eac3to - audio conversion tool

[Forteen88]

Can anyone please help me. Been trying for a few days to learn how to fix it with no luck.
I am wanting to convert my audio with eac3to to aac. When trying it comes up with the Nero error. I have Nero 7 installed on my computer but dont think its linked with the eac3to. What can or should i do to convert to aac?You should rather use Apple's AAC-encoder (in TVBR mode), because it gives better quality sound than the old Nero-encoder.
Use qaac for that (install iTunes first),
https://sites.google.com/site/qaacpage/

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/378450-Best-settings-for-QAAC

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hmmm...

Apples AAC encoder does indeed produce better results than Nero's AAC encoder. But when was its encoder last updated?

From what I understand the only AAC encoder that is still being developed (in some fashion) is FAAC...

[LigH]

The Apple CoreAudio AAC encoder can be extracted from the iTunes64 installer, using the "makeportable" script from the qaac downloads "cabinet" page.

Unfortunately, it is now officially only published via the Microsoft Store, so you need a Microsoft account to download it... or you can find it in third-party download archives.

Version 12.10.9(.3?) seems to be most recent.
_

PS: I just noticed that 7zip cannot extract AppleApplicationSupport.msi from installer ... it worked with version 12.9.3.3 (Feb. 2019).

Apple will have changed its software content. But you can try the VideoHelp archive of iTunes (https://www.videohelp.com/software/iTunes/old-versions). Version 12.10.8 is the last with an installer larger than 250 MB.
_

PPS: Don't confuse FAAC (abandoned OpenSource project) with fdk-aac by Fraunhofer or ffmpeg's own AAC encoder. FAAC is LQ and obsolete; ffmpeg's AAC is MQ but recent; fdk-aac is HQ but has strange bitrate steps as quality control.

And the dummy version for icudt62.dll to save some space (https://hydrogenaud.io/index.php?topic=85135.msg977394#msg977394), qaac does not need its features.
_

And more news: makeportable2.bat apparently extracts the required DLL files from the iTunes64.msi inside the new installer (64 bit binaries only).

[Forteen88]

...
Version 12.10.9(.3?) seems to be most recent.
...True, iTunes Version 12.10.9.3 is the most recent version. I downloaded it today from Apple's webpage.

[pottzman]

The sonic or arcsoft decoders are not needed at all with eac3to v3.34 (and nero only for aac sources)

but the eac3to wiki states

The Sonic DTS decoder seems to be more or less perfect for DTS, DTS-ES, DTS-96/24, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD High Resolution tracks. Dialog normalization is ignored by the Sonic DTS decoder. The only "problem" of the Sonic DTS decoder is that it decodes DTS-HD 7.1 tracks only as 5.1. DTS-ES and DTS-HD Master Audio 6.1 tracks are fully decoded as 6.1, though.

and

The ArcSoft DTS decoder seems to be perfect for DTS and DTS-HD decoding. It supports every format and channel configuration that exists including 6.1 and 7.1.

so if I want to use the sonic decoders can anybody show me how to use them without installing them

[nevcairiel]

Then the wiki is out of date, recent eac3to versions are using an open-source DTS-HD decoder that decodes all streams without modifications, and without applying DialNorm.

[SeeMoreDigital]

The Apple CoreAudio AAC encoder can be extracted from the iTunes64 installer, using the "makeportable" script from the qaac downloads "cabinet" page.
True, iTunes Version 12.10.9.3 is the most recent version. I downloaded it today from Apple's webpage.Do any of Apples AAC encoders support HE-AAC v2 (ie: AAC with SBR and PS)?

[NiN3]

Then the wiki is out of date, recent eac3to versions are using an open-source DTS-HD decoder that decodes all streams without modifications, and without applying DialNorm.

I am assuming libDcaDec? Does it decode bit perfectly? Some people seem to get a "XLL output not lossless" message when using it.

[Forteen88]

Do any of Apples AAC encoders support HE-AAC v2 (ie: AAC with SBR and PS)?No, it doesn't seem so, since I tried encoding music to a 16kbps stereo-audio and I got an error.
Also, someone wrote this a year ago,
AAC LC and HE AAC v1. Apple AAC encoder does not support HE AAC v2 profile (parametric stereo, very low bitrates stereo).
https://www.poikosoft.com/support/viewtopic.php?t=12725


Nero-encoder supports HEv2 (SBR+PS) but it supports maximum 6 (5.1) channels, Apple AAC supports 8 channels,
https://wiki.hydrogenaud.io/index.php?title=AAC_encoders

[tebasuna51]

I am assuming libDcaDec? Does it decode bit perfectly? Some people seem to get a "XLL output not lossless" message when using it.

- Yes, the decode is bit perfect, better than ArcSoft with some bit rounded errors in my test.

- qaac is better than NeroAacEnc at low bitrate, but not at default eac3to quality (quality=0.5)
For low bitrates you can use opus, better than aac.

[nevcairiel]

I am assuming libDcaDec? Does it decode bit perfectly? Some people seem to get a "XLL output not lossless" message when using it.

Getting that message once during start of decoding is normal, the message is not entirely accurate at that point, as long as it doesnt spam it repeatedly its fine.

[von Suppé]

A few questions about understanding Dialog Normalization. Sorry if these have been answered earlier.

Is DN for both Dolby and DTS stored as metadata in the audiostream itself or is it in - eg. - a BD's playlist?
Will it be preserved in the demuxed elementary stream and can it be edited?

Cheers

[LigH]

For Dolby Digital (AC3), I am sure it is metadata in the elementary stream. I studied headers in the DVD Video era...

[filler56789]

......
Is DN for both Dolby and DTS stored as metadata in the audiostream itself or is it in - eg. - a BD's playlist?
Will it be preserved in the demuxed elementary stream and can it be edited?

Cheers

Stored as metadata in the elementary stream itself.
Yes, that field can be edited.
From the ts_102114v010301p.pdf document:

DIALNORM/UNSPEC (Dialog Normalization /Unspecified)

For the values of VERNUM = 6 or 7 this 4-bit field is used to determine the dialog normalization parameter. For all
other values of the VERNUM this field is a place holder that is not specified at this time.

The Dialog Normalization Gain (DNG), in dB, is specified by the encoder operator and is used to directly scale the
decoder outputs samples. In the DTS stream the information about the DNG value is transmitted by means of combined
data in the VERNUM and DIALNORM fields (see Table 5-20).

For all other values of the VERNUM (i.e. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, …15) the UNSPEC 4-bit field should be extracted but
ignored by the decoder. In addition, for these VERNUM values, the Dialog Normalization Gain should be set to 0
i.e. DNG=0 indicates No Dialog Normalization.

[iSeries]

Included the use of the version than can select the TrueHD stream (https://github.com/domyd/mlp/actions/runs/120022192) in UsEac3To (https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1920050#post1920050)

Hi, sorry how does one use this in UsEac3To to demux TrueHD?

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hi, sorry how does one use this in UsEac3To to demux TrueHD?
Drag and drop your media file that contains the 'Dolby TrueHD' stream into UsEac3To's main window.
Wait for the stream to be parsed/read.
Make sure 'demux' is selected with the 'Global Parameters' box.
Click on the 'RUN CL' button.

[Forteen88]

Is eac3to the only software that can remove AC3 dialog normalization?
Thanks

[tebasuna51]

Nope, long time ago I make a little tool to do the same.

Change the metadata value in all frames of the stream (the big job is recalculate the crc values at begin and end of each frame).

[von Suppé]

@ LigH and filler56789: Thanks for the info on Dialog Normalization.

So, there was no DN for dts in the DVD era?

I learn that DN removal can be achieved with eac3to. What software would be needed to view & edit DN properties?

[Forteen88]

Nope, long time ago I make a little tool to do the same.

Change the metadata value in all frames of the stream (the big job is recalculate the crc values at begin and end of each frame).Do you implicitly mean BeHappy? :)

[tebasuna51]

To view AC3 metadata you can use MediaInfo or my LeeAudBi (https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=424067#post424067)tool.

I don't know other tool to edit AC3 metadata, only eac3to for set DN to -31dB or specific tools for instance the attached ones:

- DN27_Ac3 restore the Dolby DN default value to -27 dB (a decoder Dolby compliant must attenuate in 4dB the full stream by default)

- DN31_Ac3 remove the DN, setting the value to -31 dB (a decoder must decode without attenuate nothing, recommended for recode in ac3to by default)

- DplAc3 set the Dolby Pro Logic flag in stereo AC3's

I don't know other metadata than can be safely changed without recode.
BTW there are here (now DN work also with EAC3) (https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=424067#post424067)the sources to do other changes.

[NiN3]

To view AC3 metadata you can use MediaInfo or my LeeAudBi (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1522330#post1522330) tool.

I don't know other tool to edit AC3 metadata, only eac3to for set DN to -31dB or specific tools for instance the attached ones:

- DN27_Ac3 restore the Dolby DN default value to -27 dB (a decoder Dolby compliant must attenuate in 4dB the full stream by default)

- DN31_Ac3 remove the DN, setting the value to -31 dB (a decoder must decode without attenuate nothing, recommended for recode in ac3to by default)

- DplAc3 set the Dolby Pro Logic flag in stereo AC3's

I don't know other metadata than can be safely changed without recode.
BTW there are the sources to do other changes.

DRC profiles can't be edited or removed from an AC3 file? I've read dynamic range compression doesn't actually change the soundwaves but is instead saved as metadata for the receiver to decode. Would be interesting if there was a way to remove it from an AC3 or TrueHD stream since most DVD's and Blurays seem to have "Film Standard" applied by default.

[SeeMoreDigital]

DRC profiles can't be edited or removed from an AC3 file? I've read dynamic range compression doesn't actually change the soundwaves but is instead saved as metadata for the receiver to decode....
I can't speak for AC3 audio streams but I've used UsEac3To to remove the dialnorm from DTS audio streams. It worked perfectly with 'Peter Gabriel's - Play' DVD: -

https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/peter-gabriel-play-dvd-issue-with-dts-surround.63579/
https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/thoughts-on-peter-gabriels-play.45319/

[tebasuna51]

DRC profiles can't be edited or removed from an AC3 file?

It is difficult because DRC info is provided in audioblocks (6 for each frame) not with common metadata in BSI (Bit Stream Information) header frame info.

All decoders can be instructed to ignore DRC (or apply only a part).
You can recode these ac3 streams with ffmpeg and -drc_scale 0

[Forteen88]

Thanks for LeeAudBi tool.

[villaquien]

I delayed the audio 400ms but the program copied part of the previous dialog. The silence should start at minute 22:25:780, why does this happen?

https://imgur.com/Vtt9exm.jpg

[tebasuna51]

Try with:

-edit=0:22:25.780,400ms -silence

[villaquien]

Thank you. I tried that and the program cuts the last part of the dialogue and moves it forward. I don't understand why the program doesn't create a silence from the exact point.

https://imgur.com/OGOspPl.jpg

[tebasuna51]

Seems the cut point is calculated like: 0:22:25.780 -400 = 0:22:25.380

Then to obtain the desired point need:

-edit=0:22:26.180,400ms -silence

[villaquien]

It worked, thank you.

[dade49]

Is eac3to the only software that can remove AC3 dialog normalization?
Thanks

MKVToolNix can remove dialog normalization from AC3 and DTS-HD tracks, from both the master and the embedded core track.

https://gitlab.com/mbunkus/mkvtoolnix/issues/2377

[tebasuna51]

MKVToolNix can remove dialog normalization from AC3 and DTS-HD tracks, from both the master and the embedded core track.

All days I learn one more thing.

Yes, in MKVToolNix GUI -> Preferences -> Default values we can "Enable dialog_normalization gain removal for audio tracks"

But maybe the correct text was:
"Enable dialog_normalization attenuation removal for audio tracks"
because enabling the removal we obtain a more loud track.

Remove the Dialog Normalization in a AC3 track means put -31 dB in the field of each header. A standard value is -27 dB than say to decoders dolby compliants attenuate the track by 4 dB (-27-4=-31)

[LigH]

As explained in chapter 6 of this document (https://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm)...

[NiN3]

Is there any way to compare two encodes to see if they are identical / "bit perfect" compared to each other? If the same source file is encoded using two different encoders for example.

[tebasuna51]

To compare two files to see if are bit-identical you can use the MSDOS command line:

FC /B file1 file2

(FileCompare /binary)

But, of course, if the files are encodes from different encoders it is improbable obtain the same file.

[NiN3]

To compare two files to see if are bit-identical you can use the MSDOS command line:

FC /B file1 file2

(FileCompare /binary)

But, of course, if the files are encodes from different encoders it is improbable obtain the same file.

Both files were encoded with two different officially "certified" encoders so I am trying to see if there is any difference between them. They are otherwise identical, same exact file size and spectogram.

[LigH]

To compare the decoded video content, you can open both clips in AviSynth and use some comparing functions (Subtract creates a visual difference which you can enhance with Levels, and Compare writes statistics to a CSV file). Also there are video comparing applications (like Fritz Framalyzer). But that does not compare the video bitstreams, which may differ in details (e.g. timestamp values) but still decode to identical videos.

But why do you ask that in a thread about eac3to, which is an audio-only converter?

[NiN3]

To compare the decoded video content, you can open both clips in AviSynth and use some comparing functions (Subtract creates a visual difference which you can enhance with Levels, and Compare writes statistics to a CSV file). Also there are video comparing applications (like Fritz Framalyzer). But that does not compare the video bitstreams, which may differ in details (e.g. timestamp values) but still decode to identical videos.

But why do you ask that in a thread about eac3to, which is an audio-only converter?

Audio is what I was asking about.

[LigH]

Oh, then I misunderstood, sorry ... but in one regard, the same applies to audio just as to video: Files may have slight differences in metadata, even widely different compressed bitstreams (depends on the used audio format and its encoding algorithm), yet would produce identical decoded results.

Audacity seems to have a CompareAudio function for two tracks. Or you can use the hash muxer in ffmpeg (https://superuser.com/a/532223) (note that it would return different hashes if compressed audio uses block lengths and the number of samples differs).

[NiN3]

When decoding TrueHD 7.1 with libav/ffmpeg I get this message "Lossless check failed - expected 00, calculated fd". Anything to worry about? It does seem to output 8 channels correctly.

[LigH]

This is a "Frequently Asked Question". One reply here (https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1762656#post1762656): No worries.

[zeropc]

What is latest version of FLAC that works with eac3to?
Can someone point me in the direction?

Thanks :)

[LigH]

Not sure, but probably one available at RareWares... I would be surprised of any recent major changes breaking compatibility.

[tebasuna51]

Tested the latest libFLAC v.1.3.3.git-ce6dd6b5 for win32 (https://www.rarewares.org/files/lossless/flac_dll-1.3.3.git-ce6dd6b5-x86.zip) (in RareWares) and work fine with eac3to.

[vkostas]

Hello,
I was struggling today with eac3to errors during conversion. Initially thought the files were corrupt but had no issues when using other tools.
Finally I found out it was because of accented characters.
Using the last version of eac3to (3.34) in windows 10 CMD.
1. Command: eac3to "07 -- Veinte Años.flac" "07 -- Veinte Años.wav"
returns error: The destination file "eac3to 07 -- Veinte Años.flac 07 -- Veinte Años.wav" could not be created.
2. Command eac3to "Veinte Años.flac" "Veinte Años.wav"
creates file eac3to Veinte Años.flac Veinte Años.wav Accented character "fools" eac3to which joins/mixes parameters.
Anyone has faced such issues?

[tebasuna51]

Work fine here:

C:\Portable\eac3to>eac3to "07 -- Veinte Años.flac" "07 -- Veinte Años.wav"
FLAC, 2.0 channels, 0:02:50, 16 bits, 800kbps, 44.1kHz
Decoding FLAC...
Writing WAV...
Creating file "07 -- Veinte Años.wav"...
The original audio track has a constant bit depth of 16 bits.
eac3to processing took 1 second.
Done.

[Ryushin]

Is it possible to extract the Dolby Vision stream out of a file created by MakeMKV?

[Emulgator]

DGDemux is your friend.

[Legremlins_Keitaro]

Hi everybody, I need a little help. I try to convert a DTS-HD Master to "simple" DTS so my soundbar could do the job in passthrough.
Actually my source is:
Audio
Format : DTS XLL
Format/Info : Digital Theater Systems
Commercial name : DTS-HD Master Audio
Bit rate mode : Variable
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel layout : C L R Ls Rs LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 93.750 FPS (512 SPF)
Bit depth : 16 bits
Compression mode : Lossless

I try using Megui with "HD Stream extractor" and specify DTS instead DTS_CORE but when I check the generated file it have the same properties of above.
I try using "USEac3To GUI", I don't know if I have checked to good option but the generated file have same properties of the source.

Is someone can help me to convert DTS-HD Master 5.1 file to "simple" DTS ?

Thanks

[Boulder]

eac3to "filename.dts" "filename_withcoreonly.dts" -core