Mpeg audio compatability with players

[Joel Ertl]

We use DVD Workshop to author our DVD's. Most of them were done using version 1.0, which only supported Mpeg audio. LPCM audio was added later in version 2.0.

We occasionally get a customer that will not get any audio on their player. From what I understand, Mpeg audio is the standard on European players and AC3 is standard on North American player. PCM is standard on both.

What I want to know is if it is worth converting our DVD's to LPCM? From what I have read, the files will be bigger, so they might not fit on the disk.

Will using Mpeg audio become more or less of a problem in newer players? If it is only older players that can't read them I would probably leave the disks as they are.

Any thoughts?

-Joe

[rixware]

I always do LPCM audio on discs because it increases the likelihood that the disc will play without problems.

Most players can handle MPEG audio, but it is not necessarily the default setting. If I make a DVD with only MPEG audio, the chances are about 50-50 that the customer will call back and say they can't hear the sound. I then have to patiently walk them through the process of changing the settings on their player to play the MPEG audio.

This is pretty bad for customer relations. When I include LPCM, nobody ever calls back. It works EVERY time. My understanding is that AC3 has higher default support than MPEG, but I don't have any testing to either prove or disprove this. I'm sure someone on this board can offer more info on that.

Hope this helps.

Rick
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