Convert MP2 to AC3 within VOB structure

[Xesdeeni]

I have a bunch of homebrew DVDs I made, including some menus, a couple of years ago. But the project files are long gone. They all have MP2 audio, which generally play fine in most DVD players. But we just got a new one that doesn't like the MP2 audio. It works fine with AC3. Is there a reasonably simple way, without having to re-author the DVDs, to just convert the MP2 to AC3, presumably with the same bit rate?

If I extract the MP2 and convert to AC3, can I then use something to just replace the audio in place, within the VOB structure?

Xesdeeni

[manono]

Hello Xesdeeni,

Is there a reasonably simple way, without having to re-author the DVDs, to just convert the MP2 to AC3, presumably with the same bit rate?

No. You'll have to reauthor at least the video itself, if not the entire DVD.

If I extract the MP2 and convert to AC3, can I then use something to just replace the audio in place, within the VOB structure?

No.

Demux (PGCDemux), convert the audio (however you were planning on doing that), remux with the new audio (Muxman), stick the remuxed video back into the original DVD using the "Replace" button of VobBlanker. That way you keep the menus and anything else that was in the DVD originally. This is all pretty easy, but may take a bit more time to accomplish than you had hoped.

[Xesdeeni]

No, if I understand what you are saying, that is exactly what I want to do!

But let me be sure I do understand. Once I have a muxed MPG program stream (MPG video + AC3 audio), VobBlanker will let me reconstruct the DVD, right?

I've never used VobBlanker. Is it difficult to figure out how to do this, or is the interface pretty intuitive?

BTW, thanks for the awesome (and quick) answer! Thanks!

Xesdeeni

[manono]

Hi,

I've never used VobBlanker. Is it difficult to figure out how to do this, or is the interface pretty intuitive?

Easy. Open the original DVD (the one with the MP2 audio) in VobBlanker. Highlight the video in question in the upper screen so it appears in the lower screen. Highlight it in the lower screen and to the right hit the "Replace" button. Scroll to your new DVD with the new audio and hit the VTS_01_0.IFO. Give it an Output Folder and "Process". Here's a guide to doing what you want;

http://www.digital-digest.com/articles/Simplistic_Guide_for_Replacing_DVD_Streams_page1.html

But you'll be able to do it yourself in less time than it takes to watch the damned thing. If you have to, just go through the third part, "Replacing the Muxed Titles into the Original DVD". Also:

Once I have a muxed MPG program stream (MPG video + AC3 audio)...

You'll have to create a new DVD, one without any menus or anything else. That's why I mentioned Muxman earlier. VobBlanker will require a real DVD for replacing. An MPG isn't good enough.

[Xesdeeni]

Will MuxMan allow me to use non-standard DVD video? Some of these DVDs have video that is 544x480 along with the MP2 audio (the player doesn't have a problem with the non-standard video, just the MP2 audio).

Xesdeeni

[Midzuki]

Both DVDAuthor and DVD-lab accept DVB-resolutions,
but MuxMan does not.

[Alex_ander]

Will MuxMan allow me to use non-standard DVD video? Some of these DVDs have video that is 544x480 along with the MP2 audio (the player doesn't have a problem with the non-standard video, just the MP2 audio).

Xesdeeni

It will, in case you patch GOP headers to 720x480 with DVDPatcher. In the end of its job Muxman gives a warning of 'non-standard' but it doesn't matter. I don't know exactly what VOBBlanker will say afterwards (I once had DVDRemake eaten such files), but there's a chance. In the final DVD VOBs can be patched back to 544x480 for wider player compatibility.