Converting audio to DVD compliant format in vegas

[Rudyard]

Whenever I convert a video in Vegas 5.0 to a DVD compliant MPEG2 file, the audio ALWAYS needs to be recompressed in DVD architect or Encore DVD.

Now when I use the DVD templates (or custom ones) the audio option is AUDIO LAYER 1 or AUDIO LAYER 2.....no AC3 or PCM modes are available unless I only save the audio stream (no video) inwhich I can select these options.

How do I convert a video to DVD compliant MPEG2 including audio so I dont need to recompress the audio over and over when I author?

Thanks.

[canadateck]

You can only Output AC3 separately from the Video,Or You Get the AUdio your getting now, and DVD architect will Encode it to AC3 if thats the Setting you have.

1: Encode Video
2: Encode AC3 Audio

[Rudyard]

Thanks for the quick reply....So just to clarify the best way for me to go would be:

Encode the video with audio layer2 as per the VEGAS DVD template and then let DVD Architect encode to AC3

or

Encode just the video stream in vegas and then just he audio into AC3 and then somehow join them together in DVD architect?

[canadateck]

Always Go from your original to AC3, You can also just Encode your Video then take your original Audio and Let DVD Architect Encode it to AC3.

Dont go From (original Audio) to MPG Audio TO AC3.

Just original Audio to AC3.

[Rudyard]

Thanks for your help, I just did some testing and it seems if I convert just the video stream in Vegas to MPEG2 and then render the audio to AC3 in vegas, when I open DVD architect I only have to import the video stream and DVD Architect automatically imports the AC3 file with the same name as the audio for the video stream!

It then needs no recompressing and just builds the DVD!

Thanks, you have saved me doing unnecessary audio conversions that were annoying me.

[King Ghidora]

Always Go from your original to AC3, You can also just Encode your Video then take your original Audio and Let DVD Architect Encode it to AC3.

Dont go From (original Audio) to MPG Audio TO AC3.

Just original Audio to AC3.

So is there is a second compression step if I would encode to MPG audio then let DVDA encode that to AC3? That would mean a reduction in audio quality right?

[guns1inger]

Yes. Both mpeg audio and AC3 audio are lossy, so there will always be some data lost when encoding. Every redundent encode costs you quality.