how to: add 2 mono tracks = 2 channel wave?

[spiritgumm]

I'm taking 2 mono tracks from 5.1 audio (demuxed, then separated into 6 mono waves with Belight), and want to make a stereo wave (preserving each track as a channel). This is for a music cd. The only way I can figure to add 2 mono tracks as channels is Nero Soundtrax (I'm using Nero 6.+). However, when I go to export the wave, it has to be saved as either mono or stereo. Either way, this homogenizes both tracks together. I want each track to be a separate channel (Left and Right). Is there a way with Nero or some freeware?

[jman98]

What you propose doing will give horrible results if the original 5.1 audio file uses more than 2 channels. The following article is what you should do:
http://www.glump.net/dokuwiki/howto/audio_only_dvd_ripping_guide
This article tells you how to easily properly downmux from 5.1 to stereo WAV and then make an audio CD.

[spiritgumm]

I reduced my project to the variables I outlined, and am only asking for the mechanics to achieve a goal. I think you're assuming I want some other result which I didn't specify.
I'm trying to get the bits of music soundtrack from a regular movie dvd (it's not a concert movie, nor an isolated music-only track on a dvd). The best channels (ie loudest but very little dialogue/FX) seem to be Front Left and Right. However, each has different sound effects on them at different times. I want to have each as a separate channel on the same wave file. That way I can, for example, subsititute 10 seconds of music on Left channel to Right channel (using the Stereo Processor in Nero Wave editor), and everything stays in sync.

[jman98]

You are indeed correct in that I assumed you wanted something that you don't want. However, being vague in your original post and the fact that most people who post here don't know what they really want to do led me to that erroneous conclusion.

CoolEdit can do what you want. I have never used it, but I think Audacity (free software) can do what you want too. CoolEdit is not free, so I'd try Audacity first. What you want to do is quite complex though. Substituting sound like you propose (which was NOT what your original post was about, by the way) is going to be a very complex, time consuming procedure. Good luck.

[spiritgumm]

Thanks - I did a test and looks like Audacity will do it - unless I did it right by mistake, and won't be able repeat it later.
Inregards to being vague, I did try to be specific. I only mentioned substituting audio when I outlined my project. I didn't mention it initially because it's not relevant to the combining tracks task. Hopefully I'll be able to do the substituting with Nero Stereo Processor. If not, I guess I'll have to manually paste portions of music from one track into another (a nightmare, since the sync will invariably vary).
Thanks again.