Converting 2chan stereo to AC3

[dvddarren]

If I want to convert 2 channel stereo sound to AC3, am I best just to make a 2channel AC3 or is there a way to convert to 5 channel??

I have found a divx to dvd guide and it says to open the stereo file into CoolEdit, select the right channel and Invert it, then select both the inverted right channel and normal left channel and convet it to mono, then save it. Then open the stereo track into Soft Encode and the mono track twice, this will give 2 front and 2 rear channels.

heres a quote from the guide explaining the use of the mono track.

'The purpose if this to create a sound file where sounds in the center are removed, remaining sounds only in the far left and far right channel.'

Will this actually work, or will it sound awfull??

If it does work, is there any way to get a center channel out of it.

cheers

[rasca]

Yes, that will work for a pseudo surround effect. This will simulate the same effect as making surround sound from a stereo source- This probably goes back into the late 60's.

This will not give you directional front to back and localization of the sound will not be correct but it will give you sound with added dimension.

The center channel is derived by using filters through the front channels and combining them into a monotrack. I imagine that depeding on the effect you want, you can play with the filters.

I don't know if Cooledit will encode though.

[greedo]

If I'm not mistaken, any surround sound amp should do this automatically.

If you have a Dolby compatible amp, it should be able to convert any stereo source into Dolby Pro-Logic. (though with unpredctable results)

This essentially does what the other reply suggested - it extrapolates the centre channel and a fake rear channel (only 1 rear channel - same from both speakers).

So encoding in Stereo should be ok.