basic surround question

[BabaG]

if i create my own 5.1 surround track and encode it to ac3,
using something like aften, will it play correctly on a surround
system dvd even though it's never been through surcode or
a similar dolby encoding process?

i've created six mono wav's and folded them into a single
six-channel wav with wavwizard. then i used aften to make
an ac3 from the six-channel wav. it's this ac3 i'm wondering
about. i asked this in the aften thread but got to thinking it
was a more general question. didn't intend as a double post.

i'm confused with some of the terminology and think of things
like director commentary and dvd extras. when i make a six
channel wav without dolby, does the dvd and player still play
six channels simultaneously? or will it break the six into smaller
groupings like maybe 3 stereo pairs from which i'd be expected
to choose which pair to listen to? if it does play all six as a
surround track, will there be artifacts from not having the dolby
encoding?

thanks,
BabaG

[tebasuna51]

if i create my own 5.1 surround track and encode it to ac3, using something like aften, will it play correctly on a surround system dvd even though it's never been through surcode or a similar dolby encoding process?
Of course.
There are some limitations in free encoders (for me the most important is the Dynamic Range Compression) but play correctly.
i asked this in the aften thread but got to thinking it was a more general question. didn't intend as a double post.
Better in this thread than in Aften thread for basic questions.
i'm confused with some of the terminology and think of things like director commentary and dvd extras. when i make a six channel wav without dolby, does the dvd and player still play six channels simultaneously?
All the channels of an audio track/stream are played simultaneously. A video track/stream can be mixed with more than one audio track/stream (different languages, director commentary, ...). A dvd extra can be other video with one or more audio.
or will it break the six into smaller groupings like maybe 3 stereo pairs from which i'd be expected to choose which pair to listen to?
Never. You can chose between tracks/streams, chose between channels is not a standard behavior.
if it does play all six as a surround track, will there be artifacts from not having the dolby encoding?
If you have a correct ac3, for what artifacts?
What is dolby encoding?
Don't mistake Dolby Digital (ac3 certified by Dolby) and Dolby ProLogic (old analogic method to mix 4/5 chanels in 2 physical channels)
Of course a free encoder can't be Dolby certified.

[BabaG]

thanks so much tebasuna51. very helpful. i think i have some
basic confusion with the terminology as regards tracks, streams,
and channels. any tips on how these terms differ or where would
be some good links to find such info explained for dummies ;)

thanks again. your answers are much appreciated.
BabaG