Converting 6channel WMA into 6channel AAC... how?

[Zhelkus]

Hi everybody. A few must probably know me for asking for support on the most remote and difficult operations. Well, today's different. The thing I'm going to ask for now is simply out of plain ignorance and I'm really sure more than one is capable of lending me a hand and guiding me :D

The story: I have a batch of WMV video files in HD (1280x720@9000kbps) with 6ch audio tracks muxed into them. Since I don't like Windows Media, I plan on converting the video to x264 and the audio to AAC. Now, I managed to demux the audio tracks using the Windows Media Stream Editor.

The problem: Since the audio has 6 channels, how am I supposed to convert it to AAC? I can't just encode the songs into WAV and then encode them into AAC because I'll end up with stereo instread of 6ch-surround. And before that, I intended to normalize the tracks.

Help please! :o

[tebasuna51]

You can try BeHappy with BassAudio decoder, Normalize and encode with NeroAacEnc or CTaacEnc.

You need AviSynth 2.5.6/2.5.7, .NET Framework v2.0 and the shon3i BeHappy package (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=829754#post829754).

If you want a command line equivalent you can use Bepipe (http://workspaces.gotdotnet.com/behappy):

bepipe --script "bassAudioSource(^Test.wma^).Normalize()" | neroAacEnc -q 0.5 -if - -of Test.mp4

[Zhelkus]

Thanks a lot, works like a charm! :D

[Zhelkus]

I'm trying to use bepipe now because BeHappy has no batch file processing support. When I run the command line you gave me I get these messages with the Nero encoder:

ERROR: Can't find audio stream!
ERROR: could not parse WAV file

Help pretty please?

[tebasuna51]

If BeHappy work fine maybe is a syntax problem in the command line. Be careful with names and spaces:
"C:\your path1\bepipe.exe" --script "bassAudioSource(^D:\your path2\Test.wma^).Normalize()" | "C:\your path3\neroAacEnc.exe" -q 0.5 -if - -of "D:\your path4\Test.mp4"

[Zhelkus]

Now it works. Gracias compadre. :D

[graysky]

Is there a simple way to add a normalize step using MeGUI somehow? This would be going from AC3 multichannel --> nero acc.

[graysky]

Update: the best and most rapid method I found to accomplish this is to simply enable the 5.1 --> stereo downmix DSP in foobar 2k and convert to neroacc. The resulting files have volume levels that are correct compared to using MeGUI to do the same task.

Foobar rocks.

[tebasuna51]

Is there a simple way to add a normalize step using MeGUI somehow? This would be going from AC3 multichannel --> nero acc.
Afaik MEGUI accept avs like input audio then use an audio.avs:
bassAudioSource(^Test.wma^)
Normalize()

Update: the best and most rapid method I found to accomplish this is to simply enable the 5.1 --> stereo downmix DSP in foobar 2k and convert to neroacc. The resulting files have volume levels that are correct compared to using MeGUI to do the same task.
But now you lose the surround.
If you want use Foobar and only 2 channels at least use a Dolby ProLogic compatible mix with foo_dsp_downmix (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=52887)

[graysky]

But now you lose the surround.
If you want use Foobar and only 2 channels at least use a Dolby ProLogic compatible mix with foo_dsp_downmix (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=52887)

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll check it out. I actually want to lose the surround since I don't have a fancy stereo hooked up to my television. I'm just using the built-in speakers on the TV :)