Multi-channel AC3 files playable on a regular DVD player how can I do this

[suharsh]

I extracted AC3 files from a DVD-VIDEO disc using DVD Decrypter. I then burnt these AC3 files onto a DVD-R as a DVD-ROM(ISO) using NERO. When I tried to play this in my dvd player, it didn't recognize the disc. Evidently, I am wrong.

Essentially, I am trying to make a DVD that has multi-channel music extracted from DVD-Video disks and is playable on regular dvd players. Please tell me how I can achieve this. Freewares or paywares, both are fine.

I have searched the forums and I found lot of threads on how to extract ac3 files and convert them to WAV and mp3, but that wasn't what I was looking for.

Thanks in advance.

[mats.hogberg]

Basically, make a VideoDVD with a still image as video for each song. Should be pretty simple with most authoring apps. There's no way to make a Audio DVD or anything like that, and still keep "all players" compatibility.

/Mats

[Baldrick]

make a dvd-video with still pictures/menus and ac3 audio.

regular dvd players do not support just ac3 files on a dvd.

[suharsh]

Thanks for the replies. I guess the idea of still image is also good.

Now I am curious if there are any specific dvd players or CD players that can play ac3 files? Or maybe any hard disk based portable players that can play ac3 files?

[Noahtuck]

Have a read here

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround on a CDR

[suharsh]

Noahtuck - thanks man! I tried it out and it worked!

Now I guess the post has taken a new turn - how do I get multi-channel WAV files from DVD-Video or from AC3 files? Any recommendations - payware or freeware?

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

try belight or besweet.

[guns1inger]

http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/BeSure.html

might be a starting point

[suharsh]

I tried the following softwares and am yet to get to the actual.

1. AC3Tool - was very fast but the vocal is coming more from the left channel and very less from the right channel.

2. Hyper Transcoder - very very slow. Didn't have the patience to wait 1 hour for a 5 min. song

3. DVD Audio Extractor - brought out the vocals and sent back the music.

4. BeSweet - This has been the closest to the actual quality but yet the vocal seems sound a little in the back. Also for some strange reason the base is pumped up! I am trying all the settings.

Thanks for all your help folks.

[guns1inger]

apparently the ffmpeg can also encode 5.1, although ffmpeggui only supports 2.0

[stevethomson]

apparently the ffmpeg can also encode 5.1, although ffmpeggui only supports 2.0

Try the latest version of HeadAC3he. The version with ac3enc.dll from Dec. 2004 has improved AC3 Encoding. This is not on the official HeadAC3he site but you can find it in the tools section on daphy and @ndy's site at www.needfulthings.webhop.org.

By the way, you can also do DTS surround CDs. SurCode is selling a version of their encoder for just this purpose at only $99.

[suharsh]

I am so frustrated - tried so many tools but each of them has some problem or the other - with respect to the output quality. The two I narrowed down to decent were - AC3Tool and HeadAC3he. But still I have two problems left to resolve

1. Using both tools the vocal seems to be coming from one channel predominantly. In the second channel there is some vocal and most of the music. Now this is when I listen to on my desktop PC and using Windows Media Player.

2. With the above limitation I decided to burn the WAV file and test it out on the dvd player. I am using Nero 6.0 and it complaint that the WAV format is not supported!!!

Any answers will help me. I am pretty much close to dropping this idea and forgetting about this project. Hope someone has an answer.

Thanks in advance.

[guns1inger]

Check the sample rate - for CD it must be 44.1. Nero will complain if it is 48khz.

Surcode is a great option. I have been playing with Steve's V.I. plugin and Pink Floyd's The Wall to create a DTS multi-channel release. So far, none of the problems you have described.

[suharsh]

Thanks guns1inger, that what I thought too initially but I made sure I had the SSRC set at 44.1 khz. Surcode might be a good option but $99 is a little to steep, especially when I seem to be so close using the freewares.

[Noahtuck]

Not sure who put that $99.00 on the tools page but the only thing they have for sale that cost's $99 is the "SurCode CD-DTS" & the "SurCode for Dolby Digital V2 Upgrade" which i am guessing is the upgrade for the one of the other products that is way more $$$$.

https://secure.minnetonkasoftware.com/store/

[stevethomson]

Not sure who put that $99.00 on the tools page but the only thing they have for sale that cost's $99 is the "SurCode CD-DTS" & the "SurCode for Dolby Digital V2 Upgrade" which i am guessing is the upgrade for the one of the other products that is way more $$$$.

https://secure.minnetonkasoftware.com/store/

No SurCode CD-DTS is a full standalone product. It only operates at a sample rate of 44.1kHz so you can only use it to create DTS surround CDs. To encode 48kHz DTS that can be used for DVD soundtracks, you need their other products, which are more expensive.

[guns1inger]

I must admit, I have the full Surcode package, but for CD work, which is what this thread began with, the cheaper option is good value.

Have you tried ffmpeg (CLI version) to encode ? I would also confirm the order of the channels, as this may be contributing to your balance issues.

[Noahtuck]

Not sure who put that $99.00 on the tools page but the only thing they have for sale that cost's $99 is the "SurCode CD-DTS" & the "SurCode for Dolby Digital V2 Upgrade" which i am guessing is the upgrade for the one of the other products that is way more $$$$.

https://secure.minnetonkasoftware.com/store/

No SurCode CD-DTS is a full standalone product. It only operates at a sample rate of 44.1kHz so you can only use it to create DTS surround CDs. To encode 48kHz DTS that can be used for DVD soundtracks, you need their other products, which are more expensive.

Ummm... No what ? I know all this
I did not say any diff. 8)

And it looks like some of the description has been changed since i looked at the tool page last..... and the photo of the DVD-DTS is up and WAAAAY more than $99.00.

I must admit, I have the full Surcode package, but for CD work, which is what this thread began with, the cheaper option is good value.

Yep, if you want DTS-cd's,
Does anyone else make a good DD5.1 encoder that does not cost a ton of $$$ besides the obvious like Vegas, ect.
Just wondering because i already use Vegas, surcode ect.

[suharsh]

Thanks again guns1inger. I did try the ffmpeg using the gui, but I realized that it is only 2 channel. I went to the official website. A simple download process seems to have been made complicated!

So I don't know if I have the CLI version or not.

I would also confirm the order of the channels, as this may be contributing to your balance issues.

Can you please elaborate on this? how do I determine which order it should be in?

[guns1inger]

The GUI sits on top of ffmpeg to try to hide some of the complexity. If you look in the folder where you installed ffmpeggui you should find ffmpeg.exe as well. You can run this from the command line (Start -> Run, type cmd in the field and click OK, then CD to the install folder).

The documentation for the CLI version is here http://ffmpeg.sourceforge.net/ffmpeg-doc.html#SEC10

Happy reading. ffmpeg has more command line switches than just about any software I have seen.

[Abond]

The last version of GFD (free) has ability to author Audio DVDs. It accepts ac3 files. Haven't tried it, but maybe it is worth.