Solved AC-3 Audio rendering error - Operational error, installation failed code -1

Hi MS Zen,
When Rendering the audio, I sometimes get an error message like the one attached.  How do I get rid of this?
Thanks!

Hi Treff

Sorry for the delay in replying to your message!

Which exact program is producing this error ?
Which version ?

Are you using a combination of VEGAS and Sound Forge ?

Which version of Windows are you using ?

It's been a very long time since I have seen this specific error message on my own computer.
I can't remember exactly what I did back then...???
However, try what the message is telling you.
Start the program you are using in Administrator mode.

The easy way to do this, is to make sure you have the program Quick Start icon on your Desktop first.
Right-click the program and select Run As Administrator.
This elevates program permissions to maximum levels.

Now see if this fixes the problem.

I can comment more when I know which program/s and versions you are using.

Regards
Derek

Hi Derek,
Sorry not to have included the info previously:  I'm using MS16 on Windows 10, 64bit; Intel Core i7 - 3770 CPU @ 3.4 GHz, 8.0 GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti.

I have Czech friends: I was rendering in PAL format. 
This morning I followed your reply with Run as Administator.  Got the same message again.  (attached).
LT 

Hi LT

The problem is most likely due to the age of VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 16 and a licensing problem related to Dolby, the owners of AC-3 audio codec.
I have edited the Subject line for this forum thread to accurately describe the error.
I have a feeling that other users may experience the same problem, as VEGAS Movie Studio gets older and older (now that it is a retired product).

Steps to replicate problem
The first thing I tested was to try rendering AC-3 Dolby Digital Audio using VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 17.
AC-3 audio renders OK using version 17.

The next thing I did was to re-install VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 16 on my Windows 11 computer.
I was able to replicate the error using version 16.
It looks like the AC-3 audio codec is not getting downloaded and/or activated properly.
Certain Audio and Video codecs that VEGAS Movie Studio users, are associated with licensing deals, that involve activations in the background.

Here are some screen shots that show what happens when you try to render AC-3 Dolby Digital audio using VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 16.

 

 

As you have already discovered LT, running VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum in Administrator mode, does not fix the problem.
The licensing deal for this version of VEGAS Movie Studio has either expired and/or there is broken link to the activation servers.
Because VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 16 is a retired program, this problem will never be fixed.

Solutions for rendering Audio, that will work in DVD Architect, if making DVDs or Blu-ray discs
Option 1: Upgrade to VEGAS Pro 21
There is a flash sale on right now, for upgrading to VEGAS Pro 21. It's only $99. Click this add at the top of this page for details.
VEGAS Pro Edit 21 is the full version of VEGAS Pro, just by itself.
AC-3 audio rendering is supported in this version.

Options 2: Render to .WAV audio and convert to AC-3 audio using DVD Architect
Because you can't render AC-3 audio with VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 16 anymore, you will have to use an alternate audio format that is compatible with DVD Architect.
If you want to keep using VMSP-16, I recommend rendering with .WAV audio instead.
.WAV is supported in DVD Architect, however this format is extremely large in file size and not suitable for making DVDs - normally you would only use .WAV in a Blu-ray disc.
However, you can use DVD Architect to convert .WAV audio files into AC-3 audio (AC-3 audio still works in DVD Architect).

Step 1 - Rendering to .WAV audio
Render your audio in VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 16 to Wave (Microsoft).
Use the Format and Template as shown in the screen shot below.

 

If you need to render 5.1 Surround Sound Audio, press the Customize button and set Channels = 5.1 (Surround)

 

Step 2 - Converting .WAV to AC-3 audio using DVD Architect
I will assume you have already rendered your video file.
When you rendered your .wav audio file using VEGAS Movie Studio, make sure it was given the exact same file name as your video and was saved into the exact same folder as well.
When you import your Video file into DVD Architect, the program will automatically import the associated .WAV Audio file for.

Check that your DVD Architect Project Properties are set correctly.
Select File / Properties
Make sure it is set to PAL and AC-3 Stereo

 

It's a good idea to save the project into it's own new folder before making a DVD, using File / Save As

Press Make DVD

Select Burn

 

Select Browse and set to the same custom folder location you created, when you used Save As, to save your project.

 

Select Make New Folder and name it "My Discs"

 

Select Next

 

Select Optimize

 

Select your Video file and the Audio 1 tab
Set Recompress = Yes
Set Audio Format = AC-3 Stereo
Select OK

 

Make DVD will report that the audio is going to be re-compressed (converted).
Select Next

 

If you get a warning message about System administrator privileges, you can ignore this, unless you experience any problems.
If you ever experience problems, save your project, close DVD Architect, then re-start using Admin Mode (right-click program start icon on desktop).

 

In the final window, you can select your DVD Burner drive to make a disc right now or select ISO Image Writer to create a disc image that can be burnt later.
Experiment: If you did select ISO Image Writer, the ISO file that is created can be opened in VLC Player and work exactly like a DVD on your computer.
www.videolan.org/

Press button next to File name and make sure your Custom Folder location is selected for the output files (DVD files).

Select Finish
The end!

 











 

Hi Derek,
Thank you so much for your prompt response and detailed message!  At 75, I've been resistant to upgrading to programs other than MS. 
To save you time, you can just reply using the numbers.

1. Is Vegas Pro 21 similar to Movie Studio?
2. Would I pay the $149, since I don't have any Vegas Pro programs on my PC now? (I have MS14, MS15, MS16, MS17, MS22, MS23 (most of them Platinum series; on my PC now). 
3. Because of my need NOT to use all the flashy tools of later versions, I've used MS 16 and MS 17 for all my videos.  But my mind is still in tact, so I'm willing to upgrade to VP21, if you think I can handle it.
4. Do you recommend UNINSTALLING the older programs and just using VP21?
5. Is my copy of DVD Architect compatible with VP21?

Again, thanks for all your detailed emails and videos:  you are truly, a world wide treasure.  (I keep hoping to win the lotto, so I can properly thank you for your expertise!)

LT  
Larry Treffry

No doubt Derek wlll be along shortly to answer your questions in depth.  Meantime download VP21 30 trial to see if it suits you and your system.  It should open your existing vf files.

1. VEGAS Pro is the BIG brother of VEGAS Movie Studio - Movie Studio is a stripped down version of VEGAS Pro, so the core functions are the same.
As I am sure you are aware, MAGIX retired VEGAS Movie Studio a few years ago. Most VEGAS Movie Studio users who are use to using VEGAS, have upgraded to VEGAS Pro, so they don't have to re-learn a completely different program. VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 17 was the last "VEGAS" version of Movie Studio ever released.
All versions of Movie Studio released after this, have nothing to do with VEGAS and are MAGIX versions of a completely different program.
MAGIX Movie Studio Platinum 22 & 23 are completely different programs and require learning from scratch!!

There is one thing that concerns me just a little bit. Your current computer only has 8GBs of RAM (memory) and the Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti is low powered compared to what is standard now.
In "computer years", your computer is getting a little old now, to handle a modern program like VEGAS Pro 21.
Windows already uses a substantial amount of that 8GB memory capacity, which doesn't leave much over for VEGAS Pro to use.
To get the best performance out of VEGAS Pro 21, you need to be using a modern computer with a decent Graphics Card, because VEGAS Pro makes heavy use of your graphics card for decoding/encoding video. CPUs have also dramatically increased Core counts now. 8x Cores or more has become the norm. For video editing, you need a minimum of 16GBs of RAM.

With everything I have just explained, I would recommend not upgrading to VEGAS Pro 21, unless you were prepared to invest in a modern, more powerful computer. Your current versions of VEGAS Movie Studio are optimized to work better with your older computer hardware. VEGAS Pro 21 would probably work in your computer, but it would be severely limited.

2. Because you already own an older version of VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum, you should qualify for the VEGAS Pro 21 upgrade. Right now, that's $99 while it's on sale. You can start the sales process to check and abandon the shopping cart if you want to, without being charged. They will ask you to login and/or enter a VMS serial number, to confirm you are a previous customer.

As Eric has already suggested, it would be best to download and install the free trial for VEGAS Pro 21.
Click the Ad at the top of this page. Near the bottom of the page that opens, you will find a link to download the Free Trial.

3. The problem that will get worse over time, are small bugs with VEGAS Movie Studio Platinum 16 &17, because they are no longer being updated.
For some people, the bugs in VEGAS Movie Studio are too annoying to deal with, so upgrading to VEGAS Pro is an obvious choice.
I do remember many years ago, when I bought my first version of VEGAS Pro - I think it was VEGAS Pro 9 ?
I remember feeling very overwhelmed, until I understood what the extra controls meant, however the timeline worked exactly the same, which made the transition less painful.
Today you will find 100's and 100's of VEGAS Pro tutorials on YouTube, to help you out.

I haven't made new tutorials for a very long time, due to my health. However, after getting surgery last year, I have improved dramatically and am currently working on new tutorials to help VEGAS Movie Studio users transition to VEGAS Pro. I'll start to upload new videos and articles very, very soon.

4. If you did buy VEGAS Pro 21, you do not have to uninstall older versions of VEGAS Movie Studio. Don't do that!!
All versions of VEGAS can stay on the same computer and will not effect each other. This way you can re-open old projects (if needed) with VMS.

5. DVD Architect is also a retired program now, so VEGAS Pro 21 has no ability to automatically link to DVD Architect.
However, VEGAS Pro 21 still has the same DVD & Blu-ray rendering formats and templates available for rendering videos and audio.
You can render your normal DVD videos with VEGAS Pro 21 and then manually import your videos into DVD Architect - it all still works 100% OK!