How do I encode audio?

[weshuang]

Newbie here, sorry in advance...

I am using TMPGenc to encode AVI files to .m2v files, because I've read that TMPGenc does not do a good job of encoding. However, I am not sure after reading through several guides and help files what file type my authoring program (I'm using TMPGenc DVD Author) needs.

I have read that the best type of audio files for compatibility are either PCM or AC3. Is PCM the same thing as a .wav file? I thought I saw a ntoe somewhere that it was.

If so, my other software that I use to capture, Ulead, can extract .wav files from .avi files. However, for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get the TMPGenc author to load up the audio! any help in this regard would be appreciated.

If PCM is not the same thing as a .wav file, can someone recommend a stable program to encode from an .avi file directly to either a pcm or ac3 file?

Thanks!

[jrbling]

PCM is wav and you mentioned that you are using tmpgenc to create a video m2v file? If thats the case then all you need i believe is to mux the wav from the original avi file with the m2v video stream. bbmpg is a good choice to do this with and you can find it in the tools section.

anyone correct me plz if this wont work.
goodluck.

[Vejita-sama]

What's your final video product: VCD, SVCD, CVD or DVD. DVD is only one on the list that supports PCM audio. DVD also supports AC3 audio. The first three require mp2 audio.

TMPGenc can encode MP2 audio, but it's internal encoder is only so-so, therefore a lot of people use tooLame to encode their audio.

https://www.videohelp.com/faq#toolame

If you're authoring DVDs there's no need to mux the audio and video. If you're making VCD/CVD/SVCD just have TMPGenc do it when you encode (choose PS audio + video).

[weshuang]

Vejita-sama,

OK, sorry, but now I'm pretty confused.

I am making DVD's, but I read in several guides that I should only have TMPGenc encode the video. However, when you say that I don't need to mux the audio and video, are you suggesting that I have TMPGenc encode to an mpg file? I was avoiding that under the notion that the audio encoding is best done in another program (in this case, I used Ulead, but I would look into tooLame).

Or are you suggesting that with an .m2v file and a .wav file that I can author in TMPGenc Author without muxing? I am hoping that's the answer. Can you tell me how to do that? I can't seem to find any sort of help file that explains how to add in a .wav file, and I can't figure it out through trial and error!

Thanks,
Wes

[weshuang]

PCM is wav and you mentioned that you are using tmpgenc to create a video m2v file? If thats the case then all you need i believe is to mux the wav from the original avi file with the m2v video stream. bbmpg is a good choice to do this with and you can find it in the tools section.

anyone correct me plz if this wont work.
goodluck.

OK, I am starting to feel as if I have never used a computer before. I downloaded bbmpeg, but for whatever reason I can't figure out how to get it to load up the .wav file. I can load the .m2v file just fine, but it won't recognize the .wav file. The help file mentions that multiplexing can be done on an ac3 file -- does this mean that I still have to convert the .wav file to something?

I can't believe how complex this is...

[Vejita-sama]

Sorry for the confusion. Most DVD authoring programs want elementary streams. That is seperate m2v (video) and ac3 or PCM (audio) files. The authoring program will mux everything into VOB files.

You DO NOT want to mux ac3 + m2v -> mpg or wav + m2v -> mpg, as this is not supported and non-standard. If you want to encode ac3 audio take a look at this guide instead:

http://www.doom9.org/audio-guides.htm

The other link was for encoding mp2 audio (using TMPGenc as a GUI for tooLame).