Basic audio question (noob)

[tecstar]

Home video from a DV camcorder.
When I encode the mpeg file ready for DVD, is there any benefit in using LPCM over mpeg-1? No 5.1, no DTS etc, just plain old stereo.

The benefit of using Mpeg-1 is a smaller filesize, but should I use LPCM?

TIA

[Cornucopia]

When LPCM is better--

1. Uncompressed = Highest quality Audio (is that important to you?)

When compressed is better--

1. Filesize is much less, allows room for more video and/or longer video segments. E.g. with LPCM, full DVD-5 = ~40-60minutes Max. with AC3/MP2 full DVD-5 = ~60-135+ minutes Max.

2. Bitrate available for video (before reaching combined bitrate ceiling) is more = higher quality video (is that more important to you than the audio?)

This is assuming stereo for all the filetypes. 5.1 for LPCM is theoretically part of the spec, but not a viable option at all.

BTW, If you can get it: AC3 is preferable over MPEG1Layer2.

Scott

[tecstar]

So I reckon for me, compressed is better.

So should I use MP3 over AC3?
What is the advantage of AC3?

Thanks.

[daamon]

So should I use MP3 over AC3?
What is the advantage of AC3?

The only valid audio formats are WAV, AC3 and MP2 (MP2 in PAL regions only).

The advantage of AC3 over MP2 is that it's globally acceptable, whereas MP2 is only valid in PAL regions. Some say that with AC3 and MP2 at the same bitrates, AC3 is that bit better sounding.

Personally, I'm tone deaf and either AC3 or MP2 at 192 or 224kbps sounds as good as the WAV.