Ac3 is indicated instead of dts - please help

[Dr Forrester]

Hi guys,
Long time visitor-first post. First, I'd like to thank you for all the help I've read in the past. I've been using guns1inger's guide for surround ever since I read it.
Now for the problem I'm utterly stumped on.Both my standalones are dts ready.I even tested both with Battle Royale to make sure.
For months now I've used the Steve Thompson plug ins (much thanks to you, too!) and added DTS from surcode at 48k.This worked fine for a long time, but now both receivers read my second audio as another ac3 instead of dts. Plus, when I pick it via menu or system set up-there is no sound at all.
Foobar 2k plays it fine and DTS parser only created a new 2kb file.
Please help! I've been stumped on this for three weeks!

[poisondeathray]

If the process used to work and now it does not, it must be something you changed (either software configuration, authoring configuration, or hardware problems - eg. maybe you forgot a setting?)

Go through the process sequentially:

Have you made any changes to your system setup (e.g install codec packs, update software etc...) ? If so try uninstalling or rolling back if you saved a recovery point

Are you sure the .dts file is valid / error free? try running it through mediainfo and eac3to. Are the channels mapped correctly?

Is your authoring process correct? Check the authored structure on the PC in a media player that can switch tracks and detect audio formats (e.g. SMplayer, KMplayer), does it identify the track correctly as dts or something else?

Check your hardware connections / plugins. Did you do a firmware upgrade? Maybe this caused the problem?

[Dr Forrester]

Bless you for such a quick reply! Those are valid points, but nothing comes to mind.
My entire process is TMPG Xpress encode original files into mpeg 2 dvd compliance, VDub Mod and extract the wav,use Sound Forge and Steve Thompsons plug in suite, then Vegas for the ac3.Then split those wavs into mono channels and use Surcode.
After that failed for the first time after a long while, I switched to Softencode and reencoded all my ac3s with it.So as no audio variances to upset the process.
That didn't alter the dts playability..or lack thereof. Foobar 2k does read it as a .dts file.
On the other end,I've also scoured Dvd Lab's forum and used the no-code,extra VM command and the scripted VM audio commands. Still no different.
I'm going to check mediainfo like you suggested and see what it says. And again, much appreciation-my wifes tired of seeing me rant at all the electronics!

[pmshah]

How about re-ripping the file with virtualdubmod and juggle the audio files around? It does have the option of simply copying the video and disabling or shuffling the audio tracks. I frequently resort to this when the file is a dual audio one and the 1st audio track in NOT English. It also reduces the overall file size.

I did come across some problem files in the past where the dts to ac3 conversion simpy did not come out right. I went ahead with it anyways. Then simply remuxed the avi file while replacing this ac3 file with the original dts file. Worked like a charm.

[jman98]

Need more info on what you did. Did you re-encode AC3 to DTS? If so, that's a bad idea. Converting from lossy AC3 to lossy DTS will make the sound louder, which some incorrectly perceive as being "better", but the sound will actually be worse and take up more space on the disc.

Open the movie IFO with IFOEdit and see if it reports only AC3 audio or if it is correct for what should be on the DVD. And note that DVD standards require that if you have DTS that you must also have at least one more audio track that is either AC3 or LPCM. DVD with DTS only audio is not valid, but some DVD players will play it anyway.

And what exactly are you using to play your DVD? You talk about menus and set-up but I don't see what you are using. Is it a standalone DVD player? A software player on a PC? What is it? Note that if your standalone DVD player doesn't decode DTS but just passes it out to the receiver that you have to be sure that you have selected the correct audio output for this.