Changing a DVD soundtrack from MP2 to AC3 AND keeping the orginal menus

[jonny5alive]

Hi everyone

I have a DVD that was created from a DVB-T broadcast and the VOB's contain an MPEG2 (MP2) audio stream rather than a Dolby Digital (AC3) one. This means I can't output the audio digitally to my home cinema amp as it only understands DD, DTS and PCM.

I don't have access to the orginal .ts file so what I would like to do is replace the MP2 soundtrack with an AC3 one AND keep the orginal menus as if I lose them i'll be stuffed.

I've searched these forums far and wide and spent hours and hours trying out different software and routines that look like they might help but nothing I've done has managed to completely do it all.

I have managed to demux the VOB's and convert the MP2 to AC3 but I can't remux it back again with the m2v file without losing the original menus and the VOB's are different sizes to the originals so I can't just edit the IFO files to reflect the new AC3 sound track.

Like i say, I've spent hours trying everything and reading as many guides as possible but nothing gives me a working DVD, so, before I quit can anyone tell me:-

a) Can this be done or should I just give up?

b) If it can be done, can it be done relatively easily? (I've worked in I.T. for 10 yrs so I'm not a newb but I'd prefer not to spend 10hrs doing it, I'm happy to pay for commercial software if works)

b) If it can be done either way, can you point me to some instructions or tell me how to do it?

Many thanks

[Jalavera]

Try VobBlanker

[jonny5alive]

I've looked at a guide involving VObBlanker but it didn't look like it will do exactly what I need it to do.

Can you confirm which bit VobBlanker will do successfully?

Thanks for the fast post

[Abond]

Firstly you need to author as DVD your original video and the new ac3 audio (let say with Muxman). Then open the original DVD (with mp2 audio) in Vobblanker and use Replace fuction to replace the vobs containing mp2 audio with the vobs containing ac3 audio. You need the authoring step, because vobblanker will ask you for ifo file for the replacement title.
An altertnative would be to use Ifoupdate. For guide look here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=83566
The difference ios only you are replacing the audio, but otherwise it is the same - you update the ifo file of the original DVD.

[jonny5alive]

So when I (re)author the DVD does VobBlanker need to have some new IFO files along with the originals?

I'm asking because I'm using ImagoMPEG which muxes the m2v and AC3 into segmented VOB's but does not create any IFO files. I was then using IFOedit to create the IFO's etc

I don't want to hassle you as I appreciate your time, but could you give me a quick 1 --> 8 step (or whatever) of what programs you would use for each process?

Thank you :p

[Abond]

Yes, vobblanker needs a ifo for the vobs with which you replace the original vobs.