Is LPCM format audio good for dvd authoring?

[DaHan]

I converted some of my DVs to mpeg2, but the audio is in LPCM format. Is this ready for the dvd authoring or I need to change it to other audio format. If yes, how can I do it?

Thanks.

[Bob W]

Nothing bad about LPCM audio except the file size is going to be much larger than say mp3. I use NeoDVD Plus to make my DVDR movies from VHS and it will capture or convert LPCM to mp3 for me thus giving me more room for the movie files.
http://www.mediostream.com/products/neodvdplus/index.html

[DaHan]

Very glad to hear this. Which dvd authoring software can take LPCM? I just make it work and do want to reencode it. So, next time I should use encode it to mp3 format? Is this the best?

Thanks for the info.

[Cornucopia]

BobW, I hate to break it to you but MP3 isn't a format that is supported by the DVD spec. That means that if you put something to MP3, you'll have to RE-convert it to one of the acceptable formats (LPCM, AC3, MP2, poss. DTS). Reconverting/re-compressing just adds another layer of artifacts.
This is not to say that your encoding/authoring app won't accept MP3 as a source, but even then I wouldn't recommend it.

Scott

[Bob W]

BobW, I hate to break it to you but MP3 isn't a format that is supported by the DVD spec. That means that if you put something to MP3, you'll have to RE-convert it to one of the acceptable formats (LPCM, AC3, MP2, poss. DTS). Reconverting/re-compressing just adds another layer of artifacts.
This is not to say that your encoding/authoring app won't accept MP3 as a source, but even then I wouldn't recommend it.

Scott

Then maybe NeoDVD is converting it to mp2. The end result it is one forth the size of LPCM.

[DaHan]

So, if I don't care about the audio size, I can leave it to LPCM. Someone suggested me I should frameserve it to other format.

Size: AC3>LPCM>mp2?

Which authoring software handle LPCM best?

[thayne]

Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 does, but I always have it convert to mp2

[Cornucopia]

Personally, I wouldn't use any software (for NTSC DVD's) that would output audio only to the MP2 format. That's asking for trouble, if not for you at this point, then certainly for friends or other times/players.

A few rules of thumb to remember:

List of audio formats for DVD (best to worst quality, regardless of filesize)
1. LPCM
2. DTS
3. AC3
4. MP2

List of audio formats for DVD (best to worst compression efficiency, taking into account overall filesize)
1. AC3
2. MP2
3. DTS
4. LPCM

List of audio formats for DVD (best to worst player compatibility)
1. AC3
2. LPCM
3. MP2
4. DTS

*Note: AC3 should be considered more compatible than LPCM, if only because AC3 has internal features that help maintain better sync with video, and because there are so few players that support 5ch LPCM.

1 more thing for all to remember:

DON'T RECOMPRESS ANY MATERIAL UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO

Scott

[dcsos]

Don't be DOWN on MP2 it sounds fine

but MAKING an MP3 to make an mp2 from it seems like quality loss (minor..could seep in from as SCOTT says..conversions..)

So decide from scotts chart what you want on the disc...and capture to higher than mp3 quality...

into one of those formats directly
LIKE LPCM...
If you only have an hour of VIDEO to acommpany it this is the superior end result choice..

[Cornucopia]

dcos,
I actually like MP2, though not as much as AC3 or LPCM (or DSD 8) ).
Maybe what I should have said was "efficiency/quality given certain similar bitrates".

There is loss when reconverting/compressing. It's like the old multi-generation loss in the analog world. When you compare seeing/hearing things over and over as much as I do, you start to notice things--they become less subtle. A lot depends on the encoding algorithm and the preprocessing.

Scott

[bugster]

Ac3 is the way to go if you need multichannel sound (5.1). Mp2 is fine for stereo. Its quality is just as good as 2 channel Ac3. The only downside to Mp2 is that it is not part of the DVD spec for North American DVD players, so some players sold in those markets do not support. Having said that, from what I have heard from the posters on this forum, those players are actually quite rare.

[DaHan]

Thanks for all the inputs. I will convert it to AC3 next time. Maybe, it's a little overkill for home video, but I do want it to be played in all dvd player.

[Specialist]

Which dvd authoring software can take LPCM? I just make it work and do want to reencode it.

Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 will accept LPCM audio.

The free trial download is here:

http://www.ulead.com/dmf/trial.htm

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[DaHan]

Which dvd authoring software can take LPCM? I just make it work and do want to reencode it.

Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 will accept LPCM audio.

The free trial download is here:

http://www.ulead.com/dmf/trial.htm

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

Tried that, and it works great with my mpeg2 files. Some said dvd-lab is really good, it won't accept LPCM audio?