xvid - 5.1 audio

[mousemurder]

hi, i just got an 5.1 surround home theatre system for christmas.

is there any way i can re-encode my dvds to xvids and store the 5 + 1 audio channels as mp3 in the avi file using mencoder ?

else, would x264 in an mp4 container hold 5.1 mp3 audio ?

[nurbs]

mp3 audio can at most be stereo. The container or video codec you use has nothing to do with it.

[lnatan25]

If possible, it is always recommended to keep the original AC3 or DTS audio file from the DVD. If not, then you'll find AAC very good for storing multichannel audio efficiently. :)

[mousemurder]

^ thanks, i prefer to re-encode to save space.
i'll have to research if mencoder can put 5.1 channels of audio encoded in aac wrapped in an xvid avi file.

[CWR03]

It depends on what you're using to play the files. A PC used as a media center can do it, but a standalone player or streaming media player can't.

x264 is better at video compression; probably enough better that you can keep the original audio without the need for a larger overall file.

[lnatan25]

Also, why the archaic AVI container? MP4 would be better suited (and MKV as well). ;)

[CWR03]

Also, why the archaic AVI container? MP4 would be better suited (and MKV as well).
He's probably assuming that a player that can play an .avi can play any .avi regardless of what's in it.

[lnatan25]

Well, most recent media players/dvd players support MP4 files with Xvid and AAC in them. MKV perhaps not, but MP4 yes.

[mousemurder]

^ good advices. i have been using mencoder to make xvids in avi's for years and i didnt want to have to tweak my process too much.

so i guess now i'll use this as an opportunity to play around with better codecs + containers.

from this thread i gather an x264 with 5.1 channel aac in mp4 format is my best bet.
does anyone have a mencoder command line (linux) that would get me started ?

[zn]

h264enc for Linux

http://h264enc.sourceforge.net/faq.html

[henryho_hk]

You can always put AC3 or even DTS inside an AVI. AVI Demux is a good AVI muxer. U can use it to mux the original 5.1 AC3 with the xvid video track. And, as always, it is the player that dictates the end result.

[chesterman]

You can always put AC3 or even DTS inside an AVI. AVI Demux is a good AVI muxer. U can use it to mux the original 5.1 AC3 with the xvid video track. And, as always, it is the player that dictates the end result.

Well said. I was thinking the same EXACT thing! That's what I do anyway...DTS in an AVI still sounds amazing.