MPEG Streamclip tp Produce Dolby Digial Audio

How do I get MPEG Streamclip to produce videos with Dolby Digital audio. I adjust the audio setting to AC3, but the file does not show up as Dolby on my receiver when I play it.

It says so right in the documentation. MPEG Streamclip can read AC3 (multichannel) but only writes two channels at a time. By default it converts audio to 2-channel stereo. It can pass through AC3 source to various file types but if you are converting to QuickTime then you need to get an AC3 codec. Open MPEG Streamclip, then do +Help > MPEG Streamclip Guide.+ Scroll down to +Audio Modes and Multichannel AC3.+
That section explains the handling of AC3 source. Default mode downmixes the channels (less the LFE channel) to 2-channel stereo. There is one mode (Surround) that can create a 2-channel Dolby ProLogic stereo track. "... Makes a Dolby Surround-compatible stereo sound. Using this special stereo sound, a Dolby Pro Logic amplifier with 6 speakers (5+1 subwoofer) may be able to reconstruct and play all the 6 channels of AC3. Use this mode only if your audio equipment has a Pro Logic decoder and can handle Dolby Surround." Note: the operative words are "may be able."
It would help if you provide details on what source material you are using, what you are converting it to and what you are attempting to play it back on. (Exact specs, makes/models, etc.)

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Getting Around MPEG Streamclip "No Audio" Problem

(Long post; apologies in advance.)
I needed to get around the MPEG Streamclip "no audio" problem that other people here have had. I just found a workaround that more-or-less works for my specific situation ... and it's free to boot.
Since other people are having this problem, I thought I'd let you know what happened to me, so you can decide if this is something you want to try. If you do, I suggest posting replies here so we all can learn (if that's okay with the board moderators here).
QTAmateur for MacOS X is available at http://www.mikeash.com/software/qtamateur/ . The developer has a somewhat full explanation of what it does at the site, so I won't repeat it here (and I don't get anything for talking about it here; I just want to share the good news).
Right now I'm field recording with a Flip Mino camera (non-HD), which saves video/audio to an AVI file (3ivx MPEG-4, 640x480) at 30 fps, with 44.1 kHz audio (Microsoft ADPCM). Funny thing is the files from my Flip actually imported into FCE without any conversion, but I had to render everything. And the video looked like crap. Hated the rendering and the look, so I searched for other solutions.
After paying for a couple of things that didn't work (lessons learned there), I finally found MPEG Streamclip. Since I'm using Snow Leopard, I sunk the additional $20 into the dang MPEG-2 playback component after my initial export try didn't produce any audio. After the component install, I still didn't have audio. Grrrrr.
So I Googled a bunch of keywords, and I somehow stumbled across this QTA package. Snow Leopard users should note a minor drawback here: QTA needs QuickTime 7, which gets blown away in a Snow Leopard upgrade and is not included in new Macs with Snow Leopard. Users can get off of their Install DVD, though, so it's not a huge deal.
When exporting from QTA, I matched its settings (audio and video) with the ones I found in this document: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12274888&#12274888 . QTA's export interface is actually QT7s, so at least that's familiar.
The only problem I'm having is that even though I set QTA to export at 29.97 fps, the exported files are still at 30 fps. A quick change in FCE upon import is the only thing I needed to use the file without rendering. I also had to change the fps setting on my LiveType files.
The only thing I need to figure out is to how to match up some studio-recorded audio with all of the above, so I don't have to render the studio audio and so it comes out at the equivalent of 30 fps. I think all I need to do is record at 44.1 KHz and I'm okay.
Of course, this is all my experience, and I realize others may not be able to work with this kind of setup. But I think this is an interesting workaround .. I wouldn't really call it a full solution, though, mainly because of the 29.97 fps versus 30 fps aspect.
One other quick thing: I'm not sure if this works without that $20 MPEG-2 playback component from Apple (thanks for that charge, Apple!), since I already had the component installed when I discovered QTA. Someone without the component, though, can download this and see if it works. If it does, then we all know that we don't need to spend the extra $20 for it to work.
If you decide to take the plunge, please let us know here. Thanks for reading.

@Tom and @Meg:
Thanks so much for your replies (speedy, too!). I especially want to thank Meg, who took the time to replicate the problem (which confirms to myself that I'm not nuts ). At least I know I have an ultimate "savior" in QT7 Pro.
Before I spend that final $30, though, I want to see if Tom can help, based on what the QT Inspector says about my .avi files from the Flip. Here's what it says:
VID00001.AVI
Format: Generic MPEG-4, 640 x 480, Millions
Microsoft ADPCM, Mono, 44.100 kHz
FPS: 30
Data Rate: 3408.53 kbits/s
Normal Size: 640 x 480 pixels
Current Size: 640 x 480 pixels (Actual)
(that's word for word, except for the source [file location]; wish I could figure out how to paste in the window from my Grab of it.)
I've already done the exports in the same way Meg indicated in her reply, trying all kinds of combinations. When exporting, though, I've always used DV/DVCPRO w/audio @ uncompressed 48k, and frame size @ 720x480 @ 29.97fps settings (saw those in another post here at the forum). I'm thinking those aren't contributing to my situation.
Whaddya think, Tom?
BTW, the biggest reason why I want to have the audio is to easily sync the audio off the digital recorder (I hook myself up with a lav mic) to the audio coming off of the Flip. I do the ol' "triple clap" trick to sync audio, so that helps -- thank goodness for audio waveforms in FCE.
Once synced, I then delete the Flip audio and move the digital recorder audio up to A1/A2 (although I delete the A2 audio channel). Sounds 1000% better than the Flip audio, as I record outside and the Flip mic picks up wind big-time.
BTW, Tom: I bought your book earlier this week. It's really, really good. You could teach an entire college semester class off of this book, and do it well. I'm getting to more of the lessons this week.

No audio - what exact demux option in MPEG Streamclip?

I have a bunch of MPEG1 Muxed video files from my brother-in-law's still camera. Imported into FCE, video is fine, no audio. Read many message boards and determined that the files are muxed (audio and video together) so then downloaded MPEG Streamclip. I've tried varioius Demux, Export, and Convert options, but still no audio in either FCE or even QuickTime Player. As an experiment, I sent a file to my Dell. Both video and audio played in Windows Media Player. So the audio is there, but why can't I get it on my Mac and import it into FCE? What exact Demux, Export, or Convert option should I be using in MPEG Streamclip? Or is there an FCE setting I'm missing? I also tried bbDemux with no luck. If you have an idea, please be specific!

Thank you, Meg The Dog. That worked just fine. You didn't specify which Export/Convert/Demux menu item to use so I used simply Export to QuickTime. The other method (Demux to Unscaled M2V and AIFF) produced audible files but your method was more straightforward for importing into FCE and may be better quality.
For the record, here is what the MPEG Streamclip user's guide says:
Demux to Unscaled M2V and AIFF...
demuxes the stream and creates an "unscaled" M2V video file and an AIFF audio file; you can import these two files in Final Cut Pro 4 or HD (and also in Final Cut Express if you have the MPEG-2 component); usual rendering time is required. Please DO NOT use drag & drop to import the files (Final Cut may crash due to an internal bug), but open the M2V file using the File menu and the AIFF file will be automatically linked (if you used the same name for the two files).
The "unscaled" M2V file is a demuxed file which tells QuickTime and Final Cut to not prescale it, e.g. to 720 x 540; it preserves its original size e.g. 720 x 576 or 720 x 480 so you won't lose quality when you render it. This is a special feature of MPEG Streamclip.
That, however, produces two files. Only need to import the .dv file, which is why I say your Export to QuickTime method is more straightforward.
Thanks for all the help. I still do not understand why the audio plays through my internal but not external speakers (any ideas?), but I will mark my question answered. I also wonder why muxed video files from a primarily still camera creates such a problem. Isn't this commonplace? How do people edit footage like this without jumping through all these hoops?

No audio in Quicktime AVI files in MPEG Streamclip

When I import a Quicktime AVI file into MPEG Streamclip to edit, there is no audio. Annoyingly, if I convert that AVI file into an MP4 file and then import it into Streamclip the audio is working; but the loss of image quality is not acceptable. Any suggestions? Thanks

*A few suggestions:*
Repair permissions & restart
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300832 Mac OS X: No audio from certain multimedia content
Trick/Tip: Open up GarageBand if installed then, open a program (optional).
Quit out of the GarageBand app.

Urgent!! Problems muxing .m2v files and audio!! MPEG Streamclip/Compressor

Hello!
I am under an urgent deadline to upload a short 6 min documentary clip for a client to review for screening this week. The footage was shot in 1080/60i HDV.
Usually, I find the best quality and fastest way to do this is to export directly from my FCP sequence using the '150 min Best Quality' DVD settings in compressor to get an .m2v video file and .ac3 audio file. Then I open the .m2v files in MPEG Streamclip which links it with my .ac3 file, then do 'Export MPEG with MP-2 audio". This gives me a single, muxed file that I can then upload to YouTube or Vimeo.
However, with this project, when I open up my .m2v file in MPEG Streamclip, it's recognizing the .ac3 file and I can see the info for it in the MPEG Streamclip window, but when I play the file in MPEG Streamclip or mux it, I don't hear any audio. Furthermore, after about 5 seconds into the clip, the playhead will continue moving, but the video will freeze, then maybe pick up again later. The .m2v video will play back smoothly in VLC player or Quicktime player, but not in MPEG Streamclip.
I've tried exporting different little sections of the timeline to see if maybe I had some corrupted footage or whatnot. I even exported a small clip from an older HDV project to test. But no matter where I export from, I am running into the same problem. I can bring the .m2v file and .ac3 file into DVD Studio Pro and burn a DVD with no problem, but I can't mux them. If I build the DVD file in DVD SP and try to open the .VOB file with MPEG Streamclip, I get the same problem. I even tried using a different software to mux (ffmpegX) but to no avail. When I try with ffmpegX, it either tells me I'm dropping frames, or if it works and it muxes it, when I open the MPEG file, it'll stutter at about 5 seconds in as well and I can't hear any audio, even though there is supposed to be audio in the muxed file.
I think I might have updated my Quicktime a few days ago with the system update, and maybe updated a few other things, so I don't know if this has any bearing on the problems I'm running into. But I was able just a few days ago to export HDV 1080/60i using this workflow without any problems.
I realize I have other export options, but this always seems to me to be the best quality and fastest way of doing it vs. encoding an H.264 which, on my machine is RIDICULOUSLY slow...I need to be uploading multiple versions of the cut to the client, and really need help! Thanks so much in advance!
J

what you want is an m2v program file. Export a reference copy from FCP (uncheck Make Movie Self Contained") That's very fast. Bring it into Compressor. In the settings panel find the MPEG-2 settings folder. Select Program Stream. Adjust to your liking and run. The audio and video will already be "muxed" when it's done and using compressor 3 you can set it to upload to YouTube, Mobile or similar sites.

An audio convertor like mpeg streamclip?

Can anyone suggest a free audio converotr similiar to video mpeg streamclip - to convert mp4 music tracks in itunes to use in final cut pro?
thanks
Johnny

if they are in iTunes already then go to *iTunes > Preferences... >> Advanced >> Importing* and change the *Import Using* popup to *AIFF Encoder* and the Settings to *Custom >> 48kHz, 16 bit, Stereo*
back in the main interface you can then just right-click a track and choose *Convert Selection to AIFF* from the context menu

MPEG Streamclip Audio Glitch

Hi, I've been using MPEG Streamclip without any problems... until recently. Has anyone else experiened audio dropping out or glitching when exporting mov's from VOB's?
The audio keeps dropping out in the same place, even when I run MPEG streamclip on a different G5. Playing back the DVD, the audio is fine, it's only when you listen to the mov that you hear the glitches.
Is this a common error? If so, what can do the job of MPEG Streamclip, without the nonsense with the audio glitching?

Well, not if the DVD plays back fine with no glitches. It's only the mov from MPEG Streamclip that has audio issues. I also used Drop2DV on the same VOB and the audio came out fine, however the lack of control in exporting makes me want to figure out what is wrong with MPEG Streamclip.

Mpeg Streamclip-Video fastforwards, audio out of sync

I'm using mpeg streamclip to convert files from a sony mini dvd camcorder .vob to quicktime dvcpro50, but the video intermittently fastforwards causing the audio to go out of sync, any hints?
Thanks, Schooner

you are the second person i have heard that has this problem. with the first, i never heard back, but one thing i suggested it to that person was to connect with component video and analog audio cables.
are you using HDMI? is this something that you could try?
what equipment are you using and what are the file types, bitrates, etc... of the files that exhibit this behavior? does it happen no matter what type of file you play?
* NEVER MIND * i just checked the first poster and see that you chimed in there to. sounds like a potential hardware / software defect. i get something simliar with my computers if i plug headphones in or sometimes with long quicktime files, the audio drifts.
when in doubt, hard power the unit off and try again, if you haven't already.

MPEG Streamclip imports .... shakey audio???

Per people's recommendations here, I have "hijacked" some video from homemade DVD's via MPEG Streamclip. The quality looks excellent. (It was either this way or with Toast or with Popcorn ... I settled for Streamclip.)
When I go to import and edit the video in Final Cut, once I render it to make a new film, I get clipped audio .... almost static-like. Any idea what's causing this? Some of the stuff I imported looks and sounds fine, then others sound bad once rendered in Final Cut.
Any advice?

Verify the audio you brought into FCP was 48khz/16bit.
x

When I upload/import a .AVI video into MPEG Streamclip, I lose the audio.

Whenever I upload a .AVI video into MPEG Streamclip, I lose the audio. The video plays fine in Quicktime but when I upload into MPEG Streamclip, the audio is replaced with some "clicking" sounds. Can someone please help me resolve this and fix it so that my audio gets imported as well? By the way, this is a problem that is only with .AVI files. When I try importing MP4 videos, they work fine and the audio gets imported as well. I need to resolve this so that I can convert my videos from .AVI to DV format with the sound. Thanks!

Basically you can only add a video file to Itunes if it is either MP4 or the other supported format h2.. <---- i forget what its called i had this problem when i first plugged my i-pod in and got extremely aggitated until i realised and sorted it
that said i dont therefore understand the convert for i-pod button when the only video files able to be added are already in ipod compatible format? doesnt make sense to me but then maybe im missing something i mean i am a nOOb!

MPEG Streamclip Issues - Audio

So, I just started using MPEG Streamclip to get my .MOD files onto Final Cut Express. I have a question that may lead to another question.
1. When I converted the clips, they came out with no audio. I tried "Convert to MPEG" and "Convert to MPEG with MP2 Audio" and they came out only video.
and
2. If I have to reconvert all of my (45) clips, is there a way that I can do them all at once instead of drag, click, wait, repeat?
Thanks in advance

You don't convert to MPEG, you convert to QuickTime.
There is a batch function in MPEG Streamclip. Look in the menus. I can't remember which one it's in.

MPEG Streamclip export. Audio not synced.

I have a ReplayTV (similar to Tivo), and use mReplay to download TV shows to my mac. I downloaded a show, and want to edit it. It downloads as quicktime file, but I can't edit the file when I open it in Quicktime. The little edit arrows are not there. So I import it into MPEG Streamclip, edit the clip, and then export it. But the audio is not synced with the video. I've played around with it quite a bit and can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. On the export, the settings I am using are: Export to MPEG-4, Compression is Apple MPEG4 Compressor, frame size is 720 x 480 (DV-NTSC). I've tried limiting the Frame Rate and Data Rate but that doesn't solve the problem. Any ideas on why it's doing this, and how I can solve this problem. Please help. Thanks for your consideration. Davi

The reason I have to different computers is because I use one to import and one to edit...I recently switched the import computer to FCX. I am importing 50 minute sermons captured in HD1080i60. When I use FC6, I would import it as HDV. The file would be a .mov When I use FCX, I just figured to do it the same way. Once its done importing, I try to quit FCX and it asks to quit background processes??? Never had this going on in FC 6...so I just stopped the rendering and quit FCX...then when I move the imported file into a project on FC6 everything goes fine until the export when the file fails to sync the audio...the audio is fine at the beginning but after a few special effects...the audio drags....I can alone think it has to do with my importing process...

No Audio in Mpeg Streamclip

I'm trying to convert files from a dvd recorder in mpeg streamclip to edit in Final Cut Express. It has been working fine until a few weeks ago when the audio from the DVD files are not there. I can play the files in VLC and audio is there but not in MPEG Streamclip. Obviously something has changed on my computer but I don't know what. here is what MPEG streamclip shows under stram info
Stream: VTS011.VOB
Path: /Volumes/DVD Video Recording/VIDEOTS/VTS_011.VOB
Type: VOB program stream
Duration: 0:16:54
Data Size: 572.48 MB
Bit Rate: 4.73 Mbps
Video Tracks:
224 MPEG-2, 720 × 480, 4:3, 29.97 fps, 6.12 Mbps, upper field first
Audio Tracks:
128 AC3 2/0, 48 kHz, 256 kbps
Stream Files:
VTS011.VOB (572.48 MB)
Thanks

Hi(Bonjour)!
You have to select a quicktime format supported natively by FCE to export. In this case DVCPRO 25 or 50 for video, AIFF 16 bit 48 kHz for audio.
Michel Boissonneault

MPEG Streamclip - audio sync

Hi gang,
I tried to use MPEG Streamclip to convert a DVD. The resulting video looks nice, but the audio gets progressively more out of sync as the file plays. Any suggestions as to what I have done wrong?
Cheers!

My original media is from a mini dvd sony camcorder, I xfered the mpeg (.vob) files to a hard drive, then drop them into "MPEG streamclip" to convert to a Quicktime DVCPRO50 movie which I'll change to Apple DV
When was down below.....Guess I read it wrong,my bad.....
Re: mpeg2 streamclip conversion for FCE
Posted: Jan 18, 2009 9:46 AM in response to: Schooner17
Reply Email
In MPEG Streamclip, once you've set an IN and OUT point (if needed), export to QuickTime. When the export window opens, Use the drop-down compressor menu and choose Apple DV/DVCPro (NTSC or PAL, depending on your area). Make sure to set the quality at 100% and the audio for 48khz, 16 bit.
If you have several clips or DVDs to convert, you can save your settings for quick use later.
-DH

MPEG Streamclip rip - codec for FCE + QT viewing on Mac AND PC?

Based on the helpful advice of this forum, I am ripping a bunch of DVD's of home movies into a large number of discrete .mov files that I can (1) import into FCE for editing and (2) view directly and effortlessly using QT on both a Mac AND a PC (I want to send these files to others). Maintaining image quality is very important given the less than perfect MPEG 2 source material.
I am following the suggested process using MPEG STREAMCLIP, including trimming and light cutting of unwanted sections before creation of each file.
My question is what is the best export process and settings for my situation?. Given the less than ideal quality of the MPEG-2 source, I would like to avoid further degradation if possible. Choices:
1. EXPORT to .mov using AIC codec -- clearly the best choice for editing and QT playback on a MAC -- but unable to playback using QT on a PC without buying/loading the AIC software. This is a problem since I want the ability to give the .mov files to others and allow them play on a PC without instructions or the hassle of a software download.
2. EXPORT to .mov with another Codec -- but which CODEC? --which codec allows effortless playback with QT/ MAC and PC while retaining original MPEG-2 quality -- and allows for later editing in FCE?
3. SAVE AS .mov -- my understanding is that this copies the original MPEG-2 (after trimming and cuts) and eliminates transcoding. Is this accurate? If so, will it play effortlessly on a MAC and PC? Am I sacrificing anything when importing into FCE (other than the need to transcode from MPEG-2 into AIC)
Thanks in advance for the help.

Martin, I Exported my rip using MPEGstreamclip DV/DVCPRO-NTSC full quality, then exported QT Movie out of FC after editing a bit. Put it back to DVD using DVDSP and used Compressor due to tutorials I watched from Larry Jordon, saying I would get a better quality compression using compressor. I know you are probably scratching your head at this point saying, wait, FCE doesn't come with Compressor or DVDSP. At this time I'll have to admit, I have FCstudio but started out with Express and like the FCE forum better then the FC forum.
The setting in compressor I used are:
Name: MPEG-2 6.2Mbps 2-pass
Description: Fits up to 90 minutes of video with Dolby Digital audio at 192 Kbps or 60 minutes with AIFF audio on a DVD-5
File Extension: m2v
Estimated file size: 2.72 GB/hour of source
Type: MPEG-2 video elementary stream
Usage:SD DVD
Video Encoder
Format: M2V
Width and Height: Automatic
Pixel aspect ratio: Default
Crop: None
Padding: None
Frame rate: (100% of source)
Frame Controls: Automatically selected: Off
Start timecode from source
Aspect ratio: Automatic
Selected 16:9
Field dominance: Automatic
Average data rate: 6.2 (Mbps)
2 Pass VBR enabled
Maximum data rate: 7.7 (Mbps)
High quality
Best motion estimation
Closed GOP Size: 1/2 second, Structure: IBBP
DVD Studio Pro meta-data enabled

MPEG Streamclip tp Produce Dolby Digial Audio

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