Audio Problems/PCM to MPEG2/Pentax Optio S4

  • Thread starter Thread starter DM
  • Start date Start date
D

DM

It now appears that, in certain cases, MM2 converts a PCM audio file to
MPEG2 when the file is dropped into MM2's Storyboard.

The result of this is inaudible audio because - correct me if I'm wrong,
please! - the MPEG2 audio codec is not one of the eleven audio codecs
included in Windows XP.

The PCM codec is included. That is why PCM audio files play back perfectly
after being imported into MM2's Collections.

Why this should happen is beyond comprehension. It seems ridiculous that a
Micorsoft program would convert something into a file that another MSFT
program cannot support!

In any case, I downloaded an MPEG2 decoder from here>
www.elecard.com/download and installed it. But, I am still having playback
problems.

How can I make MM2 or XP use the Elecard decoder when a video/audio file is
in Storyboard?

Many thanks.

D.
 
PapaJohn,

It was on your site that I read about MM2 converting PCM to MPEG2.

Presumably, in order to fix this problem, an MPEG2 codec has to be installed
into XP. Correct?

If so, do you know where I can get one? There are plenty of MPEG2 decoders
available, but they don't seem to do the trick. They all appear to operate
independently of MM2 rather than with it.

Thanks.

DM
 
DM,

I guess I don't remember saying that myself. But most of what is on my site
has come from others, so point me to the page and statement, and I'd be glad
to comment further...
 
PapaJohn,

Thanks for the reply.

On your site, click on Problem Solving/Audio Issues and you can scroll down
to the following paragraph.

"1/2/04 - There have been many posts here about a specific audio problem
where an AVI clip plays fine in Media Player, but when dragged to the
storyboard, the audio screeches/ plays fast/ is out of sync/ etc. What
worked for me was installing an MPEG2 codec. By downloading the eval version
of MainConcept's MPEG encoder (www.mainconcept.com), my imported AVI clips
now play in the storyboard of MM2. My guess is that when MM2 copies the clip
to the storyboard, it changes the audio playback type from PCM to MPEG2....
What threw me off was the fact that my clips are Motion JPEG AVI's, so I
focused my attention on AVI and MJPEG codecs and not on MPEG2 codecs.
However... after reading some posts about MPEG2 codecs, I decided to give
that a try. It worked > MainConcept (occassionally) produces files with the
video blacked out."

While my Pentax generated file is AVI, the audio bit of it is given as PCM
under Properties. So, with a PCM codec already available in XP Pro, I am
assuming that if MM2 wasn't trying to change it to MPEG2 in the Storyboard,
everything would be fine. After all, that is presumably why it plays back
perfectly when imported into Collections. Correct?

So, what I want to know is, is it possible to install an MPEG2 codec in the
XP Audio Control panel along with the other 11 codecs that are there from
the start?

If not, where on Maincocepts site is the MPEG2 encoder that is referred to
above? I can see no reference to an "eval version..". Could you provide the
link? I would be very grateful.

Finally, if I have to install Mainconcept's MPEG2 encoder, or some other
make, how do I then get MM2 to make use of it when a file is dragged to the
Storyboard? That's where I get VERY confused! ;-)



Many thanks for your help.

DM
 
The Jan 2 post was by someone named Karl and the response was by tjhorton. I
didn't participate in the thread.

That page of the website is mostly still just an assortment of postings, as
there seems to be a number of different reasons for audio issues and many
are not yet sorted out enough to offer good advice.

It looks like the MPEG Encoder download that is referenced is at.

http://www.mainconcept.com/downloads.shtml

When I look at the list of installed audio codecs on my laptop (the list is
shown on the Problem Solving > Acceleration and Codecs page of my site)....
I see 20 audio codecs, including the last 2 which are a Ligos MPEG Splitter
and Audio Decoder. I don't know it they came with the laptop or were
installed with added software.

Movie Maker automatically uses whatever codecs are available on your
computer, so you just install any more you want and then hope that Movie
Maker uses it....if needed, you can turn off those you want MM2 not to use,
like we do by renaming selected .ax files. The Problem Solving >
Acceleration and Codecs page also has some suggestions about how to manage
the codecs on your computer, down toward the bottom of the pagea, from a
11/28/03 post.
 
PJ

Bundled and Standalone versions of Sonic "My???" series of products utilize
Ligos LSX-MPEG (Go Motion) based codecs. HP and other OEMs are huge fans of
Sonic based video products.<g>
 
PapaJohn,

Thanks for that.

I'm running XP Pro with 11 codecs. You've got 20, so it looks like extra
codecs can be added by applications other than Microsoft, which is
encouraging.

That said, if MPEG2 is becoming popular, it would be nice if MSFT could
include it in XP by default. Or, better still, offer it in Windows Update.

DM
 
MPEG2 codecs are licensed for a fee, so you wouldn't expect anyone to
include it in a routine free update, so it couldn't be by default.
 
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