Which sound format for PAL DVD?

[tweedledee]

When I'm converting AVI to MPEG 2 in TMPGEnc ( for PAL DVD ), does it make much difference if I use PMC AUDIO or MP2 ? I am asking because I used MP2 and it won't play audio on one of my players. Is PMC more compatible?

[Poppa_Meth]

MP2 audio was part of the PAL standard for a short time, but I believe they recently dropped it so its not always compatible with all hardware. PCM is definitely compatible with everything but it also hogs a huge amount of space. you'd be better off trying to encode it seperately to AC3 with FFMPEG GUI or a similar tool.

[tweedledee]

Thanks, So what do I do exactly? At what stage do I separate the video/sound and then join them up. Do I encode as usual with TMPGEnc to PCM, then disregard that soundtrack and add the sound from ffmpeg during the authoring stage?

[daamon]

So what do I do exactly?

1. Load your AVI into a tool that will extract the audio - I use VirtualDub to save to a WAV and then ffmpeggui to do WAV -> AC3 @ 192 - 256kbps (rate is your choice).

2. Use TMPGEnc to encode the video stream only from your AVI (radar buttons in bottom right of window). This will give you a .m2v file - this is the video only component of an MPEG.

3. Combine the .m2v and the .ac3 during authoring. Note: If you're using TMPGEnc DVD Author whose version is before v1.5.20.62, it won't play the AC3 during the chapter selection, but it will allow it to "pass through" and should be heard OK on the burnt DVD disc.

Hope that helps. Good luck...

[tweedledee]

That's what I wanted to know. Many thanks.

[daamon]

No problem. Hope you get on OK.