Using different AC3 rates

[carlmart]

I made a similar query in the Bluray authoring forum, and then realized I should also raise that question here.

What I was wondering is if it's alright to use "intermediate" kbps rates for AC3 settings, like 512 or 576kbps. Is it?

Then I can adjust the size of my MKV files a lot better.

[El Heggunte]

Of course "uncommon" bitrates are OK. "448kbps" is just the maximum value allowed by the the DVD-Video specs, and 640kbps is the maximum bitrate allowed by the format itself. They are not "magic numbers", and you can even encode 6 channels to AC3 at 192kbps (the final result will suck, evidently).

[carlmart]

Everything will depend of the film. If it's an old movie, then using 192kbps should do fine probably.

It happens than on the mkv files I am working with, there are not many variables I can handle to make them fit into SL or DL DVDs. The AC3 track can be one of them.

At the same time I would like to use the highest kbps I can put in.

With Avisynth I have several intermediate kbps that I didn't know if I could use. It's nice to know I can.

Thanks!