Can I Use MP2 Audio?

[Mac Everyman]

Various how-to manuals and forum postings tell me that DVDs may be authored ONLY with soundtracks in PCM or AC3 format. Spruce Maestro seems to accept MP2 sound files, but even so, it issues a cautionary warning when the compiling is complete, saying that I should use only PCM or AC3. Yet when I author a disc with MP2 and play it on a regular DVD machine, the sound comes through fine. Is there truly any peril if I continue to author discs with this compressed sound? Would sure save me a lot of space....

[MOVIEGEEK]

Some early DVD players only recognized LPCM & AC3 but the only thing that matters is your disk works in your DVD player.

[Vejita-sama]

Yeah, the vast majority of standalones will have no trouble playing mp2 audio (I use it all the time). However, the DVD standard calls for PCM or ac3 only. So to be save you really should encode to ac3 (PCM takes up to much space).

[puertorican138]

Yeah, the vast majority of standalones will have no trouble playing mp2 audio (I use it all the time). However, the DVD standard calls for PCM or ac3 only. So to be save you really should encode to ac3 (PCM takes up to much space).

AC3 audio is also high quality.

[bugster]

The original requirements for DVD audio capabilities were different for PAL and NTSC regions. ALL DVD players are required to play LPCM auio tracks. PAL region DVD players are required to play mp2 audio tracks. NTSC region DVD players are required to play AC3 audio tracks. You will be very unlucky to find a PAL region player that will not play all 3. I have heard some people on this forum complain that there NTSC region players will not play back the audio on DVD's with mp2 audio tracks.

[Mac Everyman]

Many thanks to all of your for the replies. That clears it up for me.