Audio Question

[jfharper]

I've read several posts re converting wav to ac3 for dvd useage...I was wondering what the best audio format is to use for dvd playback...if ac3 is the answer, how does one link it to the video and convert to vob...I am using vdub to strip the wav from a captured avi, then I am able to convert to ac3 in besweet...the video I encode using tmpgenc and comes out great...the reason I ask is that when I capture my video and audio using PICVideo MJPEG, the audio captures with a very high tinted noise when captured at 48Khz, when it is captured with 44.1 Khz, there is less noise and this is what I have been using for the dvd. But after I encode the captured avi in tmpgenc, the audio is not very good, I also tried capturing 48Khz and encodeing this, but the audio is worse then the 44...any suggestions on the best audio format and ways to get it to the dvd would be great. I am using Ulead DVD WS for dvd authoring.
thanks,
john

[Tommyknocker]

When encoding in TMPGEnc, try an audio encoder engine like SSRC, Lame, or TooLame,etc.

[jfharper]

could you elaborate just a bit on why? thanks,
john

[Tommyknocker]

The main reason is TMPGEnc's encoder has always been a little suspect. That is why when you run into a problem like yours, use an external encoder by loading their .exe file in Options-->Audio Engine.

[lal]

I tried to strip off my avi into video and wav with tmpgenc and converted
the wav into ac3 with BeSweet, and authored it with tmpgenc dvd author
and dvd lab. But the resulting dvd has no audio.

Any body has any luck with the above procedure?

[jfharper]

OK...so your saying this would be the easiest way...that ac3 usage is not necessary...will the avi's audio get run through the engine and get encoded straight to mpg format...so there will be no need for linking later right? Why do people use ac3, anyway.
thanks
john

[Tommyknocker]

Once you tell TMPGEnc where to find your new audio engines. They will always be a click away. Or be selected automatically if you wish. I wish I knew why some people prefer AC3 over wave. I like wave more.

[jfharper]

Yeah...that was easy...downloaded SSRC, pointed TMPGenc to it, and encoded a short clip...tmp found the exe and used it to make the mpg...now let's see if the audio is better on the dvd...soon to come...

[FulciLives]

OK...so your saying this would be the easiest way...that ac3 usage is not necessary...will the avi's audio get run through the engine and get encoded straight to mpg format...so there will be no need for linking later right? Why do people use ac3, anyway.
thanks
john

This is not the same for most other countries but at least for the USA it is the DVD SPEC to have at least a LPCM track or an AC-3 track. So MP2 is officially not supported in the USA DVD spec.

HOWEVER ... it does seem that most USA model DVD players can play MP2 without problems. But you never know til you try.

So to keep 100% in spec and COMPATABLE most people like to use AC-3 and truth be told AC-3 is a better format so a 2 channel WAV converted to 224kbps AC-3 will sound better than the same 2 channel WAV converted to 224kbps MP2

Very rarely does anyone use LPCM because although it can sound the best of all the formats it is not compressed and can take up a LOT of space on a DVD which limits the bitrate for the VIDEO.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[jfharper]

good arguement...I would like to try the ac3 method just to see, can you tell me how I do it...I strip the wav using vdub, then encode to ac3 using besweet...then what...I am kind of lost at this point. thanks,