How to decode E-AC3 7.1 to 8 wav files (with correct channel name files)

[buddha9]

Hi all,
I've a e-ac3 7.1 file.

What is the best/safe way to decode a E-AC3 7.1 file to 8 wavs files?

I have:

eac3to v3.47
Nero Burning Rom 7.11.10.0c (LICENSED)
Nero ShowTime w 3.10.1.0 (LICENSED)


Nero Audio Decoder (Nero 6 or older) doesn't seem to be installed
http://www.nero.com/eng/store-blu-ray.html
CAUTION: You need Nero 7. Nero 8 won't work with eac3to.
ArcSoft DTS Decoder (1.1.0.9) works fine
Sonic Audio Decoder (3.47.0.0) doesn't seem to be installed
Haali Matroska Muxer doesn't seem to be installed
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

Here https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Eac3to/FAQ I read need to register the plugin: ... you can install Nero ShowTime only and of course to register the plug-in. How can I do ?

How can I have 8 wav files from the E-AC3 7.1 ? Need also each file have the correct name of the channel. I need this for video editing later...

Thanks!

PS
Or is better via ffmpeg?

ffmpeg -i '.\input.eac3' `
-filter_complex "channelsplit=channel_layout=7.1[FL][FR][FC][LFE][LS][RS][LB][RB]" `
-map "[FL]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_L.wav" `
-map "[FR]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_R.wav" `
-map "[FC]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_C.wav" `
-map "[LFE]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_LFE.wav" `
-map "[LS]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_LSR.wav" `
-map "[RS]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_RSR.wav" `
-map "[LB]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_LSS.wav" `
-map "[RB]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_audio_RSS.wav"

[j7n]

ffmpeg now works. I don't think there is need to use paid software for decoding anymore. Quality-wise the official decoder in Adobe Audition allows to boost extremely low signal without artifacts, while ffmpeg will impart a buzz. The level of very high frequencies seems slightly attenuated in Audition.

Beware that some decoders might swap the surround and rear-surround channel pairs. Here is a clip identifying each channel: http://j7n.sytes.net/misc/71ch_id.ec3

[buddha9]

ffmpeg now works. I don't think there is need to use paid software for decoding anymore. Quality-wise the official decoder in Adobe Audition allows to boost extremely low signal without artifacts, while ffmpeg will impart a buzz. The level of very high frequencies seems slightly attenuated in Audition.

Beware that some decoders might swap the surround and rear-surround channel pairs. Here is a clip identifying each channel: http://j7n.sytes.net/misc/71ch_id.ec3

Thanks for quick reply.
I've Adobe Audition 24.0.3.3. It doesn't like the e-ac3 files.
What version I have to use?

[buddha9]

Anyway, I compared 2 e-ac3 files:

- your "http://j7n.sytes.net/misc/71ch_id.ec3"
- the one you can find here https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JxmeedtAtgmoafXv9rroiDOS2vEX7N4b --> "Dolby Digital Plus E-AC-3 7.1.mp4" (demuxed on Dolby Digital Plus E-AC-3 7.1.track_2_und.ec3)

Comparing:
audio from your file 71ch_id.ec3:
MEDIAINFO:

Audio
Format : E-AC-3
Format/Info : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital Plus
Format settings : Dolby Surround EX
Duration : 16 s 0 ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 448 kb/s
Channel(s) : 8 channels
Channel layout : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 875 KiB (100%)
Service kind : Complete Main
Dialog Normalization : -19 dB
compr : -0.28 dB
dialnorm_Average : -19 dB
dialnorm_Minimum : -19 dB
dialnorm_Maximum : -19 dB

PS C:\Users\***\Downloads\e-ac3 channels order\71ch_id_ec3> ffmpeg -hide_banner -i '.\71ch_id.ec3'
[eac3 @ 000001e0da61b540] Estimating duration from bitrate, this may be inaccurate
Input #0, eac3, from '.\71ch_id.ec3':
Duration: 00:00:16.00, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 448 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Audio: eac3, 48000 Hz, 7.1, fltp, 448 kb/s



audio (helping with video) from "Dolby Digital Plus E-AC-3 7.1.track_2_und.ec3:"
MEDIAINFO:

Audio
Format : E-AC-3
Format/Info : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital Plus
Duration : 1 min 29 s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 kb/s
Channel(s) : 8 channels
Channel layout : L R C LFE Ls Rs Lb Rb
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 4.08 MiB (100%)
Service kind : Complete Main
Dialog Normalization : -16 dB
compr : 0.53 dB
mixlevel : 105 dB
dialnorm_Average : -16 dB
dialnorm_Minimum : -16 dB
dialnorm_Maximum : -16 dB

PS C:\Users\***\Downloads\e-ac3 channels order\e-ac3 from Drive> ffmpeg -hide_banner -i '.\Dolby Digital Plus E-AC-3 7.1.track_2_und.ec3'
[eac3 @ 000001dd97ddd440] Estimating duration from bitrate, this may be inaccurate
Input #0, eac3, from '.\Dolby Digital Plus E-AC-3 7.1.track_2_und.ec3':
Duration: 00:01:29.12, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 384 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Audio: eac3, 48000 Hz, 7.1, fltp, 384 kb/s

https://i.imgur.com/0b31bEh.jpeg

You can note there are 2 inverted channels. Why ?

https://i.imgur.com/e9nn0w2.jpeg

Here https://professionalsupport.dolby.com/s/profile/0050g000006XdWSAA0 Dolby says "Dolby uses SMPTE channel order (L R C LFE Lss Rss Lrs Rrs, etc). "

Thanks!

[j7n]

This sample is from an official disc "Dolby Labs - Functional Testing". EX supposedly contains an extra back channel within the core 5.1 stream, but I have no means of listening to it. With the extension it decodes to full 7 channels + LFE. It confirms the channel IDs as they are. Not saying that you have them wrong, but that it may happen.

Internally the order is the same as Vorbis: Left, Center, Right, Side Left, Side Right, Rear Left, Rear Right, LFE. Tools should automatically convert it to the SMTPE order.

[buddha9]

This sample is from an official disc "Dolby Labs - Functional Testing". EX supposedly contains an extra back channel within the core 5.1 stream, but I have no means of listening to it. With the extension it decodes to full 7 channels + LFE. It confirms the channel IDs as they are. Not saying that you have them wrong, but that it may happen.

Internally the order is the same as Vorbis: Left, Center, Right, Side Left, Side Right, Rear Left, Rear Right, LFE. Tools should automatically convert it to the SMTPE order.

Do you have another E-AC3 7.1 file without this ? :
Format settings : Dolby Surround EX
You can verify via MediaInfo.
Thanks.

[tebasuna51]

No mather the internally channel order when it is decoded the channels follow the wav order FL,FR,FC,LFE,LB,RB,LS,RS (Back/Rear channels before Side/Surrround channels) for that the order in the image.

I make this channel test (https://www.sendspace.com/file/laagr3)

[buddha9]

No mather the internally channel order when it is decoded the channels follow the wav order FL,FR,FC,LFE,LB,RB,LS,RS (Back/Rear channels before Side/Surrround channels) for that the order in the image.

I make this channel test (https://www.sendspace.com/file/laagr3)

Thanks for support e patience :D

So

1) imported your file on Audacity
https://i.imgur.com/zqX9OOj.jpeg

2) exported on 8 discrete wav files

3) imported them on DME (v3.7):
https://i.imgur.com/iUxdTFT.jpeg

4) split the rendered file via ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -hide_banner -i '.\output.eb3' `
-filter_complex "channelsplit=channel_layout=7.1[FL][FR][FC][LFE][LB][RB][LS][RS]" `
-map "[FL]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_L.wav" `
-map "[FR]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_R.wav" `
-map "[FC]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_C.wav" `
-map "[LFE]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_LFE.wav" `
-map "[LB]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_LS-Back.wav" `
-map "[RB]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_RS-Back.wav" `
-map "[LS]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_LS-Side.wav" `
-map "[RS]" -c:a pcm_s24le "output_2_audio_RS-Side.wav"

4) imported them on Audacity to check the channels order:
https://i.imgur.com/zhOGMLj.jpeg

** Note: if you import the .eb3 file Audacity show you only 6 channels **

Conclusion:
to "demux" a "e-ac3 7.1" file in the correct way you need to use the ffmpeg above. Right?

[tebasuna51]

Yes, it is.