AC3 Audio on DVD-Rs

[ZenZen]

Currently I am capturing AVIs from Cable TV using a Canopus ADVC-100. Encoding with MainConcept Encoder to Mpeg2, the Video bitrate is set somewhere between 4000 and 6000 depending on quality of the original video. The Audio is Mpeg Layer 2. (Only option available).

What advantage is there in encoding the audio as AC3?
and how (simple steps) do I convert audio to AC3??

Thanks in advance

[bugster]

What advantage is there in encoding the audio as AC3?
and how (simple steps) do I convert audio to AC3??

Thanks in advance

About the only advantage I can think of is a small increase in compatibility as soom US players do handle mp2 audio.

[pijetro]

Exept for compatibility issues, there's no big advantage, especially if you've capped in .MP2 already. Many posts are saying that .MP2 is the standard for Europe, and .AC3 is for North America. But most players nowadays in NTCS land happily accept .MP2. If that's your case, then leave it alone.

File size is about the same. To do a proper (legal i guess also), .ac3 conversion, you have to buy into an expensive Dolby certified encoder.

But for free, the guides on the left show you how to Besweet.......It's what I use for my .AC3 conversions in NTCS land, and it works fine.
Note: Some of the older Pioneer players need to have .ac3 output via 5.1channel......

Good luck.....

[ZenZen]

Thanks for your replies, guys.
I live in Australia....PAL land, so I guess I'll leave things as they are