eac3to / Arcsoft DTS-HD problem

[iSeries]

Hi,

I've been using eac3to (through ClownBD) to convert my old hd-dvd's to blu ray. Wanting to start making more use of eac3to's capabilities, I purchased Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre 3, as according to guides, this is needed to decode full DTS-HD tracks (rather than than the core DTS track).

My problem is, running eac3to -test tells me 'Arcsoft DTS Decoder doesn't seem to be installed'.

Hours of searches shows this to be a common issue, however all of the suggestions I've found I have tried without success. I've now hit a brick wall and I'm hoping someone has a solution for this problem - I only bought TotalMedia Theatre so that eac3to can decode DTS-HD tracks!

Thanks,

Ricky.

[setarip_old]

Hi!

Like some other programs (DVD Shrink comes to mind), "eac3to" may require that your "Arcsoft" program(s) BEFORE "eac3to" is installed. If so (and assuming that you've properly installed the "Arcsoft" software), simply uninstall "eac3to", reboot, and then reinstall "eac3to"...

[TinTime]

I'm not sure it works with TMT3 - or at least you may have to do some fiddling.

See here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1302358#post1302358).

[a4840639]

Sadly, TMT3 won't register any directshow filter.
eac3to definitely cannot work with TMT3 because there is no filter to use.

[Inspector.Gadget]

Actually, Atak_Snajpera posted a method for getting the TMT3 DTS filter working with eac3to in the main eac3to thread within the past 2 weeks. You should see if that method works for you.

[Atak_Snajpera]

1) Install ArcSoft Total Meadia Theater 2.0.
2) Find and copy checkactivate.dll to Windows\system32
3) Uninstall ArcSoft Total Meadia Theater 2.0.

if above method does not work try this:
1) Copy following files from ArcSoft Total Meadia Theater 3.0 to Windows\system32

ASAudioHD.ax
dtsdecoderdll.dll
MagCore.dll
MagPCMac.dll
MagUIEngine.dll
MagUIInter.dll

2) Register ASAudioHD.ax
regsvr32.exe path\ASAudioHD.ax

[Inspector.Gadget]

I'll add the method that Steel helped me with after the above didn't work on Vista x64 SP2.

1. Copy the following files to your eac3to directory.

ASAudioHD.ax
checkactivate.dll
DtsDec.dll
dtsdecoderdll.dll
MagCore.dll
MagPCMac.dll
MagUIEngine.dll
MagUIInter.dll

2. Run regsvr32.exe ASAudioHD.ax from a command line in your eac3to folder.

This definitely works with dtsdecoderdll.dll 1.1.0.0 and dtsdec.dll 1.0.2.2; there are so many Arcsoft updates issued that I'm not sure if every version uses the same one.

[880]

I tried both those and failed, but I could not find checkactivate.dll. I used CheckUpdate.dll.

Also I am on XP x64.

[Atak_Snajpera]

1) install arcsoft total meadia theater 2.0.
read again

[iSeries]

Atak, thanks for the suggestions. I tried the 2nd suggestion first as it looked the easier. Unfortunately didn't work.

Do you know where I can download TMT 2 from? Can't find it anywhere.

[880]

read again

I used TMT 2.1.6.129. Is 2.1 so different from 2.0?

[Atak_Snajpera]

You must have checkactivate.dll in Windows\system32 otherwise arcsoft dts decoder won't work. I used the same ArcSoft.TotalMedia.Theatre.v2.1.6.129.exe (http://sobisvn.softarchive.net/arcsoft_totalmedia_theatre_v.17548.html) installer and then I took checkactivate.dll. Just use windows search.

[Fiffy]

iSeries, to the best of my knowledge it is not possible to use the DTS filter that comes with TMT3 with eac3to. You need the older TMT2. Once you have obtained that, you can either try copying the various files somewhere in your PATH as described here, or simply leave TMT2 installed. With the recent .140 update of TMT3, it is also possible to install versions 2 and 3 in parallel.

Unfortunately there is no official way to get TMT2 anymore to my knowledge though. :(

[Atak_Snajpera]

iSeries, to the best of my knowledge it is not possible to use the DTS filter that comes with TMT3 with eac3to.
you are wrong.

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/6808/new1r.png

1.1.0.5 version is only available in TMT 3.0.1.133.

[Fiffy]

Well, you are the only one I heard of who got it to work then. Many others have tried it in vain.

BTW, here is another proposal in case you want to try it:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16122928#post16122928

Didn't work for me either though.

[Atak_Snajpera]

I just copied these files to windows\system32

ASAudioHD.ax
checkactivate.dll <- taken from TMT 2.1
dtsdecoderdll.dll
MagCore.dll
MagPCMac.dll
MagUIEngine.dll
MagUIInter.dll

...and registered ASAudioHD.ax.

It works on clean Windows 7 x86 and x64 and on my Vista SP1 x86! However it does not work if checkactivate.dll is missing!!!

BTW. where can i get 1.1.0.10 version?

[Fiffy]

Thanks for your efforts. I have resorted to keeping TMT2 installed in parallel with TMT3 (which works fine with the .140 update, as opposed to the .133 beta).

[Fiffy]

Ok, guys, since it worked for two people here I gave it another shot and ... it works. :D

What I did (with TMT2 already being installed):

1. Made a copy of checkactivate.dll from the TMT2 installation
2. Uninstalled TMT2
3. Installed TMT3 and updated to .140
4. Created a new directory and copied the 8 files listed by Inspector Gadget above into it (since I don't like copying stuff to the system directories if I can avoid it)
4. Changed the PATH environment variable to include the new directory
5. Registered ASAudioHD.ax
6. Ran eac3to -test ...

... and it tells me the Arcsoft decoder 1.1.0.5 is working fine. :eek: :)

Nice. One redundant program less. This is all on Vista x64 SP2, BTW. Wonder if it also works on a fresh system where TMT2 has never been properly installed? :confused:

Thanks again to Atak_Snajpera and Inspector Gadget!

[Atak_Snajpera]

Wonder if it also works on a fresh system where TMT2 has never been properly installed?


It works on clean Windows 7 x86 and x64 and on my Vista SP1 x86! However it does not work if checkactivate.dll is missing!!!

Yes it works without even installing TMT

[iSeries]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I tried each and every one unfortunately without success.

I then stumbled across this post: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1255699#post1255699.

And now it is working!

The trouble is....I've now paid for TMT3 and I'm worried if I try and install that it'll stop working again. Guess I'll just keep TMT2 installed...unless the decoders have been improved in TMT3?

[crazydane]

Yes it works without even installing TMT
That is great. Is a similar trick available for Nero 7 w/ the HD DVD / Blu-Ray plugin?

I'm running windows 7 and would sure like to not have to install that huge 300+ meg Nero 7 app just for decoding DD, DD+ and True HD.

[880]

The FFMPEG TrueHD decoder (that comes with eac3to) is better.

[crazydane]

Does it do E-AC3 as well?

I was going by "built-in" readme in version 3.16 which states:

For best AC3, E-AC3 and AAC decoding you need:
(1) Nero 7
(2) Nero HD DVD / Blu-Ray plugin

I convert everything to FLAC except for AC3 and DTS which I leave alone.

Given that, after a clean install of Windows 7, can I get away with installing just the following support apps:

AnyDVD HD
ArcSoft DTS Decoder (using Atak's directions)
Haali Matroska Muxer
MkvToolnix
MadFlac

[crazydane]

I did a clean install of Windows 7 (build 7260 32-bit) just now and moved the dll files listed here to my system32 folder. When I registered ASAudioHD.ax, I got the following error message:

The module "ASAudioHD.ax was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0x80070005.

I then moved the 8 files to my eac3to folder, and tried again with the same result.

The size of my checkactivate.dll is 106,496 bytes, is that the same one you guys are using?

[Atak_Snajpera]

You must run cmd.exe as ADMINISTRATOR!

[crazydane]

Excellent, that did the trick!

The only other thing I had to do was download and add msvcp71.dll and msvcr71.dll to my system folder.

And I confirmed that libav/ffmpeg does indeed handle both DD+ and TrueHD.

[Inspector.Gadget]

I convert everything to FLAC except for AC3 and DTS which I leave alone

EAC3 and DTS HD HR are not lossless, really no point in transcoding to FLAC.

[crazydane]

But will media center properly decode EAC3 and DTS HD HR to PCM for playback via HDMI to my receiver (I have a G45 based mobo)?

I gave up on being able to bitstream True HD and DTS MA to my receiver via my G45 based mobo a long time ago, I figured that would be the case for all of the new HD audio codecs...

[Fiffy]

EAC3 and DTS HD HR are not lossless, really no point in transcoding to FLAC.Well, the point is to avoid further losses. If you run audio through two lossy codecs in a row, the resulting quality loss is bigger than the losses of each individual codec (so-called tandem loss). So if you don't mind the space, converting to a lossless format is actually a good idea from an audio quality perspective. This make sense especially for high-bitrate formats such as DD+ or DTS-HR at 1.5Mbps or higher.

@Crazydane: Yes, libffmpeg can decode DD+, however according to Madshi it doesn't seem to produce the same result as the reference decoder (which is what Nero uses). Whether it makes an audible difference I don't know.

[Revgen]

Thanks for the thread. I got it to work.

Steps I took.

1) Uninstalled TTM 3.0 which I already installed. Used CCcleaner and regedit to clean all Arcsoft entries. Deleted all Arcsoft folders and content too.
2) Installed the TTM 2.0 trial plus the updates listed at this post. LINK (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1255699#post1255699)
3) Copied checkactivate.dll to c:\windows\system32
4) Uninstalled TTM 2.0. Used CCleaner and regedit to clean all Arcsoft entries (much more work with 2.0 then with 3.0). Deleted all Arcsoft folders and content too.
5) Reinstalled TTM 3.0.
6) Copied MagCore.dll, MagPCMac.dll, MagUIEngine.dll, MagUIInter.dll, dtsdecoderdll.dll (version 1.1.0.5), and ASAudioHD.ax to c:\windows\system32
7) Went to Start Menu -> Run and typed regsvr32 c:\windows\system32\ASAudioHD.ax

UPDATE 08-03-09

I managed to import checkactivate.dll, Magcore.dll, MagPCMac.dll, MagUIEngine.dll, MagUIInter.dll, dtsdecoderdll.dll (version 1.1.0.5), and ASAudioHD.ax to c:\windows\system32 on a PC that has no previous installations of Arcsoft TTM or any other Arcsoft product. I registered ASAudioHD.ax and eac3to works fine with the Arcsoft decoder. So apparently no Arcsoft installation is necessary. You just need those 6 dll files and ASAudioHD.ax.

[880]

What OS are you running?

[Revgen]

^WindowsXP SP3

[DBordello]

Has anybody packaged up the required DLL files?

It would be nice if we could get this working without installing TMT (2 or 3). It sounds like just the DLL files are necessary.

I am having trouble installing TMT2, and would like a clean install anyways.

If you could point me in the correct direction that would be appreciated.

[Revgen]

^That would technically be illegal.

However, the .dll files are included in a TMT2 trial version that's included in the link in my previous post. Downloading and installing the trial version isn't illegal.

[rica]

Well, you are the only one I heard of who got it to work then. Many others have tried it in vain.

BTW, here is another proposal in case you want to try it:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16122928#post16122928

Didn't work for me either though.

Vladds' instructions work for me very well.

BTW, i always use RevoUninstaller. (in advanced mode)

[mhammett]

You must have checkactivate.dll in Windows\system32 otherwise arcsoft dts decoder won't work. I used the same ArcSoft.TotalMedia.Theatre.v2.1.6.129.exe (http://sobisvn.softarchive.net/arcsoft_totalmedia_theatre_v.17548.html) installer and then I took checkactivate.dll. Just use windows search.

When I get files from that site, AVG flips out saying there's a trojan. Has anyone else had that problem?

[Carpo]

yes Eset kicked up on it - look back through the thread there is a clean link in the middle i think

edit: think it was here - http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1255699#post1255699

edit2: to get this working i had to copy the files to the sysWOW64 folder not system32, if copied to the system32 dir they wouldn't work

d:\eac3to>eac3to -test
ArcSoft DTS Decoder (1.1.0.0) works fine

and i think i will go with that version, not brave enough to install tmt 3 and risk it ;)

[ashlar42]

I'll add the method that Steel helped me with after the above didn't work on Vista x64 SP2.

1. Copy the following files to your eac3to directory.

ASAudioHD.ax
checkactivate.dll
DtsDec.dll
dtsdecoderdll.dll
MagCore.dll
MagPCMac.dll
MagUIEngine.dll
MagUIInter.dll

2. Run regsvr32.exe ASAudioHD.ax from a command line in your eac3to folder.

This definitely works with dtsdecoderdll.dll 1.1.0.0 and dtsdec.dll 1.0.2.2; there are so many Arcsoft updates issued that I'm not sure if every version uses the same one.Used this with TMT 3.0.1.160 on XP SP3, worked perfectly. ArcSoft DTS decoder 1.1.0.7 here.

[laserfan]

Used this with TMT 3.0.1.160 on XP SP3, worked perfectly. ArcSoft DTS decoder 1.1.0.7 here.Whew; after upgrading to Win7 HP x64 I had to re-install everything and Inspector.Gadget's post (finally) did the trick (thanks for that!). Atak's method leaves-out DtsDec.dll which for me was critical i.e. I got an error upon regsvr32 until I included that file.

C:\Program Files (x86)\eac3to>eac3to -test
eac3to (v3.17) is up to date
Nero Audio Decoder (Nero 7) works fine
ArcSoft DTS Decoder (1.1.0.7) works fine
Sonic Audio Decoder (4.3.0.169) works fine
Haali Matroska Muxer (2009-01-10) is installed
There's a new version (2009-12-19) available
http://haali.net/mkv
Nero AAC Encoder could not be located
http://www.nero.com/eng/nero-aac-codec.html
Copy NeroAacEnc.exe to the eac3to or to the Windows folder.
Surcode DTS Encoder doesn't seem to be installed
http://www.surcode.com
MkvToolnix doesn't seem to be installed
http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix

[pottzman]

Whew; after upgrading to Win7 HP x64 I had to re-install everything and Inspector.Gadget's post (finally) did the trick (thanks for that!). Atak's method leaves-out DtsDec.dll which for me was critical i.e. I got an error upon regsvr32 until I included that file.

C:\Program Files (x86)\eac3to>eac3to -test
eac3to (v3.17) is up to date
Nero Audio Decoder (Nero 7) works fine
ArcSoft DTS Decoder (1.1.0.7) works fine
Sonic Audio Decoder (4.3.0.169) works fine
Haali Matroska Muxer (2009-01-10) is installed
There's a new version (2009-12-19) available
http://haali.net/mkv
Nero AAC Encoder could not be located
http://www.nero.com/eng/nero-aac-codec.html
Copy NeroAacEnc.exe to the eac3to or to the Windows folder.
Surcode DTS Encoder doesn't seem to be installed
http://www.surcode.com
MkvToolnix doesn't seem to be installed
http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix

Could you please tell me which version of nero 7 you are using. Everytime I install Nero 7 in windows 7 x64 eac3to does not recognise that the HD/Bluray plugin is there

[laserfan]

Could you please tell me which version of nero 7 you are using. Everytime I install Nero 7 in windows 7 x64 eac3to does not recognise that the HD/Bluray plugin is thereNero 7 Ultra. Have you entered the license key for the plug-in?

[pottzman]

yeah I never had a problem with this in windows xp.....it is only since I have started using windows 7 x64

[sehgal.v7]

For Nero // u need jus 3 files.. AdvrCntr2.dll, NeAudio2.ax and neEacDec.dll ..
No need to install whole Nero.

[Oksana]

I think I started purchasing Nero starting with version 4 or 5 all the way up to 9 and the Blu-rayHD plugin.

In order to get the highest quality from eac3to I followed instructions here and installed my older Nero 7 and activated the plugin on one of my older machines I use for testing purposes.

After activating the plugin, I see AdvrCntr2.dll and neEacDec.dll but I do not find NeAudio2.ax. Is that file really needed for eac3to to use the Nero ac3 decoder?

If so, where is that file found?

My ultimate goal here is sound quality. If in fact the ac3 decoder from Nero 7 + Blu-rayHD plugin is still considered to be the best route.

[boxrick]

I have been fighting with this for ages and really struggled getting hold of total media theatre 2 trial.

Eventually I found it within all my crud on an old drive, hopefully helps out someone.

Enjoy

http://www.boxrick.com/tmt.exe

[Capsbackup]

I have been able to get this working before on a Win 7 Pro 64 bit OS, but my latest attempts on a clean new install has not been successful. :(
The message I get is: "To register a module, you must provide a binary name."
Now I admit I am not fluid to these type of installs, and my knowledge is minimal, but I was able do get it to work following these instructions in the past fairly easy. But this time my struggle continues. :o
What am I missing? :confused:

[Capsbackup]

The other error message I get is:

[Mark Regalo]

I would create a eac3to decoder/encoder zip file pack but I'm not sure that would be legal. I mean basically all you have to do is extract the files from the trial installers and put them in one place.

[LoRd_MuldeR]

The other error message I get is:

Make sure you use the "regsvr32.exe" from "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" to register 32-Bit DLL's on a 64-Bit Windows system.

To register 64-Bit DLL's, you would use the one from "C:\Windows\System32" (yes, no typo!)

And of course it should be clear that on a 32-Bit Windows system you can only register 32-Bit DLL's, but never 64-Bit DLL's.

[Capsbackup]

Make sure you use the "regsvr32.exe" from "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" to register 32-Bit DLL's on a 64-Bit Windows system.

To register 64-Bit DLL's, you would use the one from "C:\Windows\System32" (yes, no typo!)

And of course it should be clear that on a 32-Bit Windows system you can only register 32-Bit DLL's, but never 64-Bit DLL's.

Thanks for the reply, but I must still be missing something! :o
I now get:
"The module asaudiohd.ax was loaded but the call to DllRegisterServer failed with error code 0x8007005.