OK, I’m brand new to Audacity and need HELP. On a DVD recorder, I have made and recorded a video file with sound and wish to extract and record the sound separately. I have hunted for the extraction procedures, but have had no luck. Would someone point me to the procedure to accomplish this.
I am using Windows7 Prof., a Realtek sound system and Audacity 2.0.3 installed from the .exe installer.
FFMPEG has been installed. How do I ensure that audacity is recognizing it?
Thanks to any responders.
You want to both import the entire audio from the entire video file into Audacity, and you want to record the audio of the video as it plays on the computer, or only one of those?
If you have installed FFmpeg as per these instructions and still need to locate FFmpeg in Audacity, this explains how to point Audacity to FFmpeg.
If you want to record audio snippets of the video file as it plays on the computer please see http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/tutorial_recording_computer_playback_on_windows.html .
If you need help please say exactly what extension this video file has (the letters after the filename and dot) - for example, .MPG.
If you mean the video file is actually residing on a DVD, then you can import the audio into Audacity separately from each VOB file on the DVD, or you can use DVD Decrypter to extract a video-with-audio or audio only file. Please use Google to search for that software.
Gale
I have several video-with-audio chapters recorded in one session on a DVD via a DVD recorder. I think I can separate the chapters into individual VOB files. I can play these individually and get video onscreen and sound through speakers.
I wish to record the audio from a single VOB file as a sound file and subsequently transfer that sound file to a CD(s) for playing later by several parties.
In your last paragraph, you mentioned that I can separate the audio and video if they are both on the DVD in a VOB file. What’s the procedure for that?
I will also follow the steps you outlined earlier as a potential way to blunder (remember, I’m a neophyte) to my final destination.
Again, many thanks.
If you really must record the audio from the VOB file as it’s playing on the computer, then you have the link I gave you last time http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/tutorial_recording_computer_playback_on_windows.html . Recording computer playback does not work on all computer sound devices as shipped.
In Audacity, once you have Audacity recognising FFmpeg, just drag the VOB file into the Audacity window and it will load the audio from the VOB as an audio track. You can then follow these steps to export a WAV file and burn a CD.
If you want to use DVD Decrypter, this lets you extract one file containing the audio of all the VOB’s, in the format the original audio is in. There are various tutorials online.
However the extracted audio format is not likely to be WAV, in which case your CD burner may or not burn it. If you need to convert that file to WAV you can just drag it into Audacity, as you would drag in the individual VOB files.
Gale
Special thanks @ Gale Andrews. His detailed solution worked for me nicely.
Keep it on going …
Gale–
Thank you very much. You’ve given me much useful information to digest and I will sleep on it and hit it again tomorrow. Thank you so much once again.
Bill
The information below is still an active requirement:
Recording Audio From DVD Video File
Posted by NeophyteWilliam » Sun Mar 03, 2013 9:54 pm
OK, I’m brand new to Audacity and need HELP. On a DVD recorder, I have made and recorded a video file with sound and wish to extract and record the sound separately. I have hunted for the extraction procedures, but have had no luck. Would someone point me to the procedure to accomplish this.
I am using Windows7 Prof., a Realtek sound system and Audacity 2.0.3 installed from the .exe installer.
FFMPEG has been installed. How do I ensure that audacity is recognizing it?
I received several responses, the most beneficial seems to be from Gale, as listed below:
NeophyteWilliam wrote:In your last paragraph, you mentioned that I can separate the audio and video if they are both on the DVD in a VOB file. What’s the procedure for that?
In Audacity, once you have Audacity recognising FFmpeg, just drag the VOB file into the Audacity window and it will load the audio from the VOB as an audio track. You can then follow these steps to export a WAV file and burn a CD.
\
I have been completely unsuccessful in accomplishing this task. So, please assist this neophyte further:
Thanks to anyone – Gale, are you still around?
Edit > Preferences > Libraries If Audacity volunteers to find FFMpeg for you, you didn’t install it or Audacity simply couldn’t find it.
I think you miss an important piece of this. The audio doesn’t have to be embedded in the Video Object (VOB) file. You can also have it as part of the AUDIO_TS (transport stream) on the disk. When you open the disk, does it have an AUDIO_TS folder and is there anything in it?
If all you have is a valid VIDEO_TS folder (the other empty), do you have more than one VOB file? Typically you do and some of them are silent. In the case of particularly vicious copy protection, finding the show can be a challenge and some of the VOB files are intentionally damaged.
If you do have only one VOB, it can have the embedded sound as PCM or a compressed stream – or both. It depends on your recorder.
Nothing about this is simple. Movie DVDs are a complex dance between the manufacturers and the entertainment industry.
Rather than dragging, try closing Audacity and right-click on the VOB > Open With > Audacity and see what happens. Pay close attention to what fails if anything.
The process is one-way. We can’t make a DVD Image or burn it. All you’re doing is pulling out the sound for editing and enjoying.
Koz
I suppose we should find out one more thing. If you play the disk in a DVD Player (not a computer) does it play OK? Computers will play anything, so having a computer play a disk tells you nothing. Koz
If you can’t get it working with Audacity, try [u]SUPER[/u]. It’s a FREE audio/video conversion program that can convert to/from most formats, and it can extract the audio to a WAV file. Then, if you want to edit the WAV file you can open it with Audacity.
If you download SUPER, watch out! Their website has ads for other software and it’s confusing… Follow the links and make sure you are downloading & installing SUPERsetup.exe.
NOTE - The audio WILL be embedded (multiplexed) in the VOB files in the VIDEO_TS folder. The AUDIO_TS folder is only used for special high resolution DVD Audio discs, which never really “caught-on” and most DVD players cannot play. On a regular video DVD, the audio is always in the VOB file with the video and the AUDIO_TS folder is empty.
The video is MPEG-2 and the audio format will be Dolby AC3, or LPCM if you live in North America (NTSC video). If you live in a country with PAL video (most of the world), MPEG-2 audio is a 3rd option. There are other optional audio formats, such as DTS, but all DVD players are required to play these 2 (or 3) formats, and all DVDs are required to have at least one of these standard formats.
I merged the two topics so we can see what we are talking about.
The VOB files will not be copy protected as it was a home recorded DVD.
The method of import should not matter as long as FFmpeg is installed because only FFmpeg will extract the audio.
What exactly happens when you import the VOB into Audacity? If there is an error, what does it say?
When you go Edit > Preferences and choose “Libraries” on the left, do you see F( ) C ( ) U ( ) numbers to right of FFmpeg Library Version? If not you will have to point Audacity to Fmpeg as per http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#locate .
If you want SUPER it is very hard to download unless you spend a long time configuring your web browser. Here is a direct permanent link to the latest version http://erightsoft.podzone.net/GetFile.php?SUPERsetup.exe .
Gale
CORRECT, THE FILES ARE THE RESULT OF RECORDING A MICROPHONE ON A DVD RECORDER. THE VIDEO JUST CAME ALONG FOR THE RIDE. I’M JUST ATTEMPTING TO PICK OFF THE AUDIO TO USE.
THEN WHAT HAPPENS??
IT WILL LET ME IMPORT IT AS A “RAW” FILE.??? I THEN HAVE WHAT APPEARS TO BE A “COMPRESSED WAVE” AT THE TOP.
yes, i have "f(52.64.2),c(52.72.2),u(50.15.1). so, it seems as though the file may be imported, but how do i pick the audio and export it? i exported as a .wav file, but it is only white noise when i attempt to play the wav file. yes, when playing the vob file, there is sound there. but, when i attempt to play the imported file while in audacity, there is no sound, only white noise.
SO, I SEEM TO BE CLOSE, BUT NOT THERE YET. ARE THERE ANY Audacity SETTINGS THAT MUST BE MADE?
Thanks to all on this Forum – everyone has been most patient!
The audio only should import with blue waves, just like if you import an MP3 or WAV audio file.
Is the VOB file now on a DVD or on your hard drive?
Audacity should be able to open VOB files off an unencrypted DVD OK, but If the VOB is not on your hard drive, can you (using Windows Explorer) drag the VOB file from the DVD to the hard drive?
You have F,C,U numbers displaying in Libraries Preferences so Audacity is apparently recognising FFmpeg OK. So if all you get is an error that the file is not recognised with a suggestion to try Import Raw, this seems to mean that FFmpeg cannot understand the VOB file. If so, SUPER will not help, because that also relies on FFmpeg for extracting audio from VOB files.
Do you have any programs that can play VOB files (like VLC )? If so, does double-clicking the VOB file from Explorer play the video with audio in that program?
Despite what I said, please try File > Import > Audio… in Audacity, choose “FFmpeg-compatible files” in the “Files of type” dropdown, then select the VOB and try to open it. If there is an error as I would expect, please state what the error says. Also please click Help > Show Log… in Audacity, right-click in the log and choose “Select All”, right-click and choose “Copy”, then paste the log text into your reply.
Import Raw is only meant for uncompressed PCM and similar audio. It won’t open VOB files correctly.
Gale