DeeGUI (Dolby Encoder Engine GUI)

[tebasuna51]

I make a little GUI to use the Dolby Encoder Engine software.

Must be at same folder (...\DolbyEE) than dee.exe and need ffmpeg at same folder or in the system %PATH% (recommended).

The first step is convert/decode the source file in RF64 format (like dee.exe need) and can be used any format suported by ffmpeg.

Here is the DeeGUI.au3 than can be interpreted by Autoit3.exe (https://www.autoitscript.com/site/) also DeeGUI.exe

[EDIT]New version 0.2 with function downmix 7.1 -> 5.1

[Vicio]

Thank you very much for creating DeeGUI for the Dolby Encoder Engine. Your initiative will make the process much easier for users. Your effort in making DeeGUI.exe available shows a remarkable commitment. Your contribution is invaluable to the community.

PS. Are there plans for any version of Linux?

Greetings from Brazil.

[tebasuna51]

PS. Are there plans for any version of Linux?

Sorry, I haven't a pc with Linux installed now.

[pcroland]

Thank you very much for creating DeeGUI for the Dolby Encoder Engine. Your initiative will make the process much easier for users. Your effort in making DeeGUI.exe available shows a remarkable commitment. Your contribution is invaluable to the community.

PS. Are there plans for any version of Linux?

Greetings from Brazil.
deew (https://deew.dev) works on Linux and MacOS aswell.

[Vicio]

Sorry, I haven't a pc with Linux installed now.
Thanks for the answer, who knows, maybe one day there will be a GUI for Linux.
I will make a video tutorial about this GUI on my channel.

:thanks:


deew (https://deew.dev) works on Linux and MacOS aswell.
Yes, I am aware and have it, but it works via the command line and you have to create *.bat for each audio format.
A GUI like the one tebasuna51 created for Windows would be very useful for the Linux crowd too.

Anyway thank you.

https://imgur.com/NUIlW16.png

[tebasuna51]

deew (https://deew.dev) works on Linux and MacOS aswell.

And thanks for it.

I make my GUI for windows without need phyton installed.

[j7n]

You can call dee.exe from the command-line. Choose an XML prioject, then supply an override parameter for the variables that are commonly changing using --add-elem (seems like you can't "add" only overwrite). You can create a preset or map the bitrate to a slider. There is an abundance of front ends to choose from, which you use with any encoder. I don't know Linux, but on Windows audio players have encoding built in. There is Frontah (which gives you one slider and many presets).

Is there even an Linux version of Dolby software?

dee.exe --xml d:\bin\dee\xml\dd.xml -a INPUT -o OUTPUT --add-elem data_rate=BITRATE

[tebasuna51]

Yes, my GUI create the .xml needed based in captured parameters, but also run previously ffmpeg to decode/convert any input file to .RF64 needed for the INPUT file.
Also fake remap the 7.1 audio input from the correct map channels to the desired by dee.exe.

There are a Linux version of DEE but I haven't it to test.

[CoLLAPSaRr1]

Hello,
Many thanks for your GUI, I've just tried it, the interface is KISS-like, it's great.
However, I'm getting an error after the w64 file transcode step, it asks me to create a directory in the "C:\Portable\0\temp" rep.

[2024-01-16 19:20:51.237] ERROR: framework: Storage: Directory "C:\Portable\0\temp" does not exist.
[2024-01-16 19:20:51.237] ERROR: framework: Could not create temp file for temp_dir_test.
[2024-01-16 19:20:51.237] ERROR: Could not write to temp_dir.
[2024-01-16 19:20:51.237] ERROR: Could not build workflow.

Is it possible to change this behaviour?

[Vicio]

There are a Linux version of DEE but I haven't it to test.
I sent it to you via PM if you're interested.

[tebasuna51]

..., it asks me to create a directory in the "C:\Portable\0\temp" rep.

Is it possible to change this behaviour?

Yes, my fault, I forget than dee need a temporary folder to work.

In the new version I put that folder the same than input folder, then we need in it enough space to the RF64 file (can be very big) and temporary files created by dee (and after deleted if success).

[l00t]

And thanks for it.

I make my GUI for windows without need phyton installed.

You don't need python to be installed, just grab the compiled binaries (e.g., exe).

[tormento]

It would be nice to be able to use it in CLI too for strange batch conversions.

[tebasuna51]

The CLI command used is:

dee.exe -x 0.xml --verbose info --log-file 0.log --progress

the problem is create the 0.xml needed. I don't know your strange settings.

[j7n]

You can use one of the included XML templates as a starting point. But you need to provide the full path to it. Override individual parameters like so: --add-elem data_rate=256

[tormento]

the problem is create the 0.xml needed
I would create the xml once and apply in the batch CLI commands.

Can we save the xml with the wanted settings?

[tebasuna51]

DeeGUI create the 0.xml with the settings wanted.
After you can use it, but the filenames are inside the 0.xml and you need create the .RF64 files (wrong remaped if 7.1)

What about the button 'Encode all equal files in the folder' to do batch processing?

[tormento]

Could you please add support for strange channel configurations too, with the best approximation of the wanted sound effect?

I already saw 6.1 in the past and lately it happened to have 2.1 DTS.

I already know that dee is really picky with channel number.

Perhaps downmixing before encoding or "upmixing"?

[tebasuna51]

Dolby Encoder Engine only support AC3, EAC3 and THD 1.0, 2.0, 5.1 and 7.1

You can use other tools (ffmpeg, UsEac3to, BeHappy, ...) to make the desired downmix.

[jlw_4049]

For those looking into odd channel configurations as well as Linux support you can use this easy to use CLI for DEE https://github.com/jlw4049/DeeZy

[tebasuna51]

For those looking into odd channel configurations...

But only support:
-c, --channels, {AUTO[0],MONO[1],STEREO[2],SURROUND[6],SURROUNDEX[8]}

I need FL,FR,FC,LFE,SL,SR,TFL,TFR

[j7n]

DEE seems to be quite limited. Not all parameters of the encoders are fully adjustable. MainConcept TotalCode, Adobe Audition (old), Sound Forge, support many more channel layouts. The alogorithms are also different from what is available in other software. If you give a mono input, and select a high bitrate, the resulting stream will have a lot of unused space, while with other software the encoder will increase accuracy to use up all the bits.

You could upmix the file to 5.1 with silent channels, but that would likely be played back inconsistently on different devices. Stereo with blank channels works with AC-4, which requires a 5.1 input, and gives a stereo downmix. A patch through SoX can do an upmix/resample on the fly. AC-4 IMS also seems to be a "modern" pseudo-VBR codec, which doesn't overcode silence, and leaves unused bits.

[Encore]

Can I use this to encode a e-AC-3.5.1ch.192kb/s track to get some gain in the audio (may be 640kb/s)? or use eac3to for better encode? Is there any benefit to uplifting the audi bitrate as when we played this track on the system the aduio felt it bit low except for the voice (not much bass effect).

[j7n]

A change in bitrate won't improve the sound by itself. You can re-encode if you edited the track, for example, boosted the bass with an equalizer. 5.1 @ 192 kbit/s will always have poor quality with muffled high end and transients. That's just not enough data.

[Encore]

A change in bitrate won't improve the sound by itself. You can re-encode if you edited the track, for example, boosted the bass with an equalizer. 5.1 @ 192 kbit/s will always have poor quality with muffled high end and transients. That's just not enough data.

Can I do this (equalizer) edit in app like audition or can you please suggest an application for Windows 64bit.

This track has coversations in high volume and background score in low (not sure if its my soundbar outputting like that - like a voice boosting). But audio bitrate is a low for a movie soundtrack.

[SuperFist]

I make a little GUI to use the Dolby Encoder Engine software.

Must be at same folder (...\DolbyEE) than dee.exe and need ffmpeg at same folder or in the system %PATH% (recommended).

The first step is convert/decode the source file in RF64 format (like dee.exe need) and can be used any format suported by ffmpeg.

Here is the DeeGUI.au3 than can be interpreted by Autoit3.exe (https://www.autoitscript.com/site/) or use the DeeGUI.exe from here (https://www.sendspace.com/file/1wg58d)

You, my friend, are a National Treasure!!! :cool:

I'm not sure if you can help me with what I'm trying to do.

In the past, I have used DTS Master Audio Suite to replace an LFE channel in an MKV file that has DTS-HD MA audio. Now I want to do the same with an MKV file that has Dolby Atmos. Would you happen to know how I would go about this using your GUI and the steps I would need to take and/or command lines to retain Dolby Atmos in the original surround files?

[tebasuna51]

Sorry but Dolby Encoder Engine can't create Dolby Atmos encodes, and replace a channel (LFE or other) implies decode first and recode to Atmos after.

Also with Dolby Encoder Engine can't create 3D sound only standard 5.1 or 7.1 2D like I say before.
I only know Audition 2017 to create 3D files from a source FL,FR,FC,LFE,SL,SR,TFL,TFR.

If you have an AVR 5.1.2 player you can decode the Dolby Atmos with Cavernize, replace the LFE and after recode it to eac3 3D with Audition.

[SquallMX]

Is there any reason for using DD+ instead of DD when encoding at higher bitrates (>448 Kbps)? Sound quality is the same to me, but maybe better ears (or equipment) can hear better quality audio from a DD+ stream.

[tebasuna51]

High frequencies need more bitrate than 448 Kb/s for 5.1 channels, but without good equipment or old ears (like mine) maybe is the same.

For audio movies I like use AAC VBR with better quality/bitrate than DD CBR.

[tormento]

For audio movies I like use AAC VBR with better quality/bitrate than DD CBR.
Why not opus? Compatibility issues?

[SeeMoreDigital]

High frequencies need more bitrate than 448 Kb/s for 5.1 channels, but without good equipment or old ears (like mine) maybe is the same.

For audio movies I like use AAC VBR with better quality/bitrate than DD CBR.

Why not opus? Compatibility issues?AAC offers greater playback compatibility. Especially with televisions...

[tebasuna51]

Yes, for better compatibility.

[Ripmann]

Thanks for the neat utility. As someone who doesn't have time nor patience to study Dolby's obtuse command line and XML system, I found it very useful (I use the exe). Do you have plans to update it to include AC4 and Atmos options? I'd really appreciate if someone could finally break down their archaic encoding pipelines to a simple, normal GUI like this.

Oh, by the way, why is there no "None" setting for Dynamic Range Compression (ddp_drc_profile)? I thought I saw that option in Dolby's XMLs.

And speaking of DRC, I'm still not exactly sure how it works, so maybe you or someone else here can clarify this. The way I understand it, dynamic range gets hardcoded during an encode and is not some non-destructive tag like ReplayGain in MP3 or M4A, right? So if I reencode an official DTS or TrueHD file that already had a correct dynamic range setting (say, it was encoded with Film_Standard) with None (or Music_light, which seems to be the closest to None), my reencode will be the closest to the original since no new adjustments were added. Is this correct? Thanks again.

[tebasuna51]

Do you have plans to update it to include AC4 and Atmos options?

I don't know how.

Oh, by the way, why is there no "None" setting for Dynamic Range Compression (ddp_drc_profile)? I thought I saw that option in Dolby's XMLs.
I get: ERROR: pcm_to_ddp: Invalid rf_mode_drc_profile value: none.

The way I understand it, dynamic range gets hardcoded during an encode and is not some non-destructive tag like ReplayGain in MP3 or M4A, right?

Yes, they are metadata that may or may not be taken into account.

So if I reencode an official DTS or TrueHD file that already had a correct dynamic range setting
DTS-HD or TrueHD are losless then the source must be decoded at is, it must be the player who adds DRC to the user's liking.

The problem is that Dolby forces all decoders to use the DRC included in DD/DD+ by default.

If we want to recover the original audio from a DD/DD+ (Dolby-compliant) decoder, we have to explicitly request that it not be used with drc=0.

[Ripmann]

I get: ERROR: pcm_to_ddp: Invalid rf_mode_drc_profile value: none.

I rechecked and found it in AC-4 files (example attached):

<ddp_drc_profile>film_light</ddp_drc_profile> <!-- One of: film_standard, film_light, music_standard, music_light, speech, none -->

If it doesn't work with E-AC-3, it's probably an AC-4 only thing. I'll stick with music_light for now when encoding DTS-HD MA, at least until I get to 7.1 TrueHD and be forced to figure out AC-4 and Atmos pipelines. God, I hate Dolby for splitting with Adobe... Anyway, thanks for your reply and another thanks for the tidy app.

[j7n]

Dolby's obtuse command line and XML system
You can create one XML template and not touch it again. Then pass in new options on the command line like so: --add-elem data_rate=%x

They removed the "none" option. You can use an older encoder like in Audition or TotalCode. The metadata is non-destructive, but decoders by default apply it. It also occupies a few bytes, which can't be used for the audio.

[tebasuna51]

Added function to downmix the obsolete (I think) 2D 7.1 surround format to the equivalent 5.1.

Source and exe in first page.

[Thunderbolt8]

Is there a way to create a DD 4.0 (3/1) file with this?

(I think it has to be left, right, center and mono surround; I only have a regular DD 5.1 setup though so no real Cb channel).

[tebasuna51]

Dolby Encoder Engine only support AC3, EAC3 and THD 1.0, 2.0, 5.1 and 7.1

You can use other tools (ffmpeg, UsEac3to, BeHappy, ...) to make the desired downmix.

You can also upmix your source to 5.1

ffmpeg INPUT_4.0 -af "pan=5.1|c0=c0|c1=c1|c2=c2|c3=0.0*c2|c4=0.707*c3|c5=0.707*c3" -c pcm_s24le -rf64 always OUTPUT_5.1_RF64.wav

[Thunderbolt8]

thank you.

Is that channel order actually correct? Asking, because mediainfo tells me a different channel order for the source DTS-Master Audio track than for a w64 or flac track I can create from it (DTSHDMA is C L R Cb; FLAC is L R C Cb)

[tebasuna51]

Of course, all decoders transform the internal channel order of any codec to the standard channel order in wav, w64 or rf64 always the same FL FR FC LFE BL BR FLC FRC BC SL SR TC TFL TFC TFR TBL TBC TBR

DTSHDMA C L R Cb or FLAC L R C Cb -> decoded wav FL FR FC BC

Regardless of the order in INPUT_4.0, the ffmpeg decoded output has the order FL, FR, FC, BC.

Therefore, we create an empty fourth LFE channel and the fifth and sixth SL-SR channels (or BL-BR equivalents in a 5.1 system) with half (acoustic power) of the original BC channel.

Only in 7.1 format the DeeGUI make a RF64 fake order FL FR FC LFE SL SR BL BR because the bug in Dee encoder.
You can't use the 7.1 RF64 created with DeeGUI with other encoder.

[FoodOcean]

I make a little GUI to use the Dolby Encoder Engine software.

Must be at same folder (...\DolbyEE) than dee.exe and need ffmpeg at same folder or in the system %PATH% (recommended).

The first step is convert/decode the source file in RF64 format (like dee.exe need) and can be used any format suported by ffmpeg.

Here is the DeeGUI.au3 than can be interpreted by Autoit3.exe (https://www.autoitscript.com/site/) also DeeGUI.exe

[EDIT]New version 0.2 with function downmix 7.1 -> 5.1

do you know if there is a way to get DD+ 7.1 in the "normal"/Online Media profile of EAC3?

[tebasuna51]

You can select between Normal mode or Bluray mode (with AC3 core)