AC3 Encoding and authoring questions

[BrianK]

I am try to convert my DV home videos to DVD and am having problems with AC3 audio. Originally, I was just using TMPGenc to convert them to .mpg, which I guess uses MPEG audio (is this correct?). This was working great, but I want to make sure they will work on all standalone players, so I was trying to convert the audio to .ac3.

I extracted the audio to .wav using virtualdub, then used Besweet to convert to .ac3. I then took the .m2v file from TMPGenc and the .ac3 file from Besweet and loaded them to TMPGenc DVD Author. I output the VIDEO_TS directory, and then created an .iso image file using IMGTOOL Classic. I then burned the image file using DVD Decryptor.

Everything burned fine, except when I try to play it in my standalone players (a panasonic RP-56 and a Toshiba), there is either no audio, or it squeals and pops when the players are in bitstream mode. When I switch the players to PCM mode, they play fine. What is up with that? Does that mean that the .ac3 file didn't get burned? Are the players converting it to PCM? I really don't want to have to switch the players to PCM every time I watch a video.

Also, should the mpeg audio version play using the bitstream or PCM mode of the player?

Sorry for the rambling, but I appreciate any and all help.

[Baldrick]

besweet(based on ffmpeg) doesn't create compliant ac3s. It works on many dvd players but not all.

[BrianK]

Can you recommend an application that creates fully compliant AC3 files?

Thanks.

[BJ_M]

how much do you want to spend ?

vegas + dvda $600
Dolby hardware encoder $6000
Nuendo + ac3 pack

here is the Official List:

Aastra Digital Video Div., Aastra Telecom U.S. Inc.
www.adv.aastratelecom.com LDV_EVA150/152/200/210 two-channel broadcast encoder
LDV_AXP100 six-by-two-channel broadcast encoder
Apple
www.apple.com APACK 5.1-channel software encoder included in DVD Studio Pro authoring software suite for Apple Macintosh
Digital Vision, Inc.
www.digitalvision.se/ BitPack Real-time two- and 5.1-channel Dolby Digital encoder in PitPack Audio Encoding Workstation
Digigram
www.digigram.com Multichannel Digital Audio Encoder 5.1-channel stand-alone application that can also be used as a fully integrated plug-in with Digigram's Xtrack suite of digital audio tools
Emersys Corporation
www.emersys.co.kr
www.maven3d.com Dolby Digital Encoder Dolby Digital Encoder 5.1-channel encoder software plugin for Maven 3D Professional Sound Editor software for Windows.
Kind of Loud Universal Audio Company
www.kindofloud.com SmartCode Pro 5.1 channel software encoder for Macintosh
Motorola
www.gi.com DigiCipher II family of broadcast encoders
Harmonic
www.harmonicinc.com or www.divi.com MPE-8000 two-channel broadcast encoder
Media View family of broadcast encoders
Matsushita
www.panasonic.com LQ-VD2000S
LQ-VDS120 two-channel encoder DVD authoring system
Minnetonka
www.minnetonkaaudio.com Surcode for Dolby Digital 5.1-channel stand-alone software encoder
Momentum Data Systems, Inc.
www.mds.com Opus563 5.1-channel PCI card based encoder
Optibase, Inc.
www.optibase.com MPEG MovieMaker 200S two-channel PCI card based encoder
MPEG Composer two-channel PCI card based encoder
Scientific Atlanta
www.sciatl.com PowerVu Plus two-channel broadcast encoder
Sea Change
www.seachange.com DSI system two-channel broadcast server
Sonic Solutions
www.sonic.com DVD Fusion two-channel encoder in a DVD authoring system for MAC and Windows
DVD Creator two- or 5.1-channel software encoder in a DVD authoring workstation or encoding workstation for Macintosh
Scenarist (NT) 5.1-channel Dolby Digital encoder in a Windows-NT based DVD authoring system
Scenarist (SGI) As above, but for SGI workstation
Sonic Foundry
www.sonicfoundry.com 5.1 Surround Plugin 5.1-channel Dolby Digital Encoder software plugin for ACID
Spruce Technologies
www.spruce-tech.com ACXpress5100 5.1-channel PCI card based encoder
MPX3000 two-channel encoder with MPEG-2 video encoder PCI card
Steinberg Media Technologies Inc.
www.steinberg.net Dolby Digital Encoder 5.1-channel encoder software plugin for Nuendo Media Production System for Macintosh and Windows
Tandberg Television
www.Tandbergtv.com E5000 SD broadcast encoder
E5821 HD broadcast encoder
Videotele.com Inc.
www.videotele.com M2 Trilium Two-channel audio with MPEG-2 video broadcast encoder
Zapex
www.zapex.com ZP-100 two-channel / 5.1-channel PCI-based encoder for Winodws and Linux OS
ZP-330 MPEG-2 video and Dolby Digital/PCM audio encoders for Windows and Linux OS

[Poppa_Meth]

supposedly the newest ffmpeg (download the GUI) doesn't have a problem with this anymore though I haven't messed with it yet to confirm it. It's limited to 2 Channel though.

[BJ_M]

supposedly the newest ffmpeg (download the GUI) doesn't have a problem with this anymore though I haven't messed with it yet to confirm it. It's limited to 2 Channel though.

it is also not legal - still...

[GreyDeath]

I would recommend Vegas+DVD for the AC3 Dolby Digital Encoding. I was also having problems using BeSweet and playing in my standalones and Vegas solved that. The solution maybe be a bit excessive or lazy, but Vegas is also an excellent NLE that's easy to learn compared to Premiere, in my opinion.

If you know someone who's in school or a teacher, you can get an academic discount for around $250. I loove Vegas...

[trhouse]

MyDVD 5.0 Deluxe can take any dvd compliant video with pcm or mpeg1-layer2 audio and transcode it to ac3 without re-encoding the video. It is available as trialware on the Sonic web site.

[Nolonemo]

Doesn't Ulead's DVD Workshop do AC3 (with the AC3 plugin)? Vegas + DVDA does nicely, but if importing chapter points from Vegas to DVDA wasn't important to be, I'd still be using Workshop, I much prefer it to DVDA.

[BJ_M]

Doesn't Ulead's DVD Workshop do AC3 (with the AC3 plugin)? Vegas + DVDA does nicely, but if importing chapter points from Vegas to DVDA wasn't important to be, I'd still be using Workshop, I much prefer it to DVDA.

yes -- but funny enough , they are not mentioned on the Dolby web site as being lic'd /

[Kelso]

I am try to convert my DV home videos to DVD and am having problems with AC3 audio. Originally, I was just using TMPGenc to convert them to .mpg, which I guess uses MPEG audio (is this correct?). This was working great, but I want to make sure they will work on all standalone players, so I was trying to convert the audio to .ac3.

If your only goal to make sure your DVDs will work on all standalone players, then AC3 audio is not really needed. All standalone DVD players can playback PCM audio. So just take your audio and convert it to a PCM WAV file (48000HZ, 16bit, stereo). Just make sure your DVD authoring software can handle WAV files, (most can), and author away.

Good Luck...

[BrianK]

I was only interested in AC3 really because of the size issue. I have been using .wav files for now, but if I wanted to put 2 hour long movies on one DVD, the video bitrate would have to be quite a bit lower and that would compromise quality.

I have been going with 1 hour DV per DVD, so I will continue to use .wav until I decide how to do the AC3 encoding. I'm not willing to spend $250 or more just for my purposes. I may try MyDVD Deluxe. I have Movie Factory 2, but my version won't pass the .ac3 file. It gives me an error. Is there a plugin for that I can try? I couldn't see one on the Ulead website.

So, if I use MP2 audio, will that be less compatible in the future or more compatible. Are newer players supporting this more or less than older players?

Thanks for all the replies. This has really helped.

[trhouse]

MyDVD 5.0 Deluxe is about $70. If you have any other version, the upgrade is $40. I capture mpeg2, vbr realtime with mpeg1, layer2 audio and edit with the MPEG Tools in Tmpgenc. Chapters are added with MyDVD 5.0 Deluxe but I avoid editing with MyDVD because any edit will cause it to re-encode the whole video at 8 Mb/s cbr. I do not believe MyDVD will accept ac3 input but it will transcode pcm or mpeg1, layer2 to ac3. Sounds like Ulead is similar.

[wonderuss]

Sonic foundry sotf encode 5.1 converts wav files to ac3 no problem, you can even choose what type of ac3 file you want from mono to 5.1, plus you can make up a 5 channel ac3 file from 5 different wav files putting each in whatever channel you like.

[BJ_M]

Sonic foundry sotf encode 5.1 converts wav files to ac3 no problem, you can even choose what type of ac3 file you want from mono to 5.1, plus you can make up a 5 channel ac3 file from 5 different wav files putting each in whatever channel you like.

only it has not been sold for 2 years

[wonderuss]

Niether has dvdmaestro but it's still in use

[lordsmurf]

SoftEncode sucks as a program, not perfect, there's a reason it was discontinued.

DVDit! PE does AC3, also not on the list. Odd.

I use Besweet, never have problems with it playing. I'd suggest better player for those picky ones. I'm a fan of versatility myself. Only Besweet issues was a bad audio encode, causing me to resort back to DVDit! PE encoding from time to time.

If you are satisfied with DD 2.0 and not 5.1, I DO recomend getting DVDIt PE,, as you know, it's an authoring sw, but it converts by itself the WAV files to AC3 and you don't need an external tool for that.

That's why it's a bit expensive, cause Sonic paid Dolby to use its encoding standard.

It's really easy, just author a DVD normally and, at the final step, choose the option "convert all files to DD 2.0" it's done !

If you wanna 5.1, then you'd need SoftEncode......

CEP 2.1 has a built in tool that samples the exact frequencies needed to convert a stereo wave to 6 waves, to be loaded in SE. But then your budget......

[ChickenMan]

Part of the Sonic Scenarist bundle is a real gem. Its called AC3Enc and is great for converting WAV to AC3, has far better playback compatability than BeSweet has.

[BJ_M]

Part of the Sonic Scenarist bundle is a real gem. Its called AC3Enc and is great for converting WAV to AC3, has far better playback compatability than BeSweet has.

yes -- thats only a 1500$ option to a 21,000$ package.. it dosnt even have the latest dolby specs on it ... like the vegas package includes for 7:1 / dolby EX and extended settings ..