WAV to AC3: What is the most compatible encoder right now?

[dudeman316]

Thanks so much burnman99, I will give DVDAuthorGUI a try & see how it goes. I can't wait til the guide comes out & I am looking forward to the Besweet test. Thansk again!!!!!

[buttsy00]

Is there a way using ffmpeggui that I can make 5 channels of sound and not just 2.

I understand that it will not be true surround sound but I would still like to get audio from all 5 of my speakers and not just two because I can't seem to find an option on my receiver that will do that for me...

[hiptune]

Go with Sony Acid Pro 4.....it´s very easy. Load your audio clip, equalize it, regulate the volume, add effects....or leave it untouched and go to file....render and choose AC3. The audio quality is amazing. You won´t believe you just convert an uncompressed PCM to AC3.
Besides that, it´s a looping software....perfect for menus and stuff.
Works perfect and it´s very easy...the GUI is kinda complicated but don´t let it scare ya....if u´re not going to do some loops or audio processing, just open the audio clip and inmediatly render as AC3.

adiu.

I got Acid Pro 4.0 with the Sony Vegas 5 / DVD Architect 2 package. So its nice to know I can simply encode to fully compatable ac-3 with just that sw.

My question is, what file size (Bit Rate) is my ac-3 audio. As I need to know this when I set the video encoder in Procoder or tmpgenc for encoding. I don't like to encode my video in Vegas or DVDA, but prefer to use one of these top encoders for feeling confident.

I did not see any setting in DVDA telling me, or asking me what bit rate I wish to use for AC-3. Since I like high bit rates, I need to know how hi I can go. Is AC-3 as small file size as mpeg audio? Or does it vary with a setting I don't yet see?

Jeff

[BJ_M]

the mpeg encoder in vegas is accually pretty good (main concept) but the ac3 file bit rate is what you make it ..

ussually 192 or 224 for 2channel and 448 for 5.1

[hiptune]

Go with Sony Acid Pro 4.....it´s very easy. Load your audio clip, equalize it, regulate the volume, add effects....or leave it untouched and go to file....render and choose AC3. The audio quality is amazing. You won´t believe you just convert an uncompressed PCM to AC3.
Besides that, it´s a looping software....perfect for menus and stuff.
Works perfect and it´s very easy...the GUI is kinda complicated but don´t let it scare ya....if u´re not going to do some loops or audio processing, just open the audio clip and inmediatly render as AC3.

adiu.

No, Acid Pro 4 does NOT encode to AC-3. Just spent last night until 3:AM looking for any sign of AC-3 encoding. It is not in the manual, nor is it in the "render to" list.

The files would need to be brought into Vegas or Architect for the AC-3 process. I also spent an hour at the Vegas/Acid forum looking over that just to make sure. And there is no mention of AC-3.

Only think I hate about these message boards is the false info handed out like candy.

But, Sony Vegas and DVDA by Sony do indeed make some really nice certified AC-3. Just not incldued with Acid Pro 4.0

Jeff

[Baldrick]

Is there a way using ffmpeggui that I can make 5 channels of sound and not just 2.

no.

[BJ_M]

Go with Sony Acid Pro 4.....it´s very easy. Load your audio clip, equalize it, regulate the volume, add effects....or leave it untouched and go to file....render and choose AC3. The audio quality is amazing. You won´t believe you just convert an uncompressed PCM to AC3.
Besides that, it´s a looping software....perfect for menus and stuff.
Works perfect and it´s very easy...the GUI is kinda complicated but don´t let it scare ya....if u´re not going to do some loops or audio processing, just open the audio clip and inmediatly render as AC3.

adiu.

No, Acid Pro 4 does NOT encode to AC-3. Just spent last night until 3:AM looking for any sign of AC-3 encoding. It is not in the manual, nor is it in the "render to" list.

The files would need to be brought into Vegas or Architect for the AC-3 process. I also spent an hour at the Vegas/Acid forum looking over that just to make sure. And there is no mention of AC-3.

Only think I hate about these message boards is the false info handed out like candy.

But, Sony Vegas and DVDA by Sony do indeed make some really nice certified AC-3. Just not incldued with Acid Pro 4.0

Jeff

ACID 4 pro does indeed encode ac3 files just fine -- if you buy the ac3 plug in for it ....

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/Products/ShowProduct.asp?PID=772


this plugin also works for vegas 4 and 5 if you dont buy DVDA also

Utilize Sony Pictures Digital's surround mixing capabilities to their fullest. Sony Pictures Digital's new 5.1 Surround Plug-In-Pack lets you encode your ACID® Pro 4.0 and Vegas® 5 surround mixes to Dolby Digital AC-3 multichannel 5.1 files and burn your creations to DVD for playback on audio systems that support multichannel 5.1 surround audio. The Plug-In Pack includes:

Sony Pictures Digital AC-3 Encoder Plug-In

Sony Pictures Digital AC-3 DVD Burner



To create AC-3 files, simply select the AC-3 encoding option from the Render As menu in ACID PRO 4.0 or Vegas 4.0, then use the AC-3 DVD Burner to transfer your rendered files to DVD for audio playback on most DVD players. The 5.1 Surround Plug-In Pack supports both 5.1 and stereo AC-3 encoding.

'Dolby' and the 'Double-D' symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

[hiptune]

the mpeg encoder in vegas is accually pretty good (main concept) but the ac3 file bit rate is what you make it ..

ussually 192 or 224 for 2channel and 448 for 5.1

And since I am doing plenty of concert music related projects from Laser Disc, and generally leave 59min. programs (and under) in PCM, I guess it does make sense to go a bit higher like 320 or 384 (for longer programs) if I feel my source audio is all that stunning and spectacular.

Would you leave normalizing to absolutely the min. setting if again you want your final dvd audio (ac3) to sound just as your original avi's pcm channel did? I am talking about music here, rich thunderous music with real instruments like a drum set with sax, piano and guitars. I want it with the least processing possible. I want to keep the dynamics, and expect the final playback of my discs to be on a good system.

Jeff

[BJ_M]

i would keep it as pcm then - or DTS ....

ac3 , no mater what .. doesnt sound as good ...

you can use 448 also for 2 channel ..

set level to -31 and no compression (none)

about as best as you can get from it ..

[monkeystks]

Besweet will not work with some Pioneer players. Hence, you can use sonic sound forge 7.0 with plug-in or sonic acid free with plug in. It is somewhat expensive solution!

[Sakuya]

Is there a program besides AC3Fix that can fix 2ch AC3 streams? I created an AC3 from a WAV using ffmpeggui and for some reason, DVDAuthorGUI can't recognize it and prompts me to fix it using AC3FixGUI. I've tried that but nothing happened after I clicked to process. I read in this thread that AC3Fix won't process AC3 streams made using ffmpeggui. Is there another way?

I have also tried to fix the file using BeSpliced but DVDAuthorGUI still gives me that error.

[DRP]

Personally I use the TMPGEnc AC-3 sound plug-in driven by DVD-lab PRO acting as the front-end. Nothing could be simpler and provide a more compatible end result. I've never had a problem with it at all. It's the perfect solution for me.

And it can be free as well if you know what you're doing

You are in breach of the forum rules and are being issued with a formal warning. Promoting the use of warez is not allowed on this board .. If you use it - buy it ..
/ Moderator BJ_M

[celtic_druid]

BeSweet and ffmpeg use the same encoding lib for AC3. I was under the impression that compatiblity problems in liba52 were fixed. I guess not all? Althoug what build of ffmpeg was tested? Try a current build and see if it is any different.

Even if it is 100% compliant, there is still the fact that liba52 is not that well tuned. libavcodec's mp2 output is supposed to be worse though, for mp2 I would suggest toolame/twolame instead.

ffmpeg does support 5.1AC3 encoding, although I guess the GUI doesn't allow for it. You have to remember that the GUI is just that. The encoding is all still done by ffmpeg.

@BJ_M, if you can submit a detailed bug report, then maybe the ffmpeg devs can fix the compatibility problems.

[liquid217]

what exactly does the error say? The ac3fix message is a generic message , that the error may in fact, be something completely different. Post where the error ectually occurs.