Does Wav file have Surround information?

[webbjs11]

Is information lost when converting AC3 to Wav first, and then WAV to MP2?

I use DVD2AVI to create either an AC3 or WAV. When choosing my audio, say I choose to decode to a WAV file ( I may do this so I can boost the volume level in Goldwave).

Should I choose to Downmix in DVD2AVI? Should I not downmix, use Goldwave to boost my volume, than downmix the wav in HeadAC3e when converting to MP2?

Or, should I Demux AC3 in DVD2AVI (choose NOT to downmix), use HeadAC3he for AC3 to MP2 conversion (donwmix HERE), and live with the volume level?

Does WAV have surround information?

[Dragonsf]

If your wave was original Dolby Prologic (not AC3), then there is Surroung info in the wav (you can use cooledit or ac3filter for matrix decoding the surround info).
If your source is AC3, don't downmix, but creat six separate channnels and boost(normalize these channels,After that reencode them to AC3 again.This way you won't loose any surround information.
AFAIK in downmix, the surround is just pseudo.

[webbjs11]

Thanks Dragonsf. But...

I use DVD2AVI as frameserver of VOB files ripped from SmartRipper. After DVD2AVI, I can either have a decoded WAV file, or demuxed AC3 file.

My goal is the end up with a volume boosted MP2 which I can MUX with D2V file in bbMPEG for SVCD creation. Is it OK:

1. In DVD2AVI to decode WAV, NOT downmix
2. Use Goldwave to maximize volume
3. Use HeadAC3he to convert WAV to MP2 and downmix here?

Maybe I don't know the true meaning of Downmix?

[Dragonsf]

Why can't you use an AC3 file with complete surround information?
Downmix meams IMHO, that all the 6 channels of an AC3 (DD 5.1 in that case) are mixed in such way, that you can hear everything in 2 channels, i.e the center+LFE are mixed equally to the front, and the rear channels are added as well.Something like:
new front left=front left+50% center+50 %LFE+(rear left - rear right)
new front right=front right + 50% center + 50% lfe+(rear right - rear left)
Thus the cnter (=dialogue) is audible on the left and front channels simulating a center channel.