPEG1=0
bbMPEG VCD=0
bbMPEG MPEG2=0
bbMPEG SVCD=1
bbMPEG DVD=0
bbMPEG VBR=1
bbMPEG Pad VCD=0
bbMPEG Write PEC=1
bbMPEG Add Scan Offsets=1
bbMPEG Align Sequence Headers=1
bbMPEG Use Private Stream 2=0
bbMPEG Computed Bitrate=1
bbMPEG TimeStamps=0
bbMPEG Pulldown=2
bbMPEG MuxRate=0
bbMPEG Pack Size=2324
bbMPEG Packets Pack=1
bbMPEG Video Buffer=230
bbMPEG Audio 1 Buffer=4
bbMPEG Audio 2 Buffer=4
bbMPEG videoDelay Adjustment=180
bbMPEG audioDelay Adjustment=180
bbMPEG audio1Delay Adjustment=180
Use MPEGAV=0
MinsHigh1=50
MinsHigh2=76
MinsHigh3=100
MinsHigh4=125
MinsHigh5=163
NumCd1=1
NumCd2=1
NumCd3=2
NumCd4=2
NumCd5=3
NumCd6=3
CDSize 1=800
CDSize 2=800
CDSize 3=740
CDSize 4=800
CDSize 5=740
CDSize 6=800
MaxBitrate=2530
MinBitrate=300
MaxAvg=2230
MinAvg=1600
Adjust Audio Bitrate=0
Use Min. Avg.=0
Force Film=0
Movie Offset=0
CDOverlap=2
UseCDOverlap=1
FixedChapters=0
DVDChapters=1
PBCType=0
Data Preparer=dvd2svcd
Use I-Author=0
Use VCDImager=0
No images=0
Use VCDXBuild=1
Length of Chapters=60
Use TitlePicture=1
Use ChangeCD Picture=1
Use ChangeCD Picture on All=1
Use EntrySVD=0
Save XML=1
Save Movie Info=1
ProcessPriority=1
SmartDeinterlace Mode=2
SmartDeinterlace Treshold=10
SmartDeinterlace Denoise=1
SmartDeinterlace Blend=0
SmartDeinterlace Fast=1
Edit Avisynth Script file=0
Use CDMage=0
RunPerCDImage=0
RunPerCDImage Params=
RunFinal=0
RunFinal Params=
Automatic Shutdown=0

[UltimateDBZ]

That's very strange that it would happen only @ 80. Have you attempted this with other DVDs which have worked properly? Or do they all fail in this same way? It may be an issue with BeSweet, in which case I'm sure DSPGuru will lend a hand :)

[JFerguson]

I just recently dropped from 96 to 80 kilobits for the second audio track. It's just commentary, so I figured less quality there = more quality for video.

I noticed this anomaly on 2 or 3 of the last DVD conversions (where I had switched to 80 kilobits).

I just reconverted one last night at 64 kilobits on the second audio track and its fine. Something's definitely going on at the 80 kilobit setting, though.

[UltimateDBZ]

Strange indeed.. can someone else comment on a similar experience? Perhaps attempt to recreate it and see if they have similar results? DSPGuru, your thoughts? A problem with BeSweet, or not?

[JFerguson]

Just did a fresh install of 1.09b3 on a completely different system, pulled a DVD (Pitch Black) at random from my collection and did two tests:

#1) 1st chapter, Audio 1/Audio 2 at 192Kb/96Kb
#2) 1st chapter, Audio 1/Audio 2 at 192Kb/80Kb

Same result. Test #1, both audio channels fine. Test #2, audio channel 2 has nothing.