DD 5.1 on Audio CD with Soft Encode? Any Success?

[vcddude]

Hello all,

Anyone have success creating AC-3 (Dolby Digital 5.1)
audio CDs with Sonic Foundry's Soft Encode? I encoded
a Dolby Digital WAV per the instructions and burned
to it an audio CD but my DVD players do not recognize
the audio as Dolby Digital. I have a Pioneer DV-525 and
a Pioneer DVL-909. Both players play the CD but neither
see the DD audio and output no sound at all. The DD WAV
files appear to be corrected created as the waveforms
look at expected. And, yes, I am using the digital out
on my DVD players to a Dolby Digital receiver.

Any tips?

Thanks,
vcddude

[kabanero]

I made audio CD with DD 5.1 and DTS 5.1.
Here is couple links that may help you.

http://www.labdv.com/en/articles/cd_audio_dd_explained.php
http://www.labdv.com/en/examples/cd_audio_dd.php
http://www.labdv.com/en/examples/dolby_surround.php

regards.

[vcddude]

Thanks for the links. I followed the instructions per LabDV
and still can't get it to work. On what kind of DVD player
dis you get it to work? When I play it on my Pioneer DV-525,
the DVD sees it as an audio CD and plays it (e.g. the
track number and time advances as expected) but no audio
is output and the receiver does not see a DD signal.
Weird. Any other tips?

Thanks,
vcddude

[kabanero]

Hi there,

I have Sony DVP-S560D.

Actually, when I made AC3 wav file myself using SoftEncode, then made audio CD, my DVD player played that CD, my reciever (Sony) recognized and indicated AC3 stream (I keep automatic decode settings for audio in receiver), but I didn't here the sound. But when I downloaded both those samples from LabDV and burnt them on to CD they played ok. I think there is some tricks how to make AC3 WAV file.
When I made DTS encoded WAV file usind SurCode DTS encoder and then made audio CD, it played without any problem.
BTW, DTS 5.1 surround sound is much much better than DD 5.1 because it uses less compression. Also, DTS is industry standart for audio CDs with 5.1 surround sound. So, I'd suggest you to switch to DTS.

Regards.

[vcddude]

Hi Kabanero,

Thanks for the info. I was beginning to think that
maybe the SoftEncoded files required an AC-3 RF link
like the one that LaserDisks use. I will download
the sample audio and see if that works. Bummer my
receiver is an older one and doesn't support DTS although
my receiver does. Weird that you couldn't get your DD WAVs
to play either. Does Soft Encode just not work?

Thanks,
vcddude

[vcddude]

Okay, I downloaded the sample DD WAV from labdv, butrned it to an audio CD with Nero 5.5 and even that wouldn't play
on my DVD player. I give up. I'll wait until I get a DTS
receiver. Looks like SoftEncode simply does not work.
Anyone else here able to actually get it to work?

Thanks,
Kevin

PS In an earlier post I meant to say that my DVD player
supports DTS but my receiver does not....

[kabanero]

Does your receiver have built in DD decoder?
Do your DVD players have built in DD decoder?
What is the brand and model of your receiver.

When I downloaded both samples (DD and DTS) from LabDV, I burnt them on the same audio CD, and they both played ok. I have the following setup:
1. Sony DVD player.
2. I use optical digital cable from Optical digital output on my DVD player to Optical digital input in my receiver.
3. Receiver is set up for auto decode for audio stream.

Regards.

[vcddude]

Hi Kabanero,

Thanks for taking the time to help me with this.
Much appreciated.

Here's my setup:
DVD: Pioneer DV-525
- Outputs both DD and DTS streams but does
not have a decoder
Receiver: Pioneer VSX-07TX
- Has DD decoder, but not DTS decoder

Like you I keep the receiver on "auto signal decode".
When I play the DD audio CD even with the test
WAV I downloaded, my receiver sees a digital signal but
does not recognize it as Dolby Digital. I use a regular
heavy-duty coaxial cable to connect digital output from
DVD to digital input on my receiver. If I burn a standard
WAV on the same CDR it plays just fine.

I wonder if this is just a shortcoming of my DVD player.
I did burn the DD WAV sample on CDRW, maybe I should try
it on CDR... Doubt that would make a difference but at this
point I should try anything...

Thanks again,
vcddude