dvd author progs with ac3 encoder

[tsantsa]

Ok, I have TMPGenc DVD Author with the ac3 plug-in. While it works well, and does what it is supposed to do, I tire of it's very noobish quality. I'd like to get a different authoring prog that cna convert mpeg audio (or other) to ac3. The problem is, while I am past the noob stage, I am still not that great at structure and deep dvd knowledge. I guess I am just looking for a more flexible program yet a simple enough interface for me to graduate (so to speak) from the fairly simplistic tmpgenc.

Any suggestions?

[Shudder]

Well, you can use any authoring program you wish and then just use the AC3 encoder from TMPG on its own. It has a fairly simple drag and drop interface where you can just throw the wav into the encode window and out comes an AC3, which you'd then use to author with in a different program

[guns1inger]

DVD Architect can convert to ac3, however for the price it is not that much more sophisticated than TMPGenc DVD Author. What are you really trying to achieve ?

[johns0]

Try dvd-lab,much more things you can do with it and not too hard to learn.

[KTH]

Other DVD Authoring programs that can convert other types of audio to ac3 include Ulead DVD Workshop 2, Sonic DVDit PE, Vegas Video, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 - Disc Creator, Sonic MyDVD 5.2 Deluxe & MyDVD Studio Deluixe 5.2 just to name a few. Also please note that there are two versions of Ulead's DVD Moviefactory 3. The "Disc Creator" version I already listed and the "Standard Edition". Please note that the standard edition does not convert to or support ac3 audio.

[Arky]

Yeah, DVD Workshop 2 is a good one for the price, on Windows. The forthcoming DVDlab Pro has an unbelievable featureset for the price, although I don't think it integrates an AC3 encoder. The main reason for the lack of ac3 encoding support in consumer software is that Dolby charge somewhere in the region of $75 per channel for the licensing. If you have a MAC, then DVD Studio Pro 2 is an absolute steal @ $499 with true 5.1 encoding (using the included A-Pack encoder). It has it's bugs here and there (but then, doesn't every program?!), but the feature set is awesome (as you may be aware, this is effectively DVD Maestro).

Back to Windows, ReelDVD includes an integrated 2-channel ac3 encoder, but the feature set is sorely lacking in comparison to other offerings at the same price, or less.

Like DVD SP 2, Vegas Video+DVD Architect offers true 5.1 channel ac3 encoding, and the mixing of the ac3 in Vegas Video is unparallelled at the price. However, DVD Architect itself is lacking in authoring features.

"You pays yer money and you takes yer pick!" just be aware that 'inlcudes Dolby ac3 encoding' often means only 2-channel, so do your research carefully before jumping in and spending your hard-earned. If you only wish to author 2-channel, using DV footage as your source, then great. Just think about it carefully and understand your potential needs.


Arky ;o)

[FulciLives]

I would stick with TMPGEnc DVD Author ... it's a great program.

If you really want more menu control then try DVD-Lab but continue to use the AC-3 plug-in for TMPGEnc DVD Author to do AC-3 conversions.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[johnruiz]

Other DVD Authoring programs that can convert other types of audio to ac3 include Ulead DVD Workshop 2, Sonic DVDit PE, Vegas Video, Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3 - Disc Creator, Sonic MyDVD 5.2 Deluxe & MyDVD Studio Deluixe 5.2 just to name a few. Also please note that there are two versions of Ulead's DVD Moviefactory 3. The "Disc Creator" version I already listed and the "Standard Edition". Please note that the standard edition does not convert to or support ac3 audio.

Will the mentioned programs encode 100% compliant ac3.