No Audio on DVD

[Jean Rosenfeld]

You don't say if you tried gspot, as I suggested previously. But that should
tell you which codecs are used, and you can then check whether you have it.

 

[Bob]

I tried GSpot; it brings up all the files in the Video_TS folder of the DVD.
For the several VOB type files, GSpot says the Codec should be MPEG2 and
that the status is "Installed". For the BUP and IFO type files, GSpot
doesn't do anything, but perhaps these files don't need a Codec. I assume
that if the status is installed, it means I have it.

 

[Jean Rosenfeld]

MPEG2 is the video codec (shown top right). You should look for the audio
codec info, towards bottom left, under Audio

 

[Bob]

Ah; sorry. I see it now. For the VOB file types, the audio codec is
DVD_LPCM_AUDIO. Is that OK?

Bob

 

[Jean Rosenfeld]

That is certainly one (uncompressed) audio codec used in DVDs, though not
too often (AC3 is more common now, as it uses compression). Personally I
don't have any DVDs that were encoded to DVD_LPCM_AUDIO so I can't test
whether they play sound here (WMP 11 on XP pro SP3)

In the stat. box in the Audio section, does it show 'codec installed'
highlighted in green?

You could also use GSpot to see if it will produce the Audio: With the vob
file fully loaded into Gspot (in the video section, wait until it has
stopped scanning), at the bottom of the Gspot pane (proposed codec solutions
and tests), click on 1 in the MS/A/V column, then click on 2. Check whether
you hear sound when you play the file in the little popup box. If GSpot can
play the Audio, WMP should generally also be able to do so.

Third diagnosis, in Gspot, system menu, click 'List media types' (which
lists the media types found in your registry). In the window that opens
scroll through looking for DVD_LPCM_AUDIO in the Designation column (left
most column). There may be several entries (I have 4, corresponding to
different media types). Right click on them in turn, click 'list all filters
accepting this format' to see whether you have any appropriate filter
installed (highlighted in blue) for each.

On my system AC3 filter is shown as a match for 3 of the 4 media types, but
you already tried that and it didn't work.
The fourth media type (MPEG2_PACK) shows ffdshow to be a match, but not AC3.
So maybe that is the media type (audio) of your vob file.

If you haven't tried ffdshow, you can download it from

http://www.free-codecs.com/FFDShow_download.htm
(the topmost link or either of the two mirror sites listed).

When installed, click start. programs, ffdshow and open the audio decoder
configuration. Check that LPCM is enabled. If not click on its decoder entry
and select enabled.

If all else fails you could convert the audio stream to, say, AC3, using,
for example (free) Super coverter.
Its main page is

http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

Unfortunately you have to go through three pages of bumf and user
instructions before you get to the place for the download; persevere .

BTW if not already done, I would uninstall the K- Lite codec pack.

That's about the limit of my knowledge I'm afraid, so if none of the above
helps I can't think of anything else you could try.

 

[Young Snodgrass]

Sounds like it's time for a "new" drive!

 

[Bob]

See comments below. I haven't done the ffshow part yet, but I appreciate
your help! Thanks so much. I'll keep working on it.

Bob

That is certainly one (uncompressed) audio codec used in DVDs, though not
too often (AC3 is more common now, as it uses compression). Personally I
don't have any DVDs that were encoded to DVD_LPCM_AUDIO so I can't test
whether they play sound here (WMP 11 on XP pro SP3)

In the stat. box in the Audio section, does it show 'codec installed'
highlighted in green?
YES


You could also use GSpot to see if it will produce the Audio: With the vob
file fully loaded into Gspot (in the video section, wait until it has
stopped scanning), at the bottom of the Gspot pane (proposed codec
solutions and tests), click on 1 in the MS/A/V column, then click on 2.
Check whether you hear sound when you play the file in the little popup
box. If GSpot can play the Audio, WMP should generally also be able to do
so.

I DO HEAR SOUND, BUT IT IS FAINT AND THERE IS A LOT OF STATIC AS WELL

Third diagnosis, in Gspot, system menu, click 'List media types' (which
lists the media types found in your registry). In the window that opens
scroll through looking for DVD_LPCM_AUDIO in the Designation column (left
most column). There may be several entries (I have 4, corresponding to
different media types). Right click on them in turn, click 'list all
filters accepting this format' to see whether you have any appropriate
filter installed (highlighted in blue) for each.
I
On my system AC3 filter is shown as a match for 3 of the 4 media types,
but you already tried that and it didn't work.
The fourth media type (MPEG2_PACK) shows ffdshow to be a match, but not
AC3. So maybe that is the media type (audio) of your vob file.

ALSO HAVE FOUR. EACH HAS A FILTER, THOUGH NOT ALWAYS THE SAME ONES. AC3
FILTER IS SHOWN FOR 3 OF THE 4. AND LIKE YOU, THE FOURTH ONE SHOWS FFDSHOW
BUT NOT AC3.

 

[Jean Rosenfeld]

Good luck. BTW when I searched for DVD_LPCM_AUDIO on the internet, there
were lots of posts with the same issue as you have. Maybe one of those might
offer a solution.

 

[Bob]

Well I got it to work, but not quite sure why! If I play the DVD with VLC
Media Player and then under Audio/Audio Device I change stereo to mono, it
works just fine. Still doesn't work with other players and I haven't
figured out how to save the mono setting. I have to change it each time,
but at least it does work!