Now might be a good time to run Gspot, and see what the audio codec is.

Gspot result
 

Attached is a screen shot of the Gspot report for my .mpg source.

Looks like the audio is AC3.

So what can I conclude from this about the unsupported decompression complaint by VirtualDub in response to my attempt to save WAV?

Ok, I think I found the issue:

I need to download the codec for VirtualDub which is typically missing:

"AC3 ACM Decompressor for VirtualDub

The core is based on liba52, and it works with most any ACM client (VirtualDub, TMPGEnc, Avisynth, CoolEdit, etc).

The only downside I'm aware of is that it tends to override DirectShow AC-3 filters, like Valex's"

Everyone has it available free.

Yeah, that's sort of where I was heading. The AC3 codec I suggest is the AC3 Filter: http://ac3filter.net/projects/ac3filter/releases

The other AC3 options out there, including VirtualDub plugins, have failed to work at times. The AC3 Filter works most reliably -- although it has failed me in Vista 64 a few times.

My Newbie light is on now: What is the difference between a filter and a codec?

Don't think about it too much -- "AC3 Filter" is the name of the codec. :)

OK...It's all successfully on the timeline! No problems scrubbing, editing, etc... Minor delays jumping between and in and out of clip editing. Generated a full project preview: 2hrs:20mins producing 11.4 Gb in preview files. I'm building the courage to export the timeline through my updated MainConcept MEPG encoder, and then on to authoring (for which I have no particular software). It let you know how it goes.

I'm very pleased, learned alot, and want to thank you for all the guidance and recommendations.

I have a video edit question now, but I'll start a new thread.

Thanks again!

My system with 6.5 is an Intel Pentium 4 2.8Ghz 400FSB with 1GB RDRAM, and IDE-connected drives. When using uncompressed AVI as the source, with uncompressed PCM, there can be glitches(delays) in the buffering of content when playing back the timeline preview. It's just a lot of stuff for the system to try and process in realtime.

That's one reason realtime NLE cards existed, such as Canopus and Matrox. The Matrox RT2500 and RT.X100 were good cards for 6.5, back in the day. Of course, even used on eBay, the cards fetch prices of $500+ even 5-6 years later! The NLE cards offloaded some of the preview, processing and effects to the Matrox GPU.

For authoring, we'd need to start a new thread, but ....
..... as a preview on the topic, I would HIGHLY HIGHLY suggest Ulead DVD Workshop 2. You can still buy it at B&H for a mere $99. This software used to be $300-500, and it's definitely professional software. When Ulead was bought out by Corel, the product was discontinued, sadly. Ulead was rumored to be working on version 3, but that was scrapped. There's really very little than it cannot do, and it's easy to use.

The preview (once generated) has pretty smooth playback...I see no buffering delays.

I'm running a P4 HT 3.4GHz 800MHz FSB 1M L2; on an ASUS P5AD2-E Premium MB; with 2Gb 667MHz DDR2 (PC2-5300) Ballistix RAM rated CAS3; 250G 7200rpm 8Mb buffer IDE HDD; and a NVidia Quadro FX1400 PCIe 128Mb fully OpenGL video card. It's not an NLE card as per se', but it's very fast and smooth...I have it for CAD and 3D modeling. It was the best I could build in winter of 2005. I'm looking to make a new system next Spring and migrate to Win7.

I figured you'd say the Ulead DVDW2, which I had gleaned from other posts, but when I first saw the Corel package it gave me a lot of pause. But you've steered me right so far - now I got faith.

I would ADD a new system, not migrate. There is definite value with older Intel P4 / AGP / WinXP systems, something lost on newer multi-core PCIe Vista/Win7 systems.

KVM them: http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/show...trol-1615.html

Of course...I mean add. I have a rolling rack in my studio with 3 other workstations (previous "migration" carnage), monitors, printers, scanner. I use my wireless network to remote desktop into each as necessary...or swivel my chair...depending on what's going on.

Hey nice idea on the wireless KVM!

I've never been fond of wireless RDP or VNC -- too slow. Far prefer wired gigabit connections for that. Much nicer. :)