The most compatible AC3 Audio Encoder?

[kadi500]

Hi!

I've found that AC3 audio tracks encoded by BeSweet have problems with some standalone DVD players, while MPEG Layer 2 files are playing correctly.

So I would like to know what is the best AC3 encoder that is the most compatible with stand alone players...

I've found:

• Sonic Foundry Soft Encode 5.1,
  MAven3D Professional,
  and Encoder (transcoder) from Adobe Encore DVD.

Which is the most compatible? Do you know any other Dolby Digital software encoders?

[GreyDeath]

Video Vegas 4+DVD comes with Dolby Digital AC3. It's also by Sonic Foundry (sadly owned by Sony now...)

[sterno]

I think almost all of the commercial products use the same encoder, licensed from Dolby.

[mattyrock21]

Can anyone answer this question? I've got the same problem.

I just started converting a collection of VHS to DVD and was planning on using AC3 for my audio per Lordsmurff's recommendations on his site, but BeSweet's encoder is not compatable with my player. Thus, in the meantime I'm using mpeg.

I was under the impression that AC3 is part of the DVD standard and that there shouldn't be any compatability issues. Can anyone explain why there are?

Thanks!

[Cornucopia]

I could be wrong, but AFAIK if it's a licensed encoder, it should be OK (although, make sure it's set to Motorola bit ordering). To my knowledge, the only other encoders are the freeware BeSweet and the open source AC3dec/52 (sp?). These have probably reverse-engineered the code or done IO filter modeling or something, in order to create their code. Therefore, they are most likely unlicensed, and probably not completely bug-free or compatible.

You could say "you get what you paid for".

HTH,
Scott

[teegee420]

Another freeware AC3 encoder is FFMPEG.

[Baldrick]

Another freeware AC3 encoder is FFMPEG.

besweet uses ffmpeg ac3 encoder. ( http://dspguru.notrace.dk/plug-ins.htm )

[teegee420]

Learn something new everyday, thanks!

[Cornucopia]

Yep, that's one reason I keep coming back here, even though I am an old fart. 8)

Scott