EAC3 to AC3 Freeware-Only Solution?

[setarip_old]

Is there a freeware-only solution available for converting eac3 to .AC3? (If I understand correctly, the program "EAC3to" requires the use of underlying payware programs toaccomplish this)

[shon3i]

eac3to can do for free using libav/ffmpeg, but AFAIK libav/ffmpeg produce some distorsions when decode e-ac3 and sound isn't sandy.

[madshi]

Most E-AC3 tracks should decode just fine with libav. There may be distortion with some rare tracks, but usually libav complains in that case and you see these complaints listed in the eac3to log.

[kypec]

What about decoding pure AC3 through libav/ffmpeg with eac3to? Are there also possible some "distortions"? I tried to locate Nero Audio Decoder by visiting the URL provided in eac3to help but it was unavailable :(

[madshi]

libav/ffmpeg decoding with eac3to should be generally fine for all AC3 tracks. At least I haven't heard of any problems yet. It should also be fine for at least 95% of all E-AC3 tracks and 99% of all DTS tracks. For DTS only the 5.1 48khz core is decoded, though, and not the DTS-HD information nor any 6.1 or 96khz extensions...

[setarip_old]

eac3to can do for free using libav/ffmpegThank you for that information ;>}

Is this included in the eac3to installation package (or does it have to be separately installed)?

[Greif]

Yes, it is included with eac3to. Download it and give it a try.

[setarip_old]

Yes, it is included with eac3to. Thanks for the insight!Download it and give it a try.I fully intend to ;>}

[paquette]

I just downloaded eac3to v. 3.05 and I don't find the libav/ffmpeg DLL anywhere in the files that come with it (see listing below). What am I missing here?

Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 8CA3-19AB

Directory of C:\Program Files\eac3to

01/26/2009 08:09 PM <DIR> .
01/26/2009 08:09 PM <DIR> ..
02/10/2008 10:20 AM 4,261,888 avcodec.dll
02/10/2008 10:20 AM 40,960 avutil-49.dll
01/25/2009 09:45 PM 45,241 changelog.txt
01/25/2009 09:46 PM 1,779,712 eac3to.exe
10/05/2008 06:02 PM 38,060 error.wav
09/05/2008 07:08 PM 544,768 hdcd.dll
02/10/2008 02:42 PM 95,232 HookSurcode.dll
12/07/2008 10:31 PM <DIR> legal stuff
11/20/2008 06:28 PM 242,176 libAften.dll
07/22/2007 10:23 PM 151,552 libFLAC.dll
12/07/2008 08:13 PM 130,048 libMatrix.dll
11/30/2008 11:03 PM 144,896 libSsrc.dll
07/28/2008 09:07 PM 3,339 license.txt
01/26/2009 08:09 PM 0 list.txt
01/26/2009 07:33 PM 288 log.txt
11/09/2008 08:27 PM <DIR> plugins
08/14/2005 07:49 AM 219,136 r8b.dll
10/05/2008 05:59 PM 23,186 success.wav
16 File(s) 7,720,482 bytes

Thanks for this!

[tebasuna51]

02/10/2008 10:20 AM 4,261,888 avcodec.dll
02/10/2008 10:20 AM 40,960 avutil-49.dll

[paquette]

So libav/ffmpeg are in avcodec.dll and avutil-49.dll??? But libav/ffmpeg dosen't work--even with -libav switch.

Downloaded BeHappy and tried it on DTS file. It says "no function named "NicDtsSource"." NicAudio.dll is in plugins folder!

Foobar2000 doesn't appear to support DTS source files.

[madshi]

If you can't get eac3to to decode with libav, you should post your log file.

[tebasuna51]

...
Downloaded BeHappy and tried it on DTS file. It says "no function named "NicDtsSource"." NicAudio.dll is in plugins folder!
NicAudio.dll must be usually in "c:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\" folder. If not work maybe you have AviSynth installation problems, try load the plugin explicitly in avs script:
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\NicAudio.dll")

Foobar2000 doesn't appear to support DTS source files.
You need download a Foobar2000 dts decoder:
foo_dts.dll 2009-01-05 (http://acropolis.lokalen.org/2006/10/foobar2000/my-foobar2000-components/)
or
foo_input_dts 2008-10-26 (http://kode54.foobar2000.org/)

Try yourself

[gigah72]

the libav from eac3to can't encode E-AC3 1.0 to AC3:


[10:59:24] Arguments: "C:\ENTER_THE_DRAGON_HDDVD" 1) 6:"C:\tmp\1_6_audio.ac3" -128 -progressnumbers

[10:59:58] EVO, 1 video track, 6 audio tracks, 12 subtitle tracks, 1:42:33

[11:00:00] Unknown line: "a06 The Nero decoder doesn't seem to work, will use libav instead."

[11:00:00] Unknown line: "a06 Extracting audio track number 6..."

[11:00:00] Error: [ac3 @ 68A532E0]Spectral extension is not implemented. If you want to help, update your FFmpeg version to the newest one from SVN. If the problem still occurs, it means that your file has extension which has not been tested due to a lack of samples exhibiting this feature. Upload a sample of the audio from this file to ftp://upload.mplayerhq.hu/incoming and contact the ffmpeg-devel mailing list.

[11:00:00] Error: [ac3 @ 68A532E0]error parsing the audio block

[madshi]

the libav from eac3to can't encode E-AC3 1.0 to AC3
Oh well, this is one of the very rare E-AC3 tracks that are not yet supported by the libav decoder version used by eac3to. That's bad luck that you start with one of these. Most E-AC3 tracks decode just fine. There are just a handful of tracks which don't decode.

[gigah72]

unfortunatly i have some hddvds with this type of audio.
but no complain from me, i usually use nero decoder and wanted only to show this.
keep up your great work madshi & others.

[paquette]

If you can't get eac3to to decode with libav, you should post your log file.

eac3to v3.05
command line: eac3to D:\"Video Hold"\00050.track_4352b.dts D:\"Video Hold" 00050.track_4352b.ac3 -libav
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DTS, 5.1 channels, 1:47:49, 24 bits, 1509kbps, 48khz
This audio conversion is not supported. <ERROR>

[paquette]

I downloaded and installed avisynth but NicAudio.dll is not in C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins

[QUOTE=tebasuna51;1242311]NicAudio.dll must be usually in "c:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\" folder. If not work maybe you have AviSynth installation problems, try load the plugin explicitly in avs script:
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\NicAudio.dll")

[paquette]

Downloaded foo_dts.dll and put in foobar components folder. It now plays the dts but doesn't offer ac3 as a conversion option. Downloaded foo_ac3.dll and put in components folder by ac3 is still not available as output type.

You need download a Foobar2000 dts decoder:
foo_dts.dll 2009-01-05 (http://acropolis.lokalen.org/2006/10/foobar2000/my-foobar2000-components/)
or
foo_input_dts 2008-10-26 (http://kode54.foobar2000.org/)

Try yourself[/QUOTE]

PS I see the information on the Aften ac3 encoder at http://schudy.de/dts/dts2ac3-e.htm but the link is disabled.

[tebasuna51]

I downloaded and installed avisynth but NicAudio.dll is not in C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins

Then put the NicAudio.dll in the folder.

Downloaded foo_dts.dll and put in foobar components folder. It now plays the dts but doesn't offer ac3 as a conversion option. Downloaded foo_ac3.dll and put in components folder by ac3 is still not available as output type.


foo_ac3.dll is ac3 decoder, not encoder.
You need Aften.exe and configure Foobar to use it.

[gigah72]

regarding libav in eac3to, i'd like to add, that i noticed that clipping very often occures and a 2nd pass is needed for e-ac3 to ac3, compared to nero.
maybe coincidence?

[paquette]

But the link to Aften is disabled!!! http://win32builds.sourceforge.net/aften/index.html

You need Aften.exe and configure Foobar to use it.[/QUOTE]

Found it posted in a zip file!

Any idea on the parameters I should use??? Also, should I call aften "lossy" or "non-lossy"?????

Thanks for this!!!

[paquette]

Multiple passes don't seem to help, thanks though!

regarding libav in eac3to, i'd like to add, that i noticed that clipping very often occures and a 2nd pass is needed for e-ac3 to ac3, compared to nero.
maybe coincidence?

[wisodev]

But the link to Aften is disabled!!! http://win32builds.sourceforge.net/aften/index.html
There is new site for Aften builds:
http://code.google.com/p/wavtoac3encoder/

[jruggle]

Oh well, this is one of the very rare E-AC3 tracks that are not yet supported by the libav decoder version used by eac3to. That's bad luck that you start with one of these. Most E-AC3 tracks decode just fine. There are just a handful of tracks which don't decode.
Well, I guess it's time for me to stop dragging my feet. I'll try to get these types of files supported in FFmpeg soon.

[madshi]

Well, I guess it's time for me to stop dragging my feet. I'll try to get these types of files supported in FFmpeg soon.
That would be nice!

[paquette]

No luck!

No matter what parameters I try, I can't get the DTS to ac3 conversion to work.

See attachment screen-shot for parameters I have been trying following suggestions I found on one website. See below for error message I get.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Source: "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.dts"
An error occurred while writing to file (The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters) : "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.ac3"
Additional information:
Encoder stream format: 48000Hz / 6ch / 24bps
Command line: "C:\Program Files\foobar2000\components\aften.exe" -v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 -"00050.track_4352.ac3"
Working folder: D:\Video Hold\

Conversion failed: The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters


There is new site for Aften builds:
http://code.google.com/p/wavtoac3encoder/

[nautilus7]

eac3to v3.05
command line: eac3to D:\"Video Hold"\00050.track_4352b.dts D:\"Video Hold" 00050.track_4352b.ac3 -libav
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DTS, 5.1 channels, 1:47:49, 24 bits, 1509kbps, 48khz
This audio conversion is not supported. <ERROR>Why don't try to correct your command line? You might be surprised!

eac3to D:\"Video Hold"\00050.track_4352b.dts D:\"Video Hold"\00050.track_4352b.ac3 -libav

[Snowknight26]

Or use the more correct version and have the quotes surrounding the whole path.

[paquette]

Or use the more correct version and have the quotes surrounding the whole path.

Hmm--I shouldn't play with such things late at night! Thanks so very much!

Now if I just knew how to assure that the resulting ac3 file would be "in sync" with the video when remuxed!

[tebasuna51]

No luck!

No matter what parameters I try, I can't get the DTS to ac3 conversion to work.

See attachment screen-shot for parameters I have been trying following suggestions I found on one website. See below for error message I get.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Source: "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.dts"
An error occurred while writing to file (The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters) : "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.ac3"
Additional information:
Encoder stream format: 48000Hz / 6ch / 24bps
Command line: "C:\Program Files\foobar2000\components\aften.exe" -v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 -"00050.track_4352.ac3"
Working folder: D:\Video Hold\

Conversion failed: The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters
You need a space between - and "00050.track_4352.ac3", like here:
Command line: "C:\Program Files\foobar2000\components\aften.exe" -v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 - "00050.track_4352.ac3"

Edit your Aften configuration in Foobar2000 and add this space between - and %d:
-v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 - %d

[paquette]

Thanks--I'll give it a try. I'm having trouble with video-sound sync when I demux with tsmuxer, convert sound from dts to ac3 with eac3to, and remux with tsmuxer.

[paquette]

Still no luck--parameters now as below:

-v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 - %d

but getting

1 out of 1 tracks converted with major problems.

Source: "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.dts"
An error occurred while writing to file (The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters) : "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.ac3"
Additional information:
Encoder stream format: 48000Hz / 6ch / 24bps
Command line: "C:\Program Files\foobar2000\components\aften.exe" -v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 -"00050.track_4352.ac3"
Working folder: D:\Video Hold\

Conversion failed: The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters

Thanks--I'll give it a try. I'm having trouble with video-sound sync when I demux with tsmuxer, convert sound from dts to ac3 with eac3to, and remux with tsmuxer.

[paquette]

I am guessing that if I used eac3to rather than tsmuxer to demux I might have more luck with video-to-audio synchronization. So I set about trying to “get my head around” the basics of eac3to command-line syntax. Not much luck though—although hopefully I'm not making as obvious and silly a mistake as I was with my first attempt.

Perhaps I should say that I used AnyDVD to rip the files from my Blu-Ray disc and save them to a hard disk. I have been working with the high-disc copy.

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" does indeed display the playlist.

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) also displays the stream list.

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) 1: D:\Video Hold\chapters.txt 2: D:\Video Hold\Decepion.264 4: D:\Video Hold\Deception.ac3 however produces a "This chapter conversion is not supported" error

and

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) 2: D:\Video Hold\Decepion.264 4: D:\Video Hold\Deception.ac3

gives a "This video conversion is not supported" error.

Does anyone have any idea what is going on here? Also, am I wasting my time on trying to fix the video-audio sync problem by using eac3to to demux both video and audio"

Any help would not appreciated!

Hmm--I shouldn't play with such things late at night! Thanks so very much!

Now if I just knew how to assure that the resulting ac3 file would be "in sync" with the video when remuxed!

[nautilus7]

Still no luck--parameters now as below:

-v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 - %d

but getting

1 out of 1 tracks converted with major problems.

Source: "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.dts"
An error occurred while writing to file (The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters) : "D:\Video Hold\00050.track_4352.ac3"
Additional information:
Encoder stream format: 48000Hz / 6ch / 24bps
Command line: "C:\Program Files\foobar2000\components\aften.exe" -v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 -"00050.track_4352.ac3"
Working folder: D:\Video Hold\

Conversion failed: The encoder has terminated prematurely with code -1073741515; please re-check parameters

You 're using wrong syntax with aften. Input and output files don't need "-". Only options do. Also aften can't read dts, only wav file, so you need to decode the track somehow. Use eac3to and do the whole thing in one step.

[nautilus7]

I am guessing that if I used eac3to rather than tsmuxer to demux I might have more luck with video-to-audio synchronization. So I set about trying to “get my head around” the basics of eac3to command-line syntax. Not much luck though—although hopefully I'm not making as obvious and silly a mistake as I was with my first attempt.

Perhaps I should say that I used AnyDVD to rip the files from my Blu-Ray disc and save them to a hard disk. I have been working with the high-disc copy.

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" does indeed display the playlist.

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) also displays the stream list.

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) 1: D:\Video Hold\chapters.txt 2: D:\Video Hold\Decepion.264 4: D:\Video Hold\Deception.ac3 however produces a "This chapter conversion is not supported" error

and

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) 2: D:\Video Hold\Decepion.264 4: D:\Video Hold\Deception.ac3

gives a "This video conversion is not supported" error.

Does anyone have any idea what is going on here? Also, am I wasting my time on trying to fix the video-audio sync problem by using eac3to to demux both video and audio"

Any help would not appreciated!
It's quite obvious to me that you once again use the wrong command line. Post the complete log file (between [cοde][/cοde]).

[paquette]

eac3to v3.05
command line: eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) 1: D:\Video Hold\chapters.txt 2: D:\Video Hold\Decepion.264 4: D:\Video Hold\Deception.ac3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M2TS, 2 video tracks, 5 audio tracks, 4 subtitle tracks, 1:47:49, 24p /1.001
1: Chapters, 21 chapters
2: h264/AVC, 1080p24 /1.001 (16:9)
3: h264/AVC, 480p24 /1.001 (20:11)
4: DTS Master Audio, English, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 48khz
(core: DTS, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 1509kbps, 48khz)
5: AC3, French, 5.1 channels, 448kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -27dB
6: AC3, Spanish, 5.1 channels, 448kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -27dB
7: AC3, English, 2.0 channels, 224kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -27dB
8: DTS Express, English, 2.0 channels, 24 bits, 192kbps, 48khz
9: Subtitle (PGS), English
10: Subtitle (PGS), Spanish
11: Subtitle (PGS), French
12: Subtitle (PGS), Spanish
Track 4 is used for destination file "Decepion.264".
Track 5 is used for destination file "Deception.ac3".
This chapter conversion is not supported. <ERROR>

or without the chapter list:

eac3to v3.05
command line: eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) 2: D:\Video Hold\Decepion.264 4: D:\Video Hold\Deception.ac3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M2TS, 2 video tracks, 5 audio tracks, 4 subtitle tracks, 1:47:49, 24p /1.001
1: Chapters, 21 chapters
2: h264/AVC, 1080p24 /1.001 (16:9)
3: h264/AVC, 480p24 /1.001 (20:11)
4: DTS Master Audio, English, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 48khz
(core: DTS, 5.1 channels, 24 bits, 1509kbps, 48khz)
5: AC3, French, 5.1 channels, 448kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -27dB
6: AC3, Spanish, 5.1 channels, 448kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -27dB
7: AC3, English, 2.0 channels, 224kbps, 48khz, dialnorm: -27dB
8: DTS Express, English, 2.0 channels, 24 bits, 192kbps, 48khz
9: Subtitle (PGS), English
10: Subtitle (PGS), Spanish
11: Subtitle (PGS), French
12: Subtitle (PGS), Spanish
Track 4 is used for destination file "Decepion.264".
Track 5 is used for destination file "Deception.ac3".
This video conversion is not supported. <ERROR>

[nautilus7]

Yeah, sorry. Your mistake was obvious from the previous post...

Video Hold folder has a space. So you have to put the whole path into quotes (""):

eac3to "D:\Deception\DECEPTION" 1) 1: "D:\Video Hold\chapters.txt" 2: "D:\Video Hold\Decepion.264" 4: "D:\Video Hold\Deception.ac3"

[paquette]

Thanks for your help and patience!

Figured it out--the video extension has to be h264!!!

Thanks again--now to see if this makes any difference in video-audio sync!!!!!!

[paquette]

A little better but still way out of sync when remuxed!

Does anyone have any suggestions!

[nautilus7]

What is your final format going to be? Matroska? Maybe it's better to mux directly to .mkv instead of demuxing the video.

[tebasuna51]

You 're using wrong syntax with aften. Input and output files don't need "-". Only options do. Also aften can't read dts, only wav file, so you need to decode the track somehow. Use eac3to and do the whole thing in one step.

Nope, Foobar2000 send by STDOUT the decompressed dts to the STDIN of NeroAacEnc then the '-' is ok.
(the command line is only partial)

The problem is put a space between '-' and "00050.track_4352.ac3"
Maybe with 2 spaces in the config window:
-v 0 -b 640 -readtoeof 1 - %d