AC3 newbie

[mataharimata]

Hello everyone,

I usually encode various .avi into .mpg with TMPGenc Xpress and then I use TMPGenc DVD Author to put them all on a DVD. But when I get an .avi with an AC3 audio then I use TMPGenc Xpress to encode the video only into .m1v format, I use VirtualDubMob to demux the audio stream to an AC3, then convert it with PX3Convert into .mp3; then use TMPGenc Plus to glue the video and audio together into .mpg and then finally use TMPGenc DVD Author to put all the files into 1 DVD. This is the only way that i know how to deal with .ac3 format so that the final result of the avi files is for them to play on a normal DVD player(my DVD player does not support avi format).

Could anyone please tell me if there is an easier way to get the same final result, or may be even a different way to deal with AC3?

Any help is appreciated

Thank you

[BJ_M]

1. why are you using mpeg1 for a dvd ?

2. why not just use the ac3 audio as is ?

3. why are you using mp3 on a dvd ?

you are going about this all wrong (no offence) , but might want to try a 1 click solution or read a few manuals here ...

[mataharimata]

Thanks for your help

I convert avi files with TMPGenc Xpress to mpg so that I can make 1 DVD out of various avi files (TMPGenc DVD Author does not work with avi files).

So far I have not been able to use AC3 as it is as when i try to convert the avi into mpg with TMPGenc Xpress it gives me an error.

Any suggestions are welcome

Thank you

[NormaJ]

You can use the AC3 audio that you get from VirtualDubMod, as audio source directly into TDA, and process only video with Tmpgenc. You might get an m2v when encoding for DVD, though.
Cheers

[manono]

Hi-

So far I have not been able to use AC3 as it is...

Try running it through AC3Fix and then see if the authoring program will accept it.

[kush]

Nor do you need to go through the multiplexing in TMPGenc+, you can enter the elementary audio/video streams into DVDA separately..Or automatically upon selection of your *.m2v, assuming they are both "to spec" (as far as DVDA is concerned), and are both named equally (and in the same folder), ie: clip.m2v/clip.ac3. Try either using ac3fix as suggested or using the un-modified ac3 directly in DVDA, as your conversion process may be introduing some error(s) into the audio stream that's making DVDA freak out. Heck, unless Pegasys Inc. has closed the loophole, you don't even need the ac3 plug-in with DVDA to use ac3 audio - only when you want *.source > ac3, or to hear audio when previewing the clip.

I would suggest leaving the ac3 audio as is too. In your process, you add two un-necessary and audio quality damaging steps, perhaps undetectable without superman hearing, but damaging none-the-less... Time in which you could use the extra time to prettify your final DVD layout or something.. The only reason I would even consider going ac3>intermediate>ac3 would be if you're doing a framerate conversion, ie: PAL>NTSC and vice-versa.

[redwudz]

Just to add, if the AVI has MP3 or other audio formats, you can usually save it out as a WAV with VirtualDub and run that through ffmpeggui and convert it to AC3, then add that to TDA during the authoring process. ffmpeggui is fast and easy to use. AC3, IMO, is one of the better choices for DVDs converted from AVIs.