How to work with AC3 and M2V files back into MPEG

[Faustus]

I have some a AC3 and M2V file that was once a VOB, what I want to do is lower the bitrate on the M2V (its at 6000k right now) then put them back together (preferable into an mpg). I have TMPGenc and Several DVD author programs. Whats the easiest way?

[bugster]

Use spruce to author. Provide it with the AC3 and M2V files. Do not bother trying to multiplex them before hand as I believe Spruce requires them seperatley.

[Faustus]

Uhm... but I'm gonna end up having several of them that way (a pair for each vob)... will Spruceup handle them all as one movie? and will it work well with Windows XP? I understand that SpruceUp is not a supported product sicne Apple purchased them.

[bugster]

Spruce is the only DVD authoring proggy that I know of that doesn't cost several thousand dollars, that will take your AC3 files 'as is'. That is without transcoding them to another format.

I guess you are ripping DVD's and burning to DVD +/- r. If you can't find the info you need on this site take a look at www.doom9.org. Those guys specialise in DVD ripping and converting and have some great guides for the various methods used.

You are right about Spruce being no longer commercially available but there are demos available (look under tools on your left) and cracks floating round the net. I can't help you find one though, try Google.

[Faustus]

Thats exactly what I'm doing, thanks for the great info, between you and some help from another site I think I got a handle on this... in the case of this file Im just converting to wav for the audio and then sticking them back together as sound quality isn't super important... but I'm also gonna grab spruce up for future reference.