Confusion between Audio Editors

[javabean]

I have looked at the favorite audio editors link and and I am totally confused! All I wanted to do is clean up mp2 files and convert to AC3 for DVD . AC3 being the focus.

I prefer a commercial product that is reasonably priced, and writes a nice complient file. Not some el cheapo bastardized mongrel. Will Audacity at 1/3 the price of Audition do this? I am trying to get to the heart of the matter and reduce trial and error.

I don't want to spend real big $$ and learn several audio editors. One well documented and supported package that covers all is my preference.

Thanks

[mats.hogberg]

What do you mean by "clean up"?
For encoding to AC3, ffmpeg (with ffmpeggui) is my preferred tool. As good as they come, for stereo AC3 encoding. But then I've never had to deal with more than 2 channel audio sources, unless it's already AC3.

/Mats

[BJ_M]

sony vegas or sound forge (with the ac3 plug in - though that would cost more than vegas)

you can buy vegas movie studio DVD real cheap and it is a VERY good audio editor - especially if you get the noise reduction plug in for it .... which is one of the best ... Im not sure movie studio version encodes to 5.1 -- but the pro version certainly does ..

[gadgetguy]

Audacity is free so I don't know how that equates to 1/3 the price of Audition, but it is a good audio editor, just not for your purposes unless you are willing to use other apps to convert it first. It's designed for wav, mp3, and Ogg Vorbis. It doesn't work with mp2 or AC3 although it's supposed to accept plugins so maybe there's a plugin somewhere that will allow working with your requested formats.

[dphirschler]

I believe DBPowerAmp will convert your mp2 to wav. It's free if you get version 10.


Darryl