DVD Audio Distortion
 

I'm getting distorted audio in my DVD output from Encore 2.
I know the problem happens way down stream from the original Cineform file, but I thought I'd ask since I've never had this problem before.
Footage = JVC HD 100
Codex = Cinform Aspect HD 5, latest build.
NLE = PPRO 2

Workflow:
PPro2 output to full res high quality Cineform avi. Audio good.
HD Link down res to SD Letterbox. Audio good.
Import to Encore as Timeline. Preview Audio good.
Transcode to High Quality VBR Progressive Preset.
Build DVD Project Folder.
Play DVD or VOB and the Audio is distorted (clipping).

The Audio was mastered with no peaks over -0db

Anyone run into this problem?
Thanks for your time,
Jon

As CineForm doesn't touch the audio, I'm not sure where the distortion could be happening.

Thanks for the reply.
Must be the audio peaks, or something wrong with Encore.
Will post my findings.
Thanks for your time,
Jon

Hi Jon,
Have you found anywhere where the error is? I have a similar issue and posted the question under DVD forum
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=95988

Would love to know if there is a solution. I don't seem to get the error when I go directly from Premiere pro to Encore DVD but well from AE to Encore DVD.

In both cases I use the cineform codec?!

Hi,
I didn't find a solution, so I turned down the audio in PPro2 and left it at that. Something is wrong with Encore but since Adobe discourages an easy support method I didn't bother to contact them. My problem was peak distortion. None of my audio was over -3db, but I was getting distortion at that level, I dropped it down to -6db and it was less noticeable, but still there. The distortion is deffinetlly happening when transcoding. All other phases of the work flow produced perfect audio. Anyone know of a Pro DVD encoding application (pc) that I can build menus and transcode quality files? I don't want to buy CS3, ever.
Jon

You might want to look into DVD-Architect4. I use it and am quite happy with it.

Jon

I have found that different Computer, DVD, and Blu-Ray players vary on how well they deal with clipping. I have taken to make sure the PPro Vu meter never peaks red. For everyday family use, my HDR-HC1 captured audio (built in or zoom/shotgun mic) is actually too hi-fi. I use the dynamics filter to crank in some compression. I use custom setup, ratio 4 or 5, threshold about -16db, zero makeup. Older cams like Hi8 and little digicam .mov files never seem to need this. I occasionally use a hi cut/low pass of about 8Khz to cut environmental background so voice is better. I will also use a low cut/hi pass of about 140Hz to cut wind noise that gets past the foam mit on Sony the zoom/shotgun mic. All this makes a big difference.

Thanks for the good info Don. On this particular project I was supplied with a wav file that read -3 peaks in Audition when I converted it from 44 to 48.
So I'm pretty sure the source was clean??!! Also it's only the vob file that I can hear the distortion on. Playing the vob with WinMediaPlayer or burning to DVD and playing makes no difference. But the CFHD avi and SD down res avi files sound great. I will be burning some different projects soon so I hope to get to the bottom of this then.
Thanks again,
Jon