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LiFe
27th January 2005, 11:08
Hi Guys,
What are people using to encode quality Dolby Digital AC3? I don't particularly like besweet, but it seems to be all people talk about.

The plugin for TMPEG Xpress doesn't let me specify dialogue normalisation level and DRC, so the sound levels are all out.

Sonic Foundry SoftEncode was discontinued years ago, and Sony doesn't seem to have an equivalent tool.

SurCode Dolby Digital wants to read everything in mono wavs, which means thrice the work.

I want a tool that will create high quality DD 2.0 .ac3 streams for me to mux with my tmpeg video, that will let me set dialogue norm and DRC, and will encode the 48khz pcm audio from an .avi.

Any suggestions?

LiFe.
SiXXGuNNZ
27th January 2005, 21:26
sony does have one now

it is 200 US

http://home.comcast.net/~sixxy01/ac3sony.jpg

http://mediasoftware.sonypictures.com/shopping/item.asp?PID=299
LiFe
28th January 2005, 13:47
Got it working in ACID. Seems to be good - ACID can import videos direct, then export sound directly to AC3.

Wish the TMPEG AC3 plug was more advanced, would save a step, and hours of work. Not to worry - quality is what's important!

Thanks.

LiFe.
Paulcat
28th January 2005, 14:03
$200 for Sony's AC3 Encoder? Holy *$#%!

Soft Encode is discontinued and they wanted $900 for the 5.1 version of a program that fit on a floppy disk!

Acid was mentioned, what video file types does it open? Can it read AAC audio and convert that to AC3?
Buggle
28th January 2005, 16:11
I have read there is a difference in the Dolby binaries they are based upon. It might be worth taking a look into that.
SiXXGuNNZ
29th January 2005, 01:17
Originally posted by Paulcat
$200 for Sony's AC3 Encoder? Holy *$#%!

Soft Encode is discontinued and they wanted $900 for the 5.1 version of a program that fit on a floppy disk!

Acid was mentioned, what video file types does it open? Can it read AAC audio and convert that to AC3? I don't think it can, it doesn't open/read ac3, just saves to it. whenever I encode to ac3 I covert to wav first anyway, to get the avg rms peak value from soundforge so I know what to set the dialog normalization to. if you have paid for the sony ac3 encoder, it also works directly from soundforge, handy for 2.0 ac3. to do 5.1 ac3 you need acid pro.
LiFe
29th January 2005, 02:13
It'll open PCM .AVI files,
DV Type 1 .avi's
WMV files
It doesn't like MPEG-4 .avi

It has problems with some multi-channel wavs and can't do vobs, or dolby digital sound or AAC sound. Can't do AviSynth or Real Media.

Best way then (if your format isn't naitivley supported) is decode to wavs.

LiFe.
LiFe
29th January 2005, 02:16
Anyone know how to change the default import volume in ACID from -6db to 0db?

Thanks.

LiFe.
Sycho
29th January 2005, 05:08
wow you can even flag for surround EX on the sony encoder
Socio
29th January 2005, 16:37
Where can you find more info on that encoder, does not appear to show up any where on their site?
LiFe
29th January 2005, 16:58
The site is abit tricky. I manage the sony it account at work, and a sony sampler cd went around (although Sound Forge 7 expired 1/1/05).

Install Acid, it then prompts you to buy the AC3 plugin (although on my pc all the prompts had script errors). I then installed DVD Architect which obviously has the plugin to master dvd's, and it enabled it in Acid.

LiFe.
Socio
29th January 2005, 23:31
Is the $200 encoder in the link a few posts up a stand alone version or do you need Acid or DVD Architect for it to work?
LiFe
30th January 2005, 00:42
I don't think it's standalone. Sony website is hard to navigate.
Socio
30th January 2005, 01:05
Originally posted by LiFe
I don't think it's standalone. Sony website is hard to navigate.

Yep, can not find any info about it on their website, I might e-mail them or call them Monday.
SiXXGuNNZ
30th January 2005, 02:57
it is a plugin, you need acid, dvd a or vegas

I can use it with sound forge also, but I believe thats because I have those other 3 apps
Socio
30th January 2005, 15:29
Originally posted by SiXXGuNNZ
it is a plugin, you need acid, dvd a or vegas

I can use it with sound forge also, but I believe thats because I have those other 3 apps


Thanks for the clairification;

To bad I would have glady shelled out $200 for a stand alone version.
Paulcat
31st January 2005, 17:33
Originally posted by SiXXGuNNZ
I don't think it can, it doesn't open/read ac3, just saves to it. whenever I encode to ac3 I covert to wav first anyway, to get the avg rms peak value from soundforge so I know what to set the dialog normalization to. if you have paid for the sony ac3 encoder, it also works directly from soundforge, handy for 2.0 ac3. to do 5.1 ac3 you need acid pro.

WHat does Acid Pro read then? The reason I ask is that I have a file with aac 5.1 audio, and I would like to convert that to ac3 audio which I can re-author to dvd. How would I convert 5.1 aac to individual wav files?
SiXXGuNNZ
31st January 2005, 21:42
Originally posted by Paulcat
WHat does Acid Pro read then? The reason I ask is that I have a file with aac 5.1 audio, and I would like to convert that to ac3 audio which I can re-author to dvd. How would I convert 5.1 aac to individual wav files? it doesn't look like it does have aac support, it is not listed in the file open menu of file types. can besweet convert 5.1 aac to 6 wavs?