Is there anyway to open mp2 files directly in Soundforge? It takes so long to import them and then export them to wav files.

You have to have the MainConcept MPEG plugin to open them. I use BESWEET to convert the MP2 to WAV, then use SOUNDFORGE to edit the WAV. Then save the WAV. The let BESWEET convert to AC3 for DVD. Or MP3 for audio for a MP3-CD.

Right now, I use Audacity to open the mp2 files and convert to wav. Edit in SoundForge then convert to ac3 with FFMpegGUI. It (FFMpegGUI) is pretty much foolproof. Besweet has given me problems and crashed a few times.

I could capture using PCM instead of mp2 (I need to find out where to change the settings in MMC). Does SoundForge open the PCM sound files? At least I could skip the conversion from mp2 to wav.

Be sure ATI MMC is set to "MPEG2 DVD" mode and not "MPEG2" only in the presets. Then you can pick 48hz LPCM audio. But BEWARE that it can cause sync problems sometimes.

PCM is a kind of file. WAV and AIFF are PCM files. PCM pretty much just means "uncompressed".

When I use BESWEET from MP2 to WAV, my conversion time it literally fast enough to where I can go to the bathroom (quick trip, not long one), grab a drink and come back to the PC to see it already finished. "All" I have is a P4 with 512 RDRAM.

Are there any advantages or disadvantages to capturing straight to PCM other than file size? Is there any quality gain over mp2?

There is no real advantage to capturing to PCM, outside of having an edit-ready file for those that need to tweak the audio.