video playback with 2 different audio streams - possible?

[Shandra]

Hi,

When my friends and me are meeting to watch some movies there is always the discussion about the language, as some of them are only able to understand german, but some of us (like me) are in favour of the original tongue of the movie. So the question came up wether it is possible (aka is there a player, or splitter that is able) to downmix audio track 1 to 2:0 front channel and the other track to 2:0 backchannel so that each of us can choose where to plug in their headset?
:thanks:

[setarip_old]

Hi!

As an alternate (and far easier to accomplish) concept, why don't you just play the original language and simultaneously display the German subtitles?

[laserfan]

It seems to me that such "magic" would require the preparation of a single special audiotrack, wherein you dedicated for example channels L, C, R to the original language, and then the Surround channels to the alternate language.

Then you need a player with analog outputs, such that you could route LCR to Amp A and then Surround-outs to AmpB with corresponding headphone connections.

I'm not certain how to mix the two languages--I'd guess though that it involves first extracting to separate pcm or wav channels, then using different WAVs from each for re-combining to AC3 or something.

But you probably don't like this idea cuz you have to know in advance which languages to combine, and make a special disc! ;)

[AnonCrow]

A cheap mans method: open two copies of VLC/MPlayer/whatever, start playback simultaneously, disable video in the other and either select a different audio output device for it, or downmix both audio tracks to mono in the player itself and fiddle with the balance.

[Ghitulescu]

Interesting question :)

There also might be a solution in graphedit, provided there's a DS filter that allows you independent rerouting of signals (many semipro cards do provide such a mixer).

Unless you use laserfan's idea, all the other ideas need a computer as the playing device.

I'm too in favour of native sound, and yes, I know how [most] Germans are :)

[Shandra]

Well,
Subtitles ain't really a choice (but are an option if the original soundtrack wouldn't be either german or english) as non-anime-purists find them somewhat distracting most of the time. And yes I also thought about encoding the DVDs first and then muxing a special audio-track with the 2:0 downmixes of both languages (downmixing to wav and then muxing them with something like Audacity (which AFAIK ain't supporting tracks beyond pure Stereo)), so maybe going with laserfans idea is the best option right now - as with, considered two audio devices present (wich would have the benefit of avoiding pure Stereo), simultaniously starting 2 players is a PITA, especially when one is considering the usual toilet-breaks or slowmo replays ;)

So I guess I have to find an app that is able to mux two stereotracks to the Front/Rear channels. Thanks for your thoughts so far!