Pentax OptioS4-MPEG-Audio Problems-Solution(s)

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

DM

Thanks to the help of PapaJohn and others this problem has been solved.

Problem: The AVI video files created by this camera have a PCM codec sound
component. PCM is a codec which is included as standard in XP Professional.
Therefore, the file plays perfectly, sound and vision, in Windows Media
Player, Real Player and when imported into Collections in Movie Maker2.

The problem starts when the file is dragged to Storyboard in MM2. The video
plays fine, but the sound becomes totally distorted.

Apparently, for reasons best known to Microsoft, MM2 converts(?) the audio
element to MPEG in the Storyboard.

Solution: This requires the downloading and installation of an MPEG Encoder.
I have downloaded and tried two. The locations are here>

http://www.flydragonsoft.com/products.htm

Scroll down to.......AVI to MPEG Converter

and.............. http://www.mainconcept.com/products.shtml

The first one cost $29.95. The second one costs $149.

The more expensive one has a far more sophisticated interface. Quite simply,
you can do a lot more to the file.

But, to my VERY inexperienced eye, the resulting converted files look
equally disimproved! Unless I am doing something wrong in the conversion,
the file just isn't as good when I finally get it to play in Storyboard as
when it plays back in Collections (i.e. unconverted).

I would be interested in more expert opinion on either of these converters
and on the tweaking (if any) that one should perform during conversion.

However, as I said in another thread just above this one, I can't see why we
should have to go through this in the first place!!

DM
 
I cannot know exactly what is going on with your particular configuration,
nor possibly with the file(s) being imported. However, I can say with some
certainty that if your AVI files are of a valid Type-1 or Type-2 format, you
do not need a 3rd party MPEG decoder.

For PCM, MM2 should be using WinXP's default rendering; PCM does not require
a decoder...it is simply raw uncompressed audio; LPCM encoded audio does
require the presence of a 3rd party DVD (DAT) decoder.

It also follows that if audio is ok when played from within WMP, then the
avi splitter and dx rendering path is good and you already have everything
needed to properly render the audio stream from MM2.

The possiblility exists that there may be a unique compatibility problem
between MM2 and another 3rd party AVI splitter; some freely available
all-in-one codec packs are known to usurp the default Windows Media
handlers. If so, removing the offending splitter should clear the problem.

Check:

1. GSpot (freebie) should report rendering via "AVI Splitter-->Default
DirectSound device."

2. "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe" File |
Properties-->filters should also report audio renderd via Default
DirectSound device.

My own sense is that if either 1 and/ or 2, above, are true, there is
absolutely no need for a 3rd party MPEG solution. The problem is somewhere
else; hardware acceleration, audio drivers, source file header, etc.
 
Digger,

Many, many thanks for that.

My sense is that if the file plays perfectly in Windows Media Player and in
MM2 Collections, it should continue to do so when dragged to Storyboard in
MM2.

Will check out what you recommend and report back.

Would love NOT to have to use MPEG!

Thanks again.

DM
 
Digger,

Did the following............................

1. Downloaded and installed GSpot (brilliant application! If it isn't
already mentioned on PapaJohn's site, it should be.) Ran it. Opened two
video files in it. Resutls for both files the same: Video - MJPEG It says
that there are two compatible codecs installed. Audio - PCM: It says, no
codec required.

So, that tallies with my experience to date. i.e. I have what is required to
play the files. The problem is MM2's Storyboard?????

2. I looked in "C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe"
File/Properties-->filters For some reason, when I open mplayer2.exe
and go File/Properties, Properties is "greyed out" so I couldn't look in it.
So, I opened one of the same video files in it. Then went
File/Properties/Advanced. In the box called "Filters in Use" it says,
"Default DirectSound Device" and "Video Renderer".

So, both 1. and 2. appear to be functioning perfectly.

Therefore, if, as you suggest, the problem may lie elsewhere.........any
idea where I might look? What might Storyboard be doing that it can be
prevented from doing?

I know that a lot of people are having this problem. It would be great to
save us all the, not inconsiderable!, price of an MPEG encoder! ;-)

Many thanks.

DM
 
Digger,

Tried a couple of things..............

1. Adjusted Hardware Acceleration to level 3, then level 2. No joy in either
case.

2. Checked driver version of my ATI Radeon 9000 Graphics card. It is up to
date.

One observation...............the screeching sound that I get in Storyboard
last only a couple of seconds. Yet the video file can be up to 60 seconds.
Could it be that the sound playback is being severely compressed? Hence the
screeching. If so, how would one prevent that?

Many thanks.

DM
 
Back
Top