Does DVD2SVCD do 5.1 audio with philips encoder?

[DVantrease]

I just started using DVD2SVCD, and noticed this comment listed in the 'Latest DVD2SVCD ReadMe file':

HISTORY:
XX jun 2002 version 1.0.X build X (under slow development)
- Enhancement: Added support for MPEG5.1 Audio using philips encoder. You must use I-Author as the CD-Image create program otherwise your SVCD will only have ordinary stereo sound.

(This ReadMe file can be found at http://dvd2svcd.doom9.net/)

I want to know if I'm reading this right. Does MPEG5.1 mean Dolby 5.1 surroundsound? Also, I cannot find ANY other information regarding the 'philips encoder' mentioned. Does it exist, and if so, where?

Thanks guys...

[adam]

No the 5.1 it is referring to is not dolby digital it is called multichannel mpeg audio but it is actually just good, quality-wise, as dolby digital. I believe the philips encoder is just a tool philips released to encode multichannel mpeg audio but I'm not sure. If DVD2SVCD does use this software then it will surely be in the DVD2SVCD dir, just check there.

Your really wasting your time even bothering with this format however, I don't even know why its offered in DVD2SVCD since almost no one will ever be able to use it. Multichannel mpeg audio is pretty much an obsolete format. There aren't many decoders which can decode it and even if your decoder does support it, it seems only Philips dvd players properly export the signal. Unless you have a Philips dvd player and your decoder specifically has the multichannel mpeg audio logo, you can't use this format and I can assure you there is no other way to implement 5.1 audio into svcds.

[DVantrease]

Thanks adam for the good info. I just switched to SVCD from VCD because of my new player / hometheater, and am still learning the differences. I got prematurely excited when I saw 'MPEG5.1', so thanks for clarifying!