No audio after VideoRedo mpg output of TS files

[etk29321]

I have an odd playback issue. I edit my HD recordings to remove commercials and then save the resulting file to a mpg for compatability sake. Ever since I upgraded to Sage v4 I cannot get audio to work playing back any of the mpg files produced by VideoRedo. I've got AC3 filter installed (the version that sage is apparently secretly installing without asking now), so that is handling the AC3 audio. DVD audio and TS file audio works through sage. Mpg file audio works fine via windows media player. What could possibly be breaking playback of AC3 from mpg files only? This happens on all three of my sage clients.

One note, I record with a fusion card off QAM cable and not via the Sage interface as my OTA reception is flaky. I do have another fusion I use with Sage, which was the source of the TS files I've tested with, but pops/droppouts make them unusable for archive.

[olyar15]

I noticed something similar when I upgraded from 2.2.7 to 4.0. I record HDTV via firewire. I used the .TS to .PS converter technique outlined in that long thread in the Hardware section. It was working fine in 2.2, but when I upgraded, audio no longer worked. Those same recorded shows would play fine in WMP or Theatertek, so it wasn't the files. Have no idea what was changed in version 4. My only suggestion it to leave it as a transport stream.

[etk29321]

Could the mpeg graph that sage uses be broken for AC3 audio? I would assume that typically only HD recordings would be mpg with AC3, as stuff recorded with analog captures card is mpg audio, and most folks leave ripped DVDs in ifo/iso format. This assumes the container is enough to confuse sage as TS and ifo are really just containers holding an mpeg stream.
I'll try leaving one as transport stream tonight and see. I'll also try downmixing one of the AC3 mpegs to mpeg audio.

[heffe2001]

It's definitely the AC3 codec, recorded My Name is Earl last night via firewire, and it's got AC3 encoded. No audio (but the video looks great :P). Had to watch it in Media player.

At the moment I'm using the sage mpeg audio decoder, might try switching to others and see if they work..

[etk29321]

I tried switching it to AC3filter, Nvida Audio, WinDVD Audio in addition to the default sage decoder. No go.

[heffe2001]

I was in teh process of doing the same, so far no go either. Tried 1.02b8 AC3 filter, may try going with the older .70 version and see if that makes any difference..

[etk29321]

I tried that and it broke all AC3 playback... I had to reinstall sage to get AC3filter 1.03b back.

[heffe2001]

I use my HD cable box via firewire to record, and the other stuff I've recoreded has worked fine, just not the show that it got last night. Need to check the other stuff I've done and see if they had AC3 audio or not...

Checked the several other shows I've done, all but one had AC3 audio. Not sure why it would work on the others, and not Earl... Might be something as to how the show as output from my cable box??

[olyar15]

Originally Posted by heffe2001

I use my HD cable box via firewire to record, and the other stuff I've recoreded has worked fine, just not the show that it got last night. Need to check the other stuff I've done and see if they had AC3 audio or not...

Do you mean that HDTV shows you recorded prior to upgrading to Sage 4, still worked? When I upgraded, none of the HDTV shows that were recorded previously had working audio. It was only when I went to direct .TS recording did the audio work.

Checked the several other shows I've done, all but one had AC3 audio. Not sure why it would work on the others, and not Earl... Might be something as to how the show as output from my cable box??

It was my understanding that all audio in HDTV is encoded in Dolby Digital. Not necessarily in 5.1, but even the 2-channel audio is still in DD format. I could be mistaken, however. Since I have my HTPC connected to my receiver via analog outputs, I never know when a show is in DD or just PCM audio.