TMPG DVD Author AC3 Plugin question

[weshuang]

I have been using TMPGEnc and TMPG DVD Author w/ the AC3 Plugin for some time now. I bought the AC3 Plugin because I read somewhere that if you check the "re-encode audio using output format of track" that TMPG DVD Author with the AC3 Plugin would encode wav to ac3 prior to creating the VIDEO-TS files. However, I don't think that's true. I tried using that method, as well as doing the same thing but first using Besweet to encode ac3, and the resulting files are substantially smaller. What am I doing wrong? Is there another way to get TMPG DVD Author to encode ac3?

[deadpac]

You don't need to use TMGDVDA in order to create AC3 files with the plugin. Just go open up TMPGEnc's Sound player which is usually found in

C:\Program Files\Pegasys Inc\TMPGEnc Sound Player

Double click TMPGEncSoundPlayer.exe

Hit the Encode button (you're not actually encoding anything at this point just bringing up another window which will allow you to encode) which is somewhere in the upper left of the (IMO UGLY interface) player... You should then see a batch encode window where you can then drag WAV files (only input I know it takes without using TMPGDVDA). Select the Dolby Digital plugin and double click it and change the settings you want for the AC3 file most notably the bitrate which should give you smaller files than the ones you are getting.

I've never used TMPGDVDA so I couldn't tell you what default setting the AC3 plugin uses when called/used by TMPGDVDA.

Hit encode and you should be good to go.

but first using Besweet to encode ac3

I suggest not using Besweet to encode to AC3 seeing as how it does not produce 100% compliant DD files. The author of Besweet I think is trying to remove this function from Besweet untile the libraries become a little more mature. The TMPGDVDA AC3 plugin is licensed from DD labs themselves and according to many people on these boards the AC3 files produced from it should be 100% compliant.

[weshuang]

You don't need to use TMGDVDA in order to create AC3 files with the plugin. Just go open up TMPGEnc's Sound player which is usually found in

C:\Program Files\Pegasys Inc\TMPGEnc Sound Player

Double click TMPGEncSoundPlayer.exe

Hit the Encode button (you're not actually encoding anything at this point just bringing up another window which will allow you to encode) which is somewhere in the upper left of the (IMO UGLY interface) player... You should then see a batch encode window where you can then drag WAV files (only input I know it takes without using TMPGDVDA). Select the Dolby Digital plugin and double click it and change the settings you want for the AC3 file most notably the bitrate which should give you smaller files than the ones you are getting.

I've never used TMPGDVDA so I couldn't tell you what default setting the AC3 plugin uses when called/used by TMPGDVDA.

Hit encode and you should be good to go.

but first using Besweet to encode ac3

I suggest not using Besweet to encode to AC3 seeing as how it does not produce 100% compliant DD files. The author of Besweet I think is trying to remove this function from Besweet untile the libraries become a little more mature. The TMPGDVDA AC3 plugin is licensed from DD labs themselves and according to many people on these boards the AC3 files produced from it should be 100% compliant.

I had no idea TMPGEnc could encode AC3! I was under the impression that it couldn't. Or was it just that people don't think it's a good encoder? No matter, I am only converting home video, etc. Many Thanks!

[Baldrick]

I had no idea TMPGEnc could encode AC3! I was under the impression that it couldn't. Or was it just that people don't think it's a good encoder? No matter, I am only converting home video, etc. Many Thanks!

tmpgenc can't encode ac3, it is the tmpgencsoundplayer(which is the tmpgenc dvd author ac3 plugin) that encodes.

deadpac: latest beta version of besweet has readded ac3enc based on latest ffmpeg build...same as mine ffmpeggui ...but it still has some problems with some dvd players.

[awlchu]

A reference point:

Several Pioneer DVD player owners (and a few Sony) that had problems with ffmpeg have reported 100% success with TMPGenc's ac3 encoder.

A nice 2 channel validated encoder for $30US! What a steal!

Plus DVD-lab can call it directly to automate the encoding process. You drop in the MPA and WAv files into your asset list and push the AC3 encode button. Voila, it will start the AC3 encoder and encode the files found in the list.