'Crackly' audio on new version of the Filmmachine

[thumoslife]

Hello all, this is my first post here but I was wondering if anybody had the same experience....

First of all, my hats off to The Mask, I love your program!

I have just installed the new version of The Filmachine and all of a sudden the audio is 'crackly' on some of my video files. (Xvid cartoons) Not on all video's though.

The 'problem file' audio information is:
Codec: 0x0055(MP3, ISO) MPEG-1 Layer 3
Info: 48000Hz 127 kb/s total (2 chnls) LAME3.93
Other info: I am using K-lite codec pack 2.77 full

when I re-installed the previous beta version, the problem went away. As I said, not all video files do this, I have another AC3 file which I boosted and no 'crackles' or distortions but these cartoon files seem to have a crackling audio on the new version of the filmMachine. The problem clearly seems to be something in the newer version of the FilmMachine. I am sure I can work around it by changing the audio of the files, but perhaps its something other people have experienced?

Anyway, thanks for the great program

[The_Mask]

Can you post your *.log files.

[spudman]

Sounds like the ffdshow issue. Try downgrading to an early version or use a different ac3 encoder such as aften. This is a known problem with Besweet and ffdshow.

[The_Mask]

I don't know because in version 1.5 I have downgraded the ffdshow back to the 24-11-2005 version.

[thumoslife]

Okay, thanks for the replies....here's the story....

I have just installed the latest version released 1.5.1 and the problem is still there. (yeah, I know, but I gave it a try anyway)

Just to give you background on my current set-up. I simply did a clean install of K-lite codec pack 2.77 Full and then AFTER THAT installed the filmMachine.

I am still getting this crackling and scratching audio on the output DVD. (not all files though, just these ones that I never had a problem with on the previous version)

My log files are below...

Oh, I did try and change to the AFTEN encoder and it did the same thing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/09/30 11:41:41 PM
- AVI to DVD conversion
- The FilmMachine version 1.5.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initializing.

Computer Info
CPU name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+
Available memory: 1023 MB
Windows version : Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
Initializing finished.

Saving Project File

DirectX Version = 9.0c

Saving AVI-Info files
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/09/30 11:41:51 PM
- Free on drive C: 65.66 GB
- Audio Conversion
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executing BeSweet DLL. Commandline:
-ota( -fs 48000 -r 23976 25000 ) -ac3enc( -b 224 )

Converting audiostream 1 of AVI file no 1 of 1


DirectShow Filters used:
NullRenderer1
NullRenderer
SampleGrabber
ffDshowFilter
AVI Splitter
Avisynth Source Filter


Audiostream 1 conversion of C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Eigenaar\Bureaublad\Test.avi finished.

Starting CCE 2.67 for getting the CCE title.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/09/30 11:42:33 PM
- Free on drive C: 65.63 GB
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft Encoder SP 2.67
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.

TFM_Project_File.ecl found
TFM_Project_File.ecl encoding started at 11:42:33 PM
TFM_Project_File.ecl encoded at 11:44:04 PM
Encoding finished

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/09/30 11:44:07 PM
- Free on drive C: 65.57 GB
- Creating DVD compliant files
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mplex is multiplexing the video and audio stream of file 1 .....
mplex version 2.0.0 (2.2.3 $Date: 2004/01/13 20:45:26 $)
File C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.MPV looks like an MPEG Video stream.
File C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.AC3 looks like an AC3 Audio stream.
Video stream 0: profile 8 selected - ignoring non-standard options!
Found 1 audio streams and 1 video streams
Selecting dvdauthor DVD output profile
Multiplexing video program stream!
Scanning for header info: Video stream e0 (C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.MPV)
VIDEO STREAM: e0
Frame width : 720
Frame height : 576
Aspect ratio : 4:3 display
Picture rate : 25.000 frames/sec
Bit rate : 9776000 bits/sec
Vbv buffer size : 229376 bytes
CSPF : 0
Scanning for header info: AC3 Audio stream 00 (C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.AC3)
AC3 frame size = 896
AC3 AUDIO STREAM:
Bit rate : 28672 bytes/sec (224 kbit/sec)
Frequency : 48000 Hz
SYSTEMS/PROGRAM stream:
rough-guess multiplexed stream data rate : 10211696
target data-rate specified : 12000000
Setting specified specified data rate: 12000000
Run-in Sectors = 89 Video delay = 10936 Audio delay = 0
New sequence commences...
Video e0: buf= 237568 frame=000000 sector=00000000
Audio bd: buf= 16384 frame=000000 sector=00000000
STREAM bd completed @ frame 1627.
Scanned to end AU 1439
STREAM e0 completed @ frame 1439.
Multiplex completion at SCR=5178286.
Video e0: buf= 53992 frame=001439 sector=00032133
Audio bd: buf= 16384 frame=001627 sector=00000724
VIDEO_STATISTICS: e0
Video Stream length: 64955192 bytes
Sequence headers: 114
Sequence ends : 1
No. Pictures : 1439
No. Groups : 114
No. I Frames : 114 avg. size 89790 bytes
No. P Frames : 448 avg. size 59905 bytes
No. B Frames : 878 avg. size 31755 bytes
Average bit-rate : 9021200 bits/sec
Peak bit-rate : 9738800 bits/sec
BUFFERING min 15 Buf max 160451
AUDIO_STATISTICS: bd
Audio stream length 1458688 bytes.
Frames : 2254518902
BUFFERING min 35 Buf max 10563
MUX STATUS: no under-runs detected.
Multiplexing finished.

DVDAuthor is writing the VOB files.....

DVDAuthor::dvdauthor, version 0.6.11.
Build options: gnugetopt magick iconv freetype fribidi
Send bugs to <dvdauthor-users@lists.sourceforge.net>

INFO: Locale=C
INFO: Converting filenames to US-ASCII
INFO: dvdauthor creating VTS


INFO: Video pts = 0.161 .. 57.761
INFO: Audio[0] pts = 0.161 .. 52.257

INFO: Generating VTS with the following video attributes:
INFO: MPEG version: mpeg2
INFO: TV standard: pal
INFO: Aspect ratio: 4:3
INFO: Resolution: 720x576
INFO: Audio ch 0 format: ac3/2ch, 48khz drc, 'en'

INFO: dvdauthor creating table of contents
INFO: Scanning C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\DVD/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_0.IFO
Writing VOB files finished.

Finished authoring DVD

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/09/30 11:44:33 PM
- Free on drive C: 65.44 GB
- DVD creation finished!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Any ideas?

[thumoslife]

Some more log files if they are even needed......

The FilmMachine Avi-Info Logfile

AVI Information
Filename: Test.avi
Filesize: 9.9 MB
Streams (i.e. Video, Audio): 2
Video
Compression Codec: XviD
Resolution: 496 x 368 (4/3)
Bitrate: 1239 Kbps
Duration: 60.02 s (1m 0s)
Frame Rate: 23.976 fps
Frames: 1439
Audio 1
Wave Codec: MPEG-1 Audio layer 3
Avg. Bitrate: 127 Kbps
Sampling Rate: 48 Khz
Channels: 2
Delay: 0 ms
Audio 2
Wave Codec:
Avg. Bitrate:
Sampling Rate:
Channels:
Delay:

visit http://members.home.nl/thefilmmachine for more information

BeSweet v1.5b29 by DSPguru.
--------------------------
Using Shibatch.dll v0.25 by Naoki Shibata & DSPguru (shibatch.sourceforge.net).
Using AC3enc.dll v1.20 (Feb 18 2004) by Fabrice Bellard (http://ffmpeg.org).

Logging start : 09/30/06 , 23:41:54.

BeSweet.dll -core( -input pcminput -output C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_Encoded1_Audio1.ac 3 -logfile C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_Encoded_Audio.log ) -ota( -fs 48000 -r 23976 25000 ) -ac3enc( -b 224 )

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSweet -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : pcminput
[00:00:00:000] | Output: C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_Encoded1_Audio1.ac 3
[00:00:00:000] | Floating-Point Process: No
[00:00:00:000] | Source Sample-Rate: 48.0KHz
[00:00:00:000] +-------- FRC --------
[00:00:00:000] | Source Frame-Rate: 23976
[00:00:00:000] | Dest. Frame-Rate: 25000
[00:00:00:000] +------- AC3ENC ------
[00:00:00:000] | Bitrate method : CBR
[00:00:00:000] | AC3 bitrate : 224
[00:00:00:000] | Channels Mode : 2.0
[00:00:00:000] | Error Protection: Yes
[00:00:00:000] +---------------------
[00:00:54:383] Conversion Completed !
[00:00:54:383] Actual Avg. Bitrate : 214kbps
[00:00:27:000] <-- Transcoding Duration

Logging ends : 09/30/06 , 23:42:21.

[The_Mask]

Thanks,

Can you mail me a little sample of the movie (max 4 mb zipped) and the TFM_Project.tfm file to thefilmmachine@home.nl so that I can test it.

[thumoslife]

OK, I have sent a small sample and the tfm file. Murphy's law it doesnt act the same on your system.

[spudman]

Have you tried the new ac3 encoder Aften supplied with the film machine.

[thumoslife]

Yeah, I just gave it another try with the same sample file I sent to The Mask with BeSweet and Aften. Both gave the same 'crackly' noise. Its weird, I didnt boost the audio, but it 'acts like' its distorted with this sharp crackle every now and then on the DVD output.

[Teebee]

I noticed it too.
And when i choose Aften, it still went on using Besweet. Seems weird.

[thumoslife]

OK, Just did the conversion again with Aften Chosen instead of BeSweet.

Once again, the output DVD still had the 'crackle' noise. But I checked the output files and the AFTEN method produces a WAVE file in the working folder which I played in Windows Media player and that audio is perfect. Pretty loud, but perfect with no crackles or distortions. (I did not use the boost function)

If it means anything, here's the log file for that encode....any alarm bells ringing for the people who know technical workings of the program?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/10/01 02:50:19 PM
- AVI to DVD conversion
- The FilmMachine version 1.5.1
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initializing.

Computer Info
CPU name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+
Available memory: 1023 MB
Windows version : Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
Initializing finished.

Saving Project File

DirectX Version = 9.0c

Saving AVI-Info files
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/10/01 02:50:28 PM
- Free on drive C: 75.83 GB
- Audio Conversion
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executing BeSweet DLL. Commandline:
-ota( -fs 48000 -r 23976 25000 )

Converting audiostream 1 of AVI file no 1 of 1


DirectShow Filters used:
NullRenderer1
NullRenderer
SampleGrabber
ffDshowFilter
AVI Splitter
Avisynth Source Filter


Audiostream 1 conversion of C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Eigenaar\Bureaublad\Test.avi finished.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/10/01 02:50:38 PM
- Free on drive C: 75.82 GB
- AC3 encoding with Aften
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aften is working in the background.....

Encoding audiostream 1 of C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Eigenaar\Bureaublad\Test.avi


Aften: A/52 audio encoder
(c) 2006 Justin Ruggles

Signed 16-bit 48000 Hz stereo
Aften AC3 encoding finished.

Starting CCE 2.67 for getting the CCE title.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/10/01 02:50:50 PM
- Free on drive C: 75.82 GB
- Video Encoding using Cinema Craft Encoder SP 2.67
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executing Cinema Craft Encoder.

TFM_Project_File.ecl found
TFM_Project_File.ecl encoding started at 02:50:50 PM
TFM_Project_File.ecl encoded at 02:51:35 PM
Encoding finished

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/10/01 02:51:38 PM
- Free on drive C: 75.79 GB
- Creating DVD compliant files
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mplex is multiplexing the video and audio stream of file 1 .....
mplex version 2.0.0 (2.2.3 $Date: 2004/01/13 20:45:26 $)
File C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.MPV looks like an MPEG Video stream.
File C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.AC3 looks like an AC3 Audio stream.
Video stream 0: profile 8 selected - ignoring non-standard options!
Found 1 audio streams and 1 video streams
Selecting dvdauthor DVD output profile
Multiplexing video program stream!
Scanning for header info: Video stream e0 (C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.MPV)
VIDEO STREAM: e0
Frame width : 720
Frame height : 576
Aspect ratio : 4:3 display
Picture rate : 25.000 frames/sec
Bit rate : 9800000 bits/sec
Vbv buffer size : 229376 bytes
CSPF : 0
Scanning for header info: AC3 Audio stream 00 (C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\TFM_EN~1.AC3)
AC3 frame size = 768
AC3 AUDIO STREAM:
Bit rate : 24576 bytes/sec (192 kbit/sec)
Frequency : 48000 Hz
SYSTEMS/PROGRAM stream:
rough-guess multiplexed stream data rate : 10202744
target data-rate specified : 12000000
Setting specified specified data rate: 12000000
Run-in Sectors = 89 Video delay = 10936 Audio delay = 0
New sequence commences...
Video e0: buf= 237568 frame=000000 sector=00000000
Audio bd: buf= 16384 frame=000000 sector=00000000
STREAM bd completed @ frame 826.
Scanned to end AU 720
STREAM e0 completed @ frame 720.
Multiplex completion at SCR=2587361.
Video e0: buf= 13544 frame=000720 sector=00015337
Audio bd: buf= 16384 frame=000826 sector=00000316
VIDEO_STATISTICS: e0
Video Stream length: 31000904 bytes
Sequence headers: 55
Sequence ends : 1
No. Pictures : 720
No. Groups : 55
No. I Frames : 55 avg. size 88716 bytes
No. P Frames : 226 avg. size 55077 bytes
No. B Frames : 440 avg. size 31077 bytes
Average bit-rate : 8599200 bits/sec
Peak bit-rate : 9765600 bits/sec
BUFFERING min 18 Buf max 145969
AUDIO_STATISTICS: bd
Audio stream length 635136 bytes.
Frames : 2254518101
BUFFERING min 67 Buf max 9955
MUX STATUS: no under-runs detected.
Multiplexing finished.

DVDAuthor is writing the VOB files.....

DVDAuthor::dvdauthor, version 0.6.11.
Build options: gnugetopt magick iconv freetype fribidi
Send bugs to <dvdauthor-users@lists.sourceforge.net>

INFO: Locale=C
INFO: Converting filenames to US-ASCII
INFO: dvdauthor creating VTS


INFO: Video pts = 0.161 .. 29.001
INFO: Audio[0] pts = 0.161 .. 26.625

INFO: Generating VTS with the following video attributes:
INFO: MPEG version: mpeg2
INFO: TV standard: pal
INFO: Aspect ratio: 4:3
INFO: Resolution: 720x576
INFO: Audio ch 0 format: ac3/2ch, 48khz drc, surround, 'en'

INFO: dvdauthor creating table of contents
INFO: Scanning C:\PROGRA~1\THEFIL~1\Output\DVD/VIDEO_TS/VTS_01_0.IFO
Writing VOB files finished.

Finished authoring DVD

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 2006/10/01 02:51:53 PM
- Free on drive C: 75.73 GB
- DVD creation finished!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[geezer42]

I have done a few tests with the new release of TFF.
I did not ecountered any audio problems with the first two avi samples,
which audio had been encoded in CBR.
The problem came when I converted avi with VBR sound.
I haven't had any audio problems with the previous TFF version.

[thumoslife]

Yeah, I have done AC3 files both boosted and not boosted. Both methods came out perfect. However, I tried both CBR and VBR MP3 audio AVI's which both gave me the same crackling sound....

[geezer42]

Sorry for not being more specific about an audio problem...
Here's my audio source information

Wave Codec: MPEG-1/2 L3
Avg. Bitrate: 138 Kbps
Sampling Rate: 48 Khz
Channels: 2
Delay: 0 ms

When I open the avi sample in VirtualDun, I get the following message:
"VirtualDub has detected an improper VBR encoding in the source AVI file".
I think that this causes cracks in TFF encoded audio.