AC3 to six Wav

[phantomengineer]

I have extracted an AC3 5.1 audio track from DVD. I want to convert it to six separate wav files. It sounds simple but I've asked about this before without success. Can it be easily done?

[davexnet]

I believe Audacity can do this

[phantomengineer]

Audacity tells me it can't open the .AC3 file.

[pandy]

https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/AudioChannelManipulation#a5.16mono

[redwudz]

Though I haven't tried it with AC3 5.1, I saw this on Audacity's site:


"You can install the optional FFmpeg library to import and export a much larger range of audio formats including AC3, AMR(NB), M4A, MP4 and WMA(on Mac only, Audacity can import unprotected M4A, MP4 and MOV files without FFmpeg). Audio files that are DRM-protected to work only in particular software cannot be imported. FFmpeg will also import audio from most video files or DVDs that are not DRM-protected."

[phantomengineer]

Thanks, ffmpeg looks promising.

[poisondeathray]

or eac3to

eac3to input.ac3 output.wavs

or if you don't like cmd line, you can use a GUI for it
see here
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/300964-Help-Split-6-Channels-into-separate-WAVs

[redwudz]

I would use the ffmpeg library version from the Audacity site. May be customized for Audacity. I just installed it from their site and opened a MKV with 5.1 audio and it looks OK with six channels audio showing.

[jagabo]

Audacity needs the ffmpeg import/export plugin to open AC3 files or A/V containers like MKV, MP4, AVI, etc.
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/faq_installation_and_plug_ins.html#How_do_I_downloa...ort_Library.3F

[phantomengineer]

None of these things are working. None. I mean I can't even install them. I follow the link for eac3To and all I get is a conversion utility that looks nothing like the screenshot. I'm trying to add ffmpeg to Audacity and I think I'm following instructions but nothing happens, Audacity still says I can't open .ac3. I've installed many programs before, why are these kind of things so confusing?

[jagabo]

5.1 AC3 file drag-and-dropped onto Audacity+ffmpeg:



I do remember the setup being a bit difficult. But it can work.

[phantomengineer]

Apparently I can't get the Audacity+ffmpeg: thing happening. I have no idea why.

[poisondeathray]

For eac3to, look at the later post #6 for a link to the "older' style GUI
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/300964-Help-Split-6-Channels-into-separate-WAVs#post2128113

Even easier, in that same post is a link to a batch file. You don't have to set anything like paths up, just copy your ac3 file to the folder and double click the bat file



For audacity, did you look at the screenshots ? Did you look at preferences => libraries => ffmpeg library ?
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_and_updating_audacity_on_windows.html

[hech54]

I have used BeSweet and BeSweet GUI to do this in the past.

[badyu17]

None of these things are working. None. I mean I can't even install them. I follow the link for eac3To and all I get is a conversion utility that looks nothing like the screenshot. I'm trying to add ffmpeg to Audacity and I think I'm following instructions but nothing happens, Audacity still says I can't open .ac3. I've installed many programs before, why are these kind of things so confusing?

Did you install ffmpeg from Audacity site or regular ffmpeg? I think it won't work with regular ffmpeg. I can open almost anything directly in Audacity with this plugin. Never had any problem.

[hech54]

Me and Audacity never got along well either.

[manono]

I have used BeSweet and BeSweet GUI to do this in the past.

Yes, BeSweet:

[jan5678]

if you are not afraid of commandline tools try this

Wavsplit from wavtools

[phantomengineer]

I have used BeSweet and BeSweet GUI to do this in the past.

Yes, BeSweet:

BSsweet is a bundle of confusion. I open a AC3, have the AC3/OGG/PCM thing selected and the green box says DTS to WAV.

[phantomengineer]

None of these things are working. None. I mean I can't even install them. I follow the link for eac3To and all I get is a conversion utility that looks nothing like the screenshot. I'm trying to add ffmpeg to Audacity and I think I'm following instructions but nothing happens, Audacity still says I can't open .ac3. I've installed many programs before, why are these kind of things so confusing?

Did you install ffmpeg from Audacity site or regular ffmpeg? I think it won't work with regular ffmpeg. I can open almost anything directly in Audacity with this plugin. Never had any problem.

It appears you can't do that. I went to the Audacity site, clicked "Downloads", scrolled to the bottom, clicked FFmpeg FAQ (the only thing about FFmpeg I fond) and it says "Because of software patents, Audacity cannot include the FFmpeg software or distribute it from its own websites. Instead, following the links below to instructions to download and install the free and recommended FFmpeg third-party library."

So no, I didn't download it from Audacity.

[phantomengineer]

Well I got it to work. It was a runaround and I had to get an older ffmpeg because my Audacity is old but I seem to be in business. Thank you everyone for your assistance.

[redwudz]

Just a note. I DL'd the latest version of Audacity for my new W10 PC. And if you look to my first post, there is a link (In red) to Audacity's version
of 'FFmpeg library'. There is a version for older Audacity software and a version for the newest one that I used. Rebooted and Audacity opened the 5.1 AC3 file.

There is also a link there to a MP3 codec for Audacity output as that cannot be included with Audacity because of legalities.

But, I'm glad you got it to work.