Is it possible to edit m2v and keep original ac3 tracks?

[Smells_Like_Feet]

I am attempting to create a demo disc with multiple small clips merged into one movie title (something like a film trailer). My current process for this is incomplete and unreliable. I am hoping for suggestions on how to complete the process.

My current process:

1. Rip the chapters with the specific video clip using Smartripper.
a) Using the stream options I only select the streams I want (not ripping the foreign languages etc).
b) Smartripper leaves me with individual vob files with the necessary streams.

2. I demux using VOBrator. (here I occasionally receive no audio file and I am not sure why - the original vob has audio when played on PowerDVD)

3. I remux using TMPGEnc (I now have an MPEG-2 with AC-3 DD5.1 8) which can be authored using MyDVD).

I am looking for a way to be able to edit the clips to shorter segments while maintaining the original audio. So, is there a program which will allow me to "chop up" either the MPEG-2 file (complete with AC-3 sound) or the individual streams?

I tried TMPGEnc to do the cutting but the resulting file had no sound.
All comments and suggestions welcome.

- Smells_Like_Feet

[BJ_M]

you have to do the sound and video seperate , i would first edit the mpeg - then load your final edit into ACID or Vegas (or ulead i guess) , convert your ac3 to 6 wav files and load those into the same editor and match it all up .. dont re-encode the video again but export the streams as 5:1 (ACID) or 6 mono streams (vegas) . with ACID w/ the ac3 plug in you can export direct to ac3 but with vegas you will need a ac3 encoder.

an alternitive and easier method (but requires re-encode of you video) is to load video and audio as above (but load video before any edits) and edit both vid and audio together and go from there ..

not to many programs can edit ac3 files direct , vitec pro is one of the few that can , but still seperate from video ..

[Smells_Like_Feet]

Thanks for the reply BJ_M. I had not thought of separating the ac3 into 6 separate wav files and then editing. This method sounds cumbersome, but definately worth a try. Following this, thought would it be exceptionally difficult to synch up the files, considering that cutting m2v files is not necessarily frame specific?

I have not heard of this vitec pro program, it sounds intriguing. Is it freeware or inexpensiveware (wishful thinking???)? Or is there a demo to download.

I appreciate the advice and will keep trying. Thanks

-Smells_Like_Feet

[BJ_M]

well you can use mpeg carver premium and do both ac3 and mpeg together - bad news it that it is kinda expensive (about $900) http://www.mpegav.tv/html/carverpremium.html

i don't much know about this program but ...

you can get a demo here http://www.imaginegraphics.co.uk/downloads/MpegCarver%20Premium%20(Demo).exe


vitec dvd toolbox - at least the version i have has a ac3 editor packaged with it, though i also have a dongle with it and it may be slightly diferent version as we paid more than that over a year ago .. - though no mention is made in thier packaging about this (ac3 editing) .. vitec dvd tool box is about $300 now .. http://www.vitecmm.com/public/home/products/software.html


you can edit ac3 on some sony systems -- prices start at about $100,000 but sony has a good point about editing ac3 , do to the way it is encoded you might end up with dropouts (this is why Dolby E is used instead for HD editing w/ HDCAM) but i have found doing cuts only no problems ...

you can also cut ac3 files with spruce maestro .. but its a bit more complicated -- but it works very well ..
takes longer though ...