Sony HDR-SR5 and Picture Motion Browser

[PSB]

I'm experiencing something weird. I have bought Sony HDR-SR5 HD camcorder which came with the "Picture Motion Browser" software. This software is used for transfering the video footage from camcorder to the PC (it doesn't work with Mac) and it is working fine in my case. Yes, the video files from the camcorder do get transfered to the hard drive of my computer BUT when I import them to Sony Vegas Pro 8 NLE video editing software the audio track shows me that the left audio channel is playing 4dB quieter then the right audio channel.

The Sony HDR-SR5 comcorder records audio through the 5.1 surround build in microphone. So, the initial audio is being recorded in 5.1 format (not 2 channel stereo). When I hook up the camcorder to my TV through Audio/Video cable (analog - provided by Sony) the camcorder automatically converts 5.1 audio signal into a 2 channel stereo format and everything is fine. The sound is great and it is true stereo (same audio level from both speakers). Let's go back to the computer. When I place the previously transfered video file from Sony HDR-SR5 on the timeline within the video editing software the left audio channel is much quieter then the right audio channel.

It seems like Picture Motion Browser transfers the video files from HDR-SR5 to the computer preserving the original 5.1 audio format. I wish Picture Motion Browser would give me an option to transfer the video files either in 5.1 format or 2 channel stereo. But unfortunately this is not the case.

Question: Did anybody had experience with these kind of issues? How to convert the 5.1 audio into a 2 channel stereo format using this HDR-SR5 and Picture Motion Browser software? I could not find any "Options" within the software that would allow me to do that.

Thanks for your help,

PSB

[glesgaguyav]

What happens if you render the footage in Vegas, shouldn't it convert the audio into 2 channel stereo if that's what it's set for ?

[PSB]

The Sony Vegas Pro 8 renders the video file as it is presented on the timeline which means left audio channel is 4dB quieter then the right audio channel.

Yes, I thought that after rendering the problem would be solved but Vegas software did not convert original audio into the 2 channel stereo where left and right audio channels project the same loudness.

Initially I thought that something was wrong with the camcorder itself, but after testing it with my TV I can only conclude that the software that is responsible for the video transfer from the camcorder to the computer does not convert the original audio into a 2 channel stereo and that's my problem.

I bet that if I would download the video footage from the camcorder to the computer using Canopus video interface (analog) that sound would be ok, but then what would be the point of owning the HD camcorder if your sound will be messed up and your HD footage would be converted down to analog?

PSB

[glesgaguyav]

Maybe a silly question question:

Have you set your project settings in Sony Vegas for 5.1 sound ?
Check the project settings on startup if not set for 5.1 sound the timeline will default to the initial settings.
I quote from the help file:

Use the Project Properties dialog to set up your project for 5.1 surround.

To preview a 5.1 surround project, you'll need the following hardware:

A 5.1-compatible surround sound card.

—or—

A surround sound card with three stereo outputs.

—or—

Three stereo sound cards

[teliko]

Was there ever a solution found for this problem? Even when I have the project settings in 5.1 and then export in 5.1, I still get the 4db issue.