need help with Hi-Def and Dolby Digital 5.1

[mmace]

does anyone know if this is possible with media studio pro on it's own or with some other software?

I have various MPEG2 files with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, I need to re-encode these videos within mediastudio pro at a different bitrate but keep the 5.1 sound, the videos are 1920x1080

can media studio do this or will I need to extract the audio and the re-attach it afterwards (and if so, what software can do this?)?

I won't be changing the framerate, just the bitrate

thanks in advance for ANY help or advice

[Terry Stetler]

Will the video be edited or are you just changing the bitrate of the video? Do you plan to author a DVD or is this just for HDD/HTPC use?

[mmace]

not a DVD, I'm talking Hi-Def

as for editing, no, I won't be doing any, but even if I do, does that make a difference?

just want a yes or no as to whether it's possible

[Devil]

Isn't this a steam hammer to crack an egg if you don't wish to edit?

[Terry Stetler]

Perhaps, but it does bring up a feature I've been thinking about: the option to do direct stream copy of the audio stream so you can preserve pre-mixed audio.

If DVDWS, DVDMF (authoring tools) and freeware video tools like VirtualDub can do it (MPEG-1, not 2) why not full blown editing s/w?

[neonbob]

I do a fair bit of work in 5.1 and I love MSP for the actual VIDEO editing, but it has serious, and not too well thought out issues with 5.1 surround.

MSP can not burn directly from the time line... files must be exported, and although you can export dolby stereo, you can not export 5.1 and have it intact on the other end. There is no Allowable option to export AC3 (5.1 surround), so your audio is exported as mpeg audio (or pcm deprnding on your choice) and mpeg audio does not support AC3 within itself. So although you can work with ,edit, and create 5.1 audio with MSP, you can't get it out of MSP without destroying it...... Pretty silly!!

I now use MSP for the video editing only, export the audio to Adobe Audition2 where I clean asnd adjust, then import the whole mess to Pinnacle studio 10.7 where I put it all together, do the HD-DVD author and burn in 5.1 surround. Comes out good this way in the toshiba hi def player.

I am hoping MSP thinks this issue through a little better for the next version, (and also includes hd-dvd author abilities... hint, hint)

[andyfedak]

Hey Neonbob, I've been looking into doing 5.1 HDDVDs lately, but from what I gather with pinnacle's studio you can't import precreated ac3 files. You need to use there junky surround panner.

How do you keep your mix intact between audition and studio 10.7? Or do you do your surround mixing in 10.7?

[neonbob]

Hey Neonbob, I've been looking into doing 5.1 HDDVDs lately, but from what I gather with pinnacle's studio you can't import precreated ac3 files. You need to use there junky surround panner.

How do you keep your mix intact between audition and studio 10.7? Or do you do your surround mixing in 10.7?

Now a days I do all of my editing in Sony vegas7 . I export my video as M2V and my audio as separate WAV files (front, cnter, rear) . All this can then be imported to studio (or Audition then to studio... whichever you prefer).

But yes... it is a bit of a pain because studio will not directly import AC3, so the bottom line (if you want to keep your original 5.1 alive) is break up the AC3 to separate Wav files then import those. I do it with sony vegas, but there are a few cheaper programs that were specificaly built to break up AC3 ... go have a look at:

http://www.videohelp.com (in the tools section)

[andyfedak]

So for your front, center, rear output WAV files, you just push them into their proper place in the surround field? the center would be a mono track, but the front and rear would be stereo correct? Everything is centered, and the panning is handled via the sound already in the stereo tracks. (ie everything is lined up in the middle of the surround panner)

thanks for the info, I'm on the verge of getting studio just for this reason.

best,
-andy

[neonbob]

So for your front, center, rear output WAV files, you just push them into their proper place in the surround field? the center would be a mono track, but the front and rear would be stereo correct? Everything is centered, and the panning is handled via the sound already in the stereo tracks. (ie everything is lined up in the middle of the surround panner)

thanks for the info, I'm on the verge of getting studio just for this reason.

best,
-andy

I import the video track, then lock it. Then import the center track and lay it where the audio for the video is supposed to be. The video track must be locked in order to do this. Then import the front and rear tracks and lay them into the 2 alternate audio fields available... make sure you sync up all the tracks properly. Then make sure your scrubber is at the very BEGINING of the video. Set your center track for 5.1 dialog, leave the pan bubble front center. Then set your front track for 5.1 surround. Leave the bubble again at front center. Set your rear track for 5.1 surround and set the bubble at center rear. When you render, make sure you choose 5.1 dolby digital as your audio choice.

[andyfedak]

thanks so much man:) -andy