MKV2AC3 - development thread

[Delta2]

Yeah, exactly thats what I was trying to say. What I meant with my question was: Does converting from DTS to ac3 keep the parameters (metadata) on the track?

DTS and AC3 are different formats, internally they are different, each one with its own metadata. But I'm not an audio expert, i.e., I'm not a low end programmer

Maybe someone in this forum can help you in that, explaining what is inside each format

[Delta2]

In some cases the audio bitrate ist shown as "bitrate: kbps" and then the sound is downsampled to stereo.

Put in here a sample where that occurs

Maybe it's something with a particular source

[cozgenc]

Hello,

This is a great tool that saved my life when I realized that my brand new LG TV is simply brain dead without DTS support.

One issue I have is that the sound is distorted in some movies. Not a show stopper. The distortion seems like a clipping effect. High frequency chirping is coming.

Is there a workaround, some settings that will avoid this issue?

Thanks

[shukbak]

Hi

First of all - thanks a lot for your effort in developing this tool, it is very much appreciated!

I've been utilizing it for quite a while (using the aften method) but today - for the 1st time - I've encountered a problem. After audio extraction from source is finished, the following message is displayed numerous (many!) times in the log screen:

"ERROR ! Try the other method of convertion"

What's also strange (and maybe related?) is that under "Video info" it shows "Length: 0H 0M 0S (0)" (though the FrameCount is 189920) and under "Audio info" it shows "Bitrate: Unknown" and "Delay: 0 ms".

Another thing that may be related: the Audio Type is "A_DTS" (I don't remember encountering this type, only "DTS").

Obviously the file plays normally (including sound and all) on my computer.

What does the message mean? Does it mean I have to switch to the eac3to method (I'd rather not, due to the normalization option in aften) or is it something else?

Thanks

[Delta2]

Hi

First of all - thanks a lot for your effort in developing this tool, it is very much appreciated!

I've been utilizing it for quite a while (using the aften method) but today - for the 1st time - I've encountered a problem. After audio extraction from source is finished, the following message is displayed numerous (many!) times in the log screen:

"ERROR ! Try the other method of convertion"

What's also strange (and maybe related?) is that under "Video info" it shows "Length: 0H 0M 0S (0)" (though the FrameCount is 189920) and under "Audio info" it shows "Bitrate: Unknown" and "Delay: 0 ms".

Another thing that may be related: the Audio Type is "A_DTS" (I don't remember encountering this type, only "DTS").

Obviously the file plays normally (including sound and all) on my computer.

What does the message mean? Does it mean I have to switch to the eac3to method (I'd rather not, due to the normalization option in aften) or is it something else?

Thanks

try the other method, eac3to and see what happens

[Delta2]

Hello,

This is a great tool that saved my life when I realized that my brand new LG TV is simply brain dead without DTS support.

One issue I have is that the sound is distorted in some movies. Not a show stopper. The distortion seems like a clipping effect. High frequency chirping is coming.

Is there a workaround, some settings that will avoid this issue?

Thanks

As I said before and many times, MKV2AC3 uses 2 methods : AFTEN and EAC3TO, other converters uses only one and that is EAC3TO

You should be able to work with both and choose the best for you, AFTEN is very sensible with your codecs configuration

[Delta2]

A user reported me that EAC3TO method was not working with some sources like this one :

http://www.mediafire.com/?h6535ahicc9ssxp

A error was generated by EAC3TO saying that was unable to downmix, i.e., it failed the conversion

I build a fix that solved that problem, just replace MKV2AC3 executable file with this one :

http://www.mediafire.com/?2amfrgue265dz4a

update only if you experienced any problem like that, anyway this update is cumulative with other fixes above.

[vasanth.rajan]

Hi,

Great application which saves a lot of steps and time. I just wanted to know if you have posted the source someplace. I'm thinking of porting this to Linux. I'm not sure if its doable but want to try.

If it is fine for you , can you post the source somewhere if not already done.

Thanks.

[Delta2]

Hi,

Great application which saves a lot of steps and time. I just wanted to know if you have posted the source someplace. I'm thinking of porting this to Linux. I'm not sure if its doable but want to try.

If it is fine for you , can you post the source somewhere if not already done.

Thanks.

this is a .NET application, so it is possible to run in Linux using Mono Framework

but the problem is MKVToolnix, and other external tools

[vasanth.rajan]

Thank you for the instant reply. I do not want to use mono. The aften, dcadec and mkvtoolnix are available under Linux.

My assumption is that to get the AC3, extract the DTS track using mkvextract, use dcsdec to get WAV, use after to get AC3 and then remux using mkvmerge. I'm trying to understand the importance of timecodes as you also seems to extract this information.

I'll do some more research on this and decide if it is worth doing.

Any input on the above conversion process is much appreciated.

Anyway thanks for the reply and you really helped me to watch most of the movies in my HDTV . Thanks again.

Note: I'm reading http://juliensimon.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/howto-processing-multichannel-audio-dts.html to get an idea.

[kcabrams]

Thank you for all of your hard work. I love this so much. It has made my life a lot easier. I use XBMC DLNA capabilities on my main desktop to stream to the GTVBox app on my Google TV Logitech Revue. The revue and dts are not friends so I will basically be converting every movie and tv show mkv that I acquire with DTS to AC3. I have zero complaints just a couple feature requests.

--"Delete source when finished" check box
--The ability to not add _ac3 on the end of the filename
--"Destination Folder same as source" option
--Possible folder scan option to recursively scan an entire folder and add only the mkvs with DTS audio

Thanks again!

[dhaval7884]

I am getting below error.
ERROR ! check if you have a 64bit MKV2AC3 version. Conversion from string "8 / 6" to type 'Integer' is not valid.

Previously one user got similar error (7/6 integer not valid). I am not able to get that download link for MKV2AC3.exe suggested for that issue.
Please suggest. Usually this program works for all most all mkv files. This file has Audio DTS HD.

[Myszaq36]

I have exactly the same error:

"ERROR ! check if you have a 64bit MKV2AC3 version. Conversion from string "8 / 6" to type 'Integer' is not valid. "

Of course I do have 64bit version installed. I have re-installed it just to make it sure. Unfortunatelly the error is still there :/

Does anyone solve the issue and could give some hints ??

Thank you in advance !

[Delta2]

Don't you see the update link above in post #97 ? can be used for 32b and 64b

[Myszaq36]

OK - I am really sorry - I didn't know that #97 refers to this problem :/ I have seen a similar issue in post #72 but the file link is out of date.
Anyway - now the program runs smoothly - I am doing some conversion right now to test it out.
btw. an AWSOME job !! This software rocks !! My LG is not so Smart as it's written (DTS is not playable) and that is why your software is a lifesever !!! thank you !

[Delta2]

The updates are always cumulative

anyway it is time to make a new build with all later fixes announced it this thread

There is nothing new, only a fresh rebuild with all fixes build-in, therefore there is no need to reinstall the application if you have all fixes already installed

-----------------------------

Version 1.03.04 - release date : 30/10/2012

changelog :

(FIX) Conversion from string "number / number" to type 'Integer' is not valid.
(FIX) EAC3TO Downmix failed with some sources
(FIX) AFTEN method failed to convert from DTS 2.0


32 bits

http://www.mediafire.com/?zt1oudzeoezvumd

64 bits

http://www.mediafire.com/?1wxtcks1qzt3i1w

[MilesAhead]

Glad to see it supports Drag & Drop from Explorer. I have to agree with the last person to comment in the app's download page comment section. The only thing a bit disconcerting is not having a clue when the audio conversion will complete. Some kind of progress bar or even just a log entry every 10% would eliminate the uncertainty.

Thanks for the program. I'm using it more and more lately.

[mblazm3]

Hi.
Thank you for this great tool.

I have only a little problem with all the converted mkvs: they have "header stripping" in the second audio stream.
I know I can remove the header stripping with mkvmergeGUI, but it would be easier to do it with MKV2AC3 directly if you can set the program that way.

Thank you again!

[Delta2]

Hi.
Thank you for this great tool.

I have only a little problem with all the converted mkvs: they have "header stripping" in the second audio stream.
I know I can remove the header stripping with mkvmergeGUI, but it would be easier to do it with MKV2AC3 directly if you can set the program that way.

Thank you again!

it does that automatically for each stream

[mblazm3]

In my case, I use the 64 bits 1.03.04 version and it removes only the "header stripping" from the first audio and video stream, not from the other audio streams of the mkv.

Thanks again.

[Delta2]

In my case, I use the 64 bits 1.03.04 version and it removes only the "header stripping" from the first audio and video stream, not from the other audio streams of the mkv.

Thanks again.

Why do you say that ?

I mean, the "header stripping" was always removed and I checked the code just for confirming and it is : video, subtitles and audio

Why do you say it isn't ? do you remux all again ? or do you keep original streams checked ? because what is original stays original

this program uncompress video, audio and subtitles during the remux stage but only the streams that are selected ( video is the only stream that is uncompressed always by default )

[mblazm3]

It always happens to me if the source have two or more audio streams.

I have just used MKV2AC3 to convert a mkv with three dts audio streams without header stripping. I have selected all the video, audio and subtitles streams and I haven't checked "keep original streams". I have used the eac3to method.

The resulting mkv has the video and the first ac3 audio stream without header stripping but the second and third ac3 audio stream have appeared with header stripping. And this is a problem with my mkv player.

I don't know if this only happens to me and I don't know why.

Thanks for all your interest.

[Delta2]

I must analyze that, can you put a sample with multiple DTS audio in Mediafire ?

[mblazm3]

Here it is.
http://www.mediafire.com/?cmvbchy5vpgecrp

Thanks again.

[Delta2]

try this fix

link removed

just update the executable file

let me know if it is stable

[mblazm3]

try this fix

http://www.mediafire.com/?k8px4h4zu8hle46

just update the executable file

let me know if it is stable

After that, I'm still having the same issue.

[Delta2]

ok

I made some more tests with your sample

With the original version ( full package ) I got this results :

+ EBML head
|+ EBML version: 1
|+ EBML read version: 1
|+ EBML maximum ID length: 4
|+ EBML maximum size length: 8
|+ Doc type: matroska
|+ Doc type version: 2
|+ Doc type read version: 2
+ Segment, size 57327137
|+ Seek head (subentries will be skipped)
|+ EbmlVoid (size: 4044)
|+ Segment information
| + Timecode scale: 1000000
| + Muxing application: libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0
| + Writing application: mkvmerge v4.4.0 ('Die Wiederkehr') built on Oct 31 201
21:52:48
| + Duration: 52.128s (00:00:52.128)
| + Date: Fri Jan 04 22:47:25 2013 UTC
| + Title: Sample3DTS
| + Segment UID: 0x87 0x3f 0xb4 0x39 0x01 0xf4 0x42 0x29 0x8d 0x80 0x0b 0x9d 0x
a 0xe3 0x92 0x7b
|+ Segment tracks
| + A track
| + Track number: 1
| + Track UID: 1
| + Track type: video
| + Lacing flag: 0
| + MinCache: 1
| + Codec ID: V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
| + CodecPrivate, length 42 (h.264 profile: High @L4.1)
| + Default duration: 41.667ms (24.000 fps for a video track)
| + Name: GrupoHDS
| + Video track
| + Pixel width: 1280
| + Pixel height: 544
| + Display width: 1280
| + Display height: 544
| + A track
| + Track number: 2
| + Track UID: 1282808492
| + Track type: audio
| + Forced flag: 1
| + Codec ID: A_AC3
| + Default duration: 32.000ms (31.250 fps for a video track)
| + Language: spa
| + Audio track
| + Sampling frequency: 48000
| + Channels: 6
| + A track
| + Track number: 4
| + Track UID: 3994428068
| + Track type: audio
| + Default flag: 0
| + Codec ID: A_AC3
| + Default duration: 32.000ms (31.250 fps for a video track)
| + Audio track
| + Sampling frequency: 48000
| + Channels: 6
| + Content encodings
| + Content encoding
| + Content compression
| + Algorithm: 3 (header removal)
| + Settings: length 2, data: 0x0b 0x77
| + A track
| + Track number: 6
| + Track UID: 1986679949
| + Track type: audio
| + Default flag: 0
| + Codec ID: A_AC3
| + Default duration: 32.000ms (31.250 fps for a video track)
| + Language: spa
| + Audio track
| + Sampling frequency: 48000
| + Channels: 2
| + Content encodings
| + Content encoding
| + Content compression
| + Algorithm: 3 (header removal)
| + Settings: length 2, data: 0x0b 0x77
|+ EbmlVoid (size: 1177)
|+ Cluster


Tried again with some tweaks and here is the results :

+ EBML head
|+ EBML version: 1
|+ EBML read version: 1
|+ EBML maximum ID length: 4
|+ EBML maximum size length: 8
|+ Doc type: matroska
|+ Doc type version: 2
|+ Doc type read version: 2
+ Segment, size 57333594
|+ Seek head (subentries will be skipped)
|+ EbmlVoid (size: 4044)
|+ Segment information
| + Timecode scale: 1000000
| + Muxing application: libebml v1.0.0 + libmatroska v1.0.0
| + Writing application: mkvmerge v4.4.0 ('Die Wiederkehr') built on Oct 31 20
21:52:48
| + Duration: 52.128s (00:00:52.128)
| + Date: Fri Jan 04 22:50:40 2013 UTC
| + Title: Sample3DTS
| + Segment UID: 0xb0 0x78 0x53 0x64 0x24 0x9a 0x36 0xcd 0xa9 0xe0 0xde 0x94 0
9 0xe8 0x57 0x86
|+ Segment tracks
| + A track
| + Track number: 1
| + Track UID: 1
| + Track type: video
| + Lacing flag: 0
| + MinCache: 1
| + Codec ID: V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
| + CodecPrivate, length 42 (h.264 profile: High @L4.1)
| + Default duration: 41.667ms (24.000 fps for a video track)
| + Name: GrupoHDS
| + Video track
| + Pixel width: 1280
| + Pixel height: 544
| + Display width: 1280
| + Display height: 544
| + A track
| + Track number: 2
| + Track UID: 553334404
| + Track type: audio
| + Forced flag: 1
| + Codec ID: A_AC3
| + Default duration: 32.000ms (31.250 fps for a video track)
| + Language: spa
| + Audio track
| + Sampling frequency: 48000
| + Channels: 6
| + A track
| + Track number: 4
| + Track UID: 1845334958
| + Track type: audio
| + Default flag: 0
| + Codec ID: A_AC3
| + Default duration: 32.000ms (31.250 fps for a video track)
| + Audio track
| + Sampling frequency: 48000
| + Channels: 6
| + A track
| + Track number: 6
| + Track UID: 3131160704
| + Track type: audio
| + Default flag: 0
| + Codec ID: A_AC3
| + Default duration: 32.000ms (31.250 fps for a video track)
| + Language: spa
| + Audio track
| + Sampling frequency: 48000
| + Channels: 2
|+ EbmlVoid (size: 1153)
|+ Cluster


I don't see any compression anymore, it should work

here is the fix to try again :

http://www.mediafire.com/?mj7k83gxl12rhby

just update the EXE file and let me know if it is stable

[mblazm3]

Now MKV2AC3 is working fine.

Thanks for your quick help and continued development, Delta2.

[manu1707]

Whenever I try to convert a movie using aften I always get the error: wavi.exe has stopped working.

Here you can see the details (german):

Problemsignatur:
Problemereignisname: APPCRASH
Anwendungsname: wavi.exe
Anwendungsversion: 0.0.0.0
Anwendungszeitstempel: 46c49fdf
Fehlermodulname: wavi.exe
Fehlermodulversion: 0.0.0.0
Fehlermodulzeitstempel: 46c49fdf
Ausnahmecode: c0000094
Ausnahmeoffset: 000019a2
Betriebsystemversion: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Gebietsschema-ID: 1031
Zusatzinformation 1: 0a9e
Zusatzinformation 2: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789
Zusatzinformation 3: 0a9e
Zusatzinformation 4: 0a9e372d3b4ad19135b953a78882e789

Im using Windows 7 x64 and I've downloaded the 64 bit version of MKV2AC3!

Please help me

[Delta2]

wavi is a external program, for some reason it doesn't work in your system

you should use the other method : eac3to

mkv2ac3 can use both