Creating 5.1 channel AC3 from stereo MP2 or WAV

[Craig Tucker]

I have some home video DV that I have converted to mpeg2 for authoring and burning to DVD-R. What I would like to have is 5.1 channel dolby digital sound. Is there any software available that will do the conversion from a wav or MP2 if I demultiplex the MPEG.

[BJ_M]

are you looking for a program to do the encoding or are you looking for a program to re-mix in surround sound ?

[mp3superfreak]

I have some home video DV that I have converted to mpeg2 for authoring and burning to DVD-R. What I would like to have is 5.1 channel dolby digital sound. Is there any software available that will do the conversion from a wav or MP2 if I demultiplex the MPEG.

I've been looking for a program that will do this as well. Sonic Foundry has a 5.1 plug in for Acid Pro 4.0 ($400), so I guess you could mix your audio in Acid, save as 5.1, then burn the seperate video and audio files with a DVD authoring program that allows DD 5.1. This plug in is $279 directly from SF via download, however, it currently only works w/ Acid Pro 4.0. Hopefully, they will integrate this decoder into the new version of Vegas Video (4), scheduled for release in Q1 2003.

The above option is too expensive and cumbersome for me....maybe someone will get smart soon and offer a 5.1 mixing program for home users. I'm not holding my breath...

[cuervo]

here's a resource...but, hold on to your hat, cuz it ain't cheap

www.minnetonka.com

[BJ_M]

acid 4 , Steinberg's Nuendo are the ones i use on NT // on a mac i have ProTools but its hardware based.

[Craig Tucker]

are you looking for a program to do the encoding or are you looking for a program to re-mix in surround sound ?

I am looking for software that analyse the audio stream then split it into 6 discreet channels, I assume this can done on frequency range. Similar to how a dolby pro logic amp processes a stereo signal for output to 4 channels.

[BJ_M]

dolby pro logic uses out of phase information encoded in to the main audio stereo stream (same as some dolby digital surround is derived with the audio on the surrounds 90degree's out of phase) .. you can derive a lot of info with L-R , R+L, and phase on such ..

btw -- stereo accually means 3 channels when it was first introduced into "talking pictures" .... the center channel lost out when stereo moved into the home as it was harder to decode the center channel from a phono record (vs. mag stripe film).