Easiest way 5.1 AAC to 5.1 AC3

[satansgutter]

Hey everyone, i've read a few tutorials and guides to converting 5.1 AAC to 5.1 AC3. A lot of them require a few steps and complicated settings. I've found the easiest way to convert AAC to AC3, well for me anyway. The programs needed are:

aacDecDrop
MeGUI


I was getting an error everytime I tried converting an AAC to AC3 using only MeGUI. So I found these tools by following guides etc and the best way is to convert your AAC file to WAV using aacDecDrop. All you do is drag and drop the file into the window. Then use MeGUI to convert the WAV into AC3. I'm assuming you know how to use MeGUI so I won't explain in detail. Once that is done you have your 5.1 AC3.

[newyear1967]

Another way to convert AAC to AC3

1. Convert (Decode) AAC to wav using Nero AAC Codec (NeroAacDec.exe) command line version.
Alternatively NeroAAC UI can be used if you don't want to use command line.
2. Convert wav to ac3 using Eac3to.
Alternatively EAC3to conversion utility if you like GUI.

[MerlinBiggs]

If you convert to wav won't you be converting to 2 channel. How can you convert from that to 5.1

[jman98]

If you convert to wav won't you be converting to 2 channel. How can you convert from that to 5.1

Two channel WAV is the most common, but WAV can support 6 channels. It's just up to the user to be sure that he/she actually creates a 6 channel WAV file and not a 2 channel one.

[MerlinBiggs]

Aah - I did not know that. Been trying to get a 6 channel aac to 5.1 ac3 but can only seem to manage 2 channel results - I'll give the above method a go.

[DarrellS]

The easiest way is probably Nero Wave Editor but it is not free.

[chrchr]

Don't forget the free "foobar2000" too (5.1 wav), and "eac3to" as @newyear1967 has already reccomended.

[naskad]

i've tried Nero Wave Editor for the aac5.1-ac35.1 conversion, but when when i clicked 'save as' there is no ac3 option in the 'save as type'. i have installed ac3filter and the file played ok in media player. anybody knows why?

[DarrellS]

I've got ac3 in my "save as" box and it saved as 5.1 ac3.

[naskad]

That's very strange... This is what I get:

[DarrellS]

You know, this might be a Windows 7 thing. My friend installed Nero 7 Ultra on Windows 7 64bit Ultimate and the program won't open up (he gets the window but the inside is missing).

He can get to all the programs from the folder except for the burn engine so he had to install Imageburn to burn anything.

Do you have AC3ACM installed on your computer? The latest version has encoding support and Nero might depend on this for ac3 encoding, I don't know.


You might want to send Nero an e-mail and find out why it's not showing up.

[naskad]

Yes, i did install AC3ACM. I also uninstalled and reinstalled the latest AC3ACM just to make sure, but nothing happens. But it's okay now. I've tried several other ways and one of them is successful. First I converted my MP4 video to MKV format with MKVToolNix, as suggested by someone in the forum, then I used Popcorn MKV Audio Converter to change from ACC to AC3... and voila! ... I have an MKV video with 1.5 AC3 sound. Anyway, thanks very much for all your answers.

[kevinlane]

Yes, i did install AC3ACM. I also uninstalled and reinstalled the latest AC3ACM just to make sure, but nothing happens. But it's okay now. I've tried several other ways and one of them is successful. First I converted my MP4 video to MKV format with MKVToolNix, as suggested by someone in the forum, then I used Popcorn MKV Audio Converter to change from ACC to AC3... and voila! ... I have an MKV video with 1.5 AC3 sound. Anyway, thanks very much for all your answers.

Is the audio channel order proper after conversion?

[naskad]

kevin, i don't know if the audio channels are in proper order. It sounds fine to me. How do you check?

[kevinlane]

Easiest way is, Check if dialouges are coming out from center channel, if not it is not proper. A good demo dvd would have checking feature in it.

[remon]

if you have mp4 files or mkv files with aac track, then you can use MP42MKVac3
this tool is freeware and it can batch processing

[nateo200]

I use Apple's Compressor 4 which is licensed by Dolby for good compatibility. Handbrake with the video settings set way down low (lowest resolution and bit rate possible) also works.