Converting MPEG2 audio to AC3 audio

folkboat · Post by **folkboat** » Thu May 18, 2006 9:16 pm

Been using DVDMF3 to create slide shows for a VERY large family - works great.

Now THE FAMILY wants to convert VHS tapes to DVD. Tapes are family videos from all over the world.

My system has a Hauppauge PVR-150 capture card, which I use in conjunction with GBPVR (PVR front end software - also works great).

I did a test run using DVDMF3 to capture video off a VHS player (no editing) just a straight copy, burned it to DVD and tried playing it on two different DVD players. Video was great, however on one (TOSHIBA) no sound, worked fine on a SONY. Apparently the SONY reads MP2 or LPCM without intervention, the TOSHIBA, once its audio setting was changed, played the sound fine.

Because I live in the USA all DVD's are encoded with an AC3 soundtrack!!
Thus any copied VHS tape would require an AC3 sound track - correct??

Will DVDMF5 allow me to take my captured MPEG2 Video/Audio files and convert the audio to AC3?? If so will the video require re-encoding.

Will DVDMF5 produce a compliant DVD with an AC3 soundtrack??

Thanks for your patience

Best Regards

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Thu May 18, 2006 10:09 pm

Yes it can convert the mpeg L2 audio to AC3 (full version). Hit the little gear icon and check the box that says "Treat mpeg audio as non dvd compliant", and it will convert mpeg audio to the project audio settings (which you can make Dolby Digital or LPCM -- but use DD as it uses less space).

Regards,
George

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:16 am

...If so will the video require re-encoding.

I don't think so, but I'm not 100% sure.... I don't have MF5.... I usually use DVD Workshop, and it will convert the audio and re-multiplex the audio/video without touching the encoded MPEG-2 video.

Because I live in the USA all DVD's are encoded with an AC3 soundtrack!!

NTSC DVDs are required to contain at least one LPCM soundtrack or one AC3 soundtrack. Additional optional formats be included.

All NTSC players (USA) are required to play Dolby AC3 and LPCM. Other audio formats are optional.

All PAL players are required to play Dolby AC3, LPCM and MPEG-2 audio.

It is possible to make a DVD with only an MPEG-2 soundtrack, but it won't be compliant and it may not play on some players. I have a commercial DVD which has a DTS soundtrack and an LPCM soundtrack. It has no AC3 track. The LPCM track makes it compliant, and insures that it will play on all players.

NOTE- When I've converted MPEG-2 audio to AC3, I've had to set the sound level to 75% to prevent distortion. So if you notice distortion, gige that a try.

folkboat · Post by **folkboat** » Fri May 19, 2006 12:07 pm

Thank you for the quick replies....

Apparently AC3 is sent through a DVD players "Digital" output (ie: Toslink/Coax) which might explain why my Toshiba DVD player would not play any LPCM encoded audio, its analogue outputs are not connected to the receiver - I'm using Coax.

Apparently the Toshiba isn't smart enough to send the LPCM audio out through coax to the receiver (without changing a menue settings). OTOH my Sony player is.

Perhaps Toshiba is the only DVD player with this shortcoming - don't know for sure. They use something called "BITSTREAM" for audio out in addition to PCM and 2ch digital. Once changed to PCM magically the audio is heard.

Thus any authored DVD must be compliant, as I can't be sure what player someone might use.