Why is audio missing from MP4 video?

Question

I am using - - Adobe Premiere Elements 10, Windows OS7
I have 11GBs of high quality (1.5GB = 15 min) mp4 video clips and I would like to edit and burn a couple of DVDs. When I import the clips they look fine, but there is no audio. (Yes, I have audio elsewhere on my computer and can hear these clips when I use any other player.)
I tried converting them to .avi with Format Factory and I *can* hear them when I import to Adobe, but they are now "frozen" or "jumpy" and it is very difficult to navigate through the clips because the Play/Pause button has quite a time lag before responding.
Should I convert to some other format? I'd like to keep as much quality as possible. I did convert them all to VOBs and made a "test" disc, but it dropped 11GB down so low that it will all fit on a 4.7GB disc. I'd rather make 2 discs and keep the quality up (though the one I made looks and sounds pretty good).
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

Val8583
Let me recap to make sure we are in sync on this.
Knowing what you started with and the video properties as they evolve through needed conversion....
You come telling us and demonstrating to us that you have source video
AVCHD.mp4 (1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 frames per second) and that has MPEG1 audio.
When you import that into Premiere Elements 10 Windows, you get video but no audio.
The destination for that Timeline is NTSC_Widescreen Dolby DVD.
In terms of setting the correct project settings, it would be important to know if you have
interlaced or progressive video. But, since you not hear audio at that point, more
important/pressing things to pursue.
Aside from the pressing audio issue, at this point the choice of project preset would still be
NTSC/AVCHD/Full HD1080i30 (if you have interlaced video)
or
NTSC/DSLR/1080p/DSLR 1080p30@ 29.97 (if you have progressive video).
Either way, we need a 1920 x 1080 frame size project preset to match the 1920 x 1080 frame size of your source so that
when you are in the Edit area you can edit your video in the correct space there. The final export setting is another matter. You
should not be using a NTSC DV Widescreen project preset for a 1920 x 1080 video import.
AVCHD.mp4 with MPEG1 audio (no Premiere Elements sound) to ????.avi with ???? audio (unstable in Premiere Elements but with sound)
Conversion of the problem file sounds like a reasonable next step. And, you indicate that you do convert
to an ".avi" file which has then has audio with the video in Premiere Elements 10, but the file is highly
unstable in Premiere Elements 10. But, when I ask what video compression goes with the .avi wrapper, you
wrote
I just drag/drop the files to "Convert All to (whatever)" and the software does it.
All .avi files are not created equal. And, AVCHD.avi, if that is what you ended up with, is highly unstable, and for most will
not import into Premiere Elements. So, now the pressing questions include:
a. what is the video compression and audio compression and other properties of this .avi file with the stability problems in Premiere Elements 10
b. again, what are you setting as the project preset to match the properties specific to the source .avi.
Now back to the present
If you use Format Factory you should have control over your conversion settings. AVCHD.mp4 is a stable format for Premiere Elements. I suspect that the MPEG1 is problem. So, we agree conversion is the way.
I would suggest taking the time to set the settings for your converter so that you produce AVCHD.mp4 (1920 x 1080 @ 29.97 progressive frames per second) and use AAC Stereo for the audio. Then bring that file into Premiere Elements 10 with the project preset of
NTSC
DSLR
1080p
DSLR 1080p30@ 29.97
and proceed, ending with the Share/Disc/DVD disc with preset = NTSC_Widescreen_Dolby DVD.
Since this project is destined for DVD-VIDEO widescreen on DVD, you could use your converter to produce NTSC DV AVI Widescreen and then import that into a Premiere Elements 10 project with the project preset =
NTSC
DV Widescreen
and proceed, ending with the Share/Disc/DVD disc with preset = NTSC_Widescreen_Dolby DVD.
As for disc capacity, the standard DVD disc 4.7 GB/120 minutes is in reality 4.38 GB. And the DVD disc double layer single sided 8.5 GB/240 minutes is in reality 7.38 GB. When you get to the burn dialog Quality Area (just before you hit Burn), look to see the values for Space Required and Bitrate (have a check mark next to "Fit Content to Available Space"). If you see a Bitrate reading below the max 8.00 Mbps, then go to the DVD double layer single sided disc or use two DVD standard discs.
Do your intended viewers have players that support playback of DVD double layer single sided discs?
Please review.
I will try to make the reply not so long next time. I wanted to cover all the bases this time.
We will be watching for your progress.
Any quesitons or need clarification on anything, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you.
ATR