grovechuck:

The video is not WMV video codec, something else (I'm not at my Avid).

The audio codec is Sonic Cinemaster MCE.

and

grovechuck:

They gave me WMVs from a Sony camcorder.

and

grovechuck:

The WMVs play audio and video in Windows Player.

They play in the Sorenson player also.

Huh? - the videos aren't wmvs but they are????? WMV is a codec not a wrapper - if they are wmvs they cannot be a different codec (well they can be different versions), if they are in a QT wrapper they are QT's if they are in an MPEG wrapper they are MPEGs. Then they can be different codecs. What is the extension???? Just because they play in Windows Media Player does not make them .wmvs. This is pretty confusing if you aren't across the various formats and what a codec actually does. Check out the Wiki for more info, although it's very basic.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codec

Sonic owns Roxio who own the Cinemaster playback software. Sonic MCE audio codec is more likely to be a playback decoder only and not the encoded format of the audio. You probably have it on your system because you have Roxio on your system. It may even be part of AvidDVD which is you guessed it, a Sonic product. It is there to playback DVD and BluRay files.

Some Sony cameras recorded directly to DVD - if these are MPEG 2 files that would explain everything. I know of no Sony camera that went straight to wmv. Doesn't mean there isn't one just means I've never heard of it. If these are MPEG2 files your audio will be either AC3, MPEG or uncompressed .wav.

Re the reply from Sorenson, don't worry about it. They don't supply any codecs AFAIK with Squeeze. They rely on you having the codecs installed. They are trying not to blame the product, rather than solve your issue.

You know what they say "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing?" That's me- dangerous...

" What is the extension???? Just because they play in Windows Media Player does not make them .wmvs"

And now I know that.... sorry for the confusion, John.

They are MPGs. They played in WMP, I thought they were WMVs.

In properties, it said the audio codec was Sonic cinemaster; it's not, it's AC3. (I now have Media Info).

"Sonic owns Roxio who own the Cinemaster playback software. Sonic MCE audio codec is more likely to be a playback decoder only and not the encoded format of the audio. You probably have it on your system because you have Roxio on your system."

Yes I do!

"Some Sony cameras recorded directly to DVD"

I think it's to a card, I can't get a clear answer from the client.

"if these are MPEG 2 files that would explain everything."

You just explained everything!!! But only after I put you through mental contortions- sorry!

They are MPEG (so it would be MPEG 2?)

"If these are MPEG2 files your audio will be either AC3"

Yes! You should be a detective John! Man, you're good, but sorry you had to waste the time/effort.

Tomas found an AC3 codec, I downloaded it.

Now I have a NEW problem (Did I just hear a scream from Australia?) Just trying to keep things interesting here- ha ha... ;^)

The ORIGINAL problem, when converting, ahh... we'll call it the source clips, to QT, the video converted, the audio didn't.

Now, when I drag the source (ok, it's an MPG) to Sorenson, I get the everlasting hourglass and it won't play (in Sorenson)

i can add QT, filter, but the hourglass won't stop, it won't squeeze.

If I import a (real) WMV or QT to Squeeze, they instantly import and play.

Now what???

Sorry for the prior confusion, thanks for all the efforts, everyone!

Now if I can just... get... MPG... to QT... to Avid...

Just install the AC3 encoder that I pm_d you a link to, Chuck, right click on your mpg file , choose " open with " and select Squeeze

What version of Squeeze are you using by the way

OK they are definitely MPEG 2 files with AC3 audio.

grovechuck:

Now, when I drag the source (ok, it's an MPG) to Sorenson, I get the everlasting hourglass and it won't play (in Sorenson)

i can add QT, filter, but the hourglass won't stop, it won't squeeze.

If I import a (real) WMV or QT to Squeeze, they instantly import and play.

Now what???

If they were importing before I'm not quite sure why they aren't now? Probably your new AC3 decoder. Is it commercial or shareware? Here is what I would try first. Uninstall Roxio - it is renowned for being "problem" software. Install the latest version of Nero, it is cheaper and better burning software in everyway. I think they have a fully functional trial.

I can give you other things to try, but now that you know the files are MPEG2/AC3 audio then you might get a bettter answer from Sorenson themselves. It would not be the first time I have seen Squeeze "hang".

The AC3 encoder is just the free one published on the same site as media info, I have used it on all my sys for many years without having probs, his Roxio app might do the same thing but just to be sure.

A couple of thing that comes to my mind as I have encoded one of the files myself now, Chuck said that there was no audio playing from that created mov file, how was that tested, was it played with Quicktime, what are the settings for quicktime in that case, is the file able to import into Avid, is it playing with or without audio and what does Mediainfo say about the file.

hi guys and thanks for not abandoning me on this epic journey, for what should have been a short, simple trip...

Tomas- I installed the AC3

I have Squeeze 4.5.700

I tried opening Squeeze by right clicking the clip, get "Squeeze has encountered a problem and needs to close..."

That's from right clicking.

John- If I drag the clip into Squeeze, it still hangs.
SQueeze started hanging BEFORE I added the AC3.

Are you sure I should uninstall Roxio? All modules? I use the Disc Copy.

If I uninstall, is it still on the HDD and can be reinstalled, or is it removed?

I never had Squeeze hang before. Never.

If i double click the clip, it plays in WMP with audio and video.

If I right click open with QT, it says "is not a file QT understands."

I have QT 7.5.5

Tomas- back when Squeeze WOULD convert the file, it would play with no audio in QT or Avid.

What "are the settings for QT in that case" that I should check?

The ORIGINAL mpeg won't import directly into Avid- "not supported"

The converted QT has no audio, imports into Avid, has no audio.

On the QT (converted from original mpeg) Media info says "Container general info: mpeg-4 (QT) 1 video stream: m-jpeg" "first video stream 10.6 mbps 640*480 29.97 fps, m-jpeg". no audio info.

I will send you both a small :03 clip.

thanks for staying with me on this! I have a deadline early next week on this.

Chuck

Update; back where I started.

Squeeze imports mpeg, mpeg plays with audio in Squeeze. converts mpeg to QT 1;1 little endian audio.

QT has no audio.

???

Should I be seeing the just installed AC3 codec as an option in Squeeze? I don't.

?

I can report that the clip works fine for me, both in Sorenson 4.5.7 and latest version (5) It also works fine for me in ProCoder which is an compression program I use a fair bit.

grovechuck:

Update; back where I started.

Squeeze imports mpeg, mpeg plays with audio in Squeeze. converts mpeg to QT 1;1 little endian audio.

QT has no audio.

???

Should I be seeing the just installed AC3 codec as an option in Squeeze? I don't.

?

SO is Squeeze not hanging every time then?

Here's the problem you face: Most windows apps use DirectShow filters to decode compressed audio and video. These filters are installed when you install various applications. For example if you install a shareware codec pack (please don't) I can almost guarantee you will have issues with codecs. These DirectShow filters have a priority setting depending on which application you are running. When WMP is running it correctly decodes the audio. So should Sorenson. Please check that in the "Audience Preset" you have the correct settings for Avid. They should be the same as in the attached JPEG..note that I've clicked the options box on the video codec to show you it is set to NTSC. Please note that both audio and video are "ticked".

If you haven't got that part right then that is your problem. If you have then Sorenson is using the wrong AC3 decoder. Sorenson does not give you a choice.

Lets check you've got that part right first - remember it all works on my systems, no hangs.

grovechuck:

If I right click open with QT, it says "is not a file QT understands."

I have QT 7.5.5

MPEG and AC3 codecs aren't free - you have to pay rights to use them. Quicktime will decode MPEG2 but you must buy the MPEG2 add on from Apple. Unlike other windows apps QT does not use DirectShow - it requires a separate install of its own MPEG2 decoder.

grovechuck:

The ORIGINAL mpeg won't import directly into Avid- "not supported"

 Yes - requested by many, ignored by Avid. There is a huge locked thread on this somewhere. Basically Avid chose not to pay the royalties involved for a what they considered a domestic format (DVD). Mostusers simply workaround it like you are.

grovechuck:

On the QT (converted from original mpeg) Media info says "Container general info: mpeg-4 (QT) 1 video stream: m-jpeg" "first video stream 10.6 mbps 640*480 29.97 fps, m-jpeg". no audio info.

Which just shows you did not use the correct export settings - please see my other post. You used a QT MPEG4 codec rather than an Avid codec. Please try it with the correct settings.

And finally this from the Sorenson help file for 4.5

Problems Importing MPEG as an Input File

"I have MPEG as an input file and Squeeze is not working correctly."

Probable Cause: It Is possible your MPEG file is muxed and that is why you are seeing the problem. Solution: A muxed file is a file that only has one track that contains both audio and video, Squeeze does not support muxed files. Your source file needs to have two separate tracks, one for audio and one for video. You can tell if your source file is muxed by opening the file in QuickTime and then pressing the shortcut keys that will bring up a More Info window, this displays the codecs for the source file. If the file has been muxed, then Squeeze does not support it (most compression programs won't). You will need to either create a new source file or find a demuxing program on the web.

Related problems include:

* Squeeze will not compress the audio

* Squeeze will not allow me to import the file

* Squeeze will automatically finish compression and there is not a compressed file

I didn't see this problem straight away but it is true you will not have audio in the resulting file. You can demux your source files with any number of freeware apps. Try this one:

http://download.videohelp.com/liquid217/dvdauthorgui.pl?p=download

The program you are looking for is about half way down the page - it is called "BatchDemux".

Sorenson does not tell you how to re-combine the split audio and video. It may be simpler to upgrade to version 5 which does support it, tested and working and imported file into Avid to check.

Problem solved- got Squeeze 5.1

AC3 audio in and out.

Huge thanks to everybody who helped and dealt with my dense cranial matter!!!    ;^)

Thanks guys!    

Very good, I am sure that you have learned a couple of things from this also