Maintaining 5.1 AC3 in a WMV encode - how?

[idbirch2]

I have tried and failed many, many times to get Windows Media Encoder to accept 5.1 AC3 audio but it will not. Is there a way to reencode just the video using WME and then mux the original AC3 audio back in?

[Sagittaire]

no way ... if you want 5.1 audio you must use WMA10 pro for wmv container.

[idbirch2]

OK, what program will allow me to convert an AC3 stream to WMA10? Does it involve demuxing the AC3 and splitting it into seperate wav files?

Also, if I do convert to WMA10, does this demand anything special of the amp my xbox 360 is connected to or is DD decoding OK for playing these?

[killerhex]

canopus procoder can convert the audio to wma 5.1

[diogen]

OK, what program will allow me to convert an AC3 stream to WMA10?Using AC3Filter as the audio decoder will do. Does it involve demuxing the AC3 and splitting it into seperate wav files?The filter will do it for you within the encoder.

Diogen.

[tchaikovsky]

right, ac3filter

[bond]

why do you need the .wmv container?

you can combine ac3 and vc-1 in matroska or mpg for example

[idbirch2]

why do you need the .wmv container?

you can combine ac3 and vc-1 in matroska or mpg for example
lol, I'm the unfortunate owner of an xbox 360. Massive dash update for it today which finally offers some decent video streaming features. No prizes for guessing the only format it will do though!

[sjchmura]

Yes, now that MS is supproting DVD's and streaming of HD content in WMV format it makes archiving to this make alot of sense.

[zambelli]

I have tried and failed many, many times to get Windows Media Encoder to accept 5.1 AC3 audio but it will not. Is there a way to reencode just the video using WME and then mux the original AC3 audio back in?
Muxing AC3 to WMV/ASF is possible if using SolveigMM ASF muxer: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=793097#post793097

However, I don't think the Xbox will decode AC3 from ASF, but trying doesn't hurt, especially if you're using SPDIF out.