How to author a DVD with audio only?

[raquete]

Excuse if was asked before, i could not find the answer in the search.

I want to author an Audio DVD, not a DVD Audio with black blackground or simple picture with audio only!
I don't care about images, i want to hear the sound!

The Audio used will be AC3 or DTS in 5.1 channels.

I prefer free and simple programs cos i don't use DVDLabPro a long time and sincerely i forgot how to use it.

Any help please?

[tebasuna51]

Do you need to burn a DVD?

Specify your player, how it connects to your sound system, and its capabilities.

I play any AC3/DTS file with MPC_HC on my PC, sending/decoding it via HDMI to my Denon AVR.

[Emulgator]

If you want a physical disc I can suggest to mux it as DVD-Video.
Did that numerous times as multi-CD-disc editions in DVDLabPro2.
Main menu with album selection.
As you jump into an album you get (per audio track) 1 still showing artist + track name.

Muxman can do that too, but I am not sure about the stills per track.
One background per title I guess.

(DVD-Audio: You need a DVD-Audio muxer (!) plus there are not many DVD-Audio capable players around)

[raquete]

ebasuna51,
I can use a DVD player to play the DVD.

My receiver has an HDMI input, as well as coaxial and optical inputs.

But I have no way to send the audio via HDMI to the receiver's HDMI input.

My notebook with HDMI is too far from the receiver and I would need a cable longer than 10 meters to connect them... that's out of the question.

Or I can use an authored DVD to play on the DVD player using the optical or coaxial connection.

🤔I think I can use a USB drive to play 5.1 DTS and/or AC3 audio directly on the receiver, but I don't know if it will work!

If it happens to work using a Pendrive with 5.1 audio in the receiver's USB input and the 5.1 audio is perfectly reproduced, problem solved, I don't need to author anything, just put the music on the Pen drive(or in a big external HD) and play it in the receiver's USB input.
I don't know if it work!

That's why I want to author a DVD with 5.1 DTS or AC3 audio to play on one of my three DVD players and/or use a Sony Blu-ray player that plays SACD ISO files.

🎆✨ Idea: If is hard to get my target authoring a dvd, i'll will use a 'tower' with I3 that have 7.1 audio out and have HDMI out too.
i will connect the 'Tower' HDMI out to HDMI of the receiver to play the 5.1 audio using foobar and the 5.1 can be wave files in 192k 24bit for example.
Will be much better than DTS or AC3, right?

Emulator
Yes, that's the idea... a physical disc to multiplex as DVD-Video (with 5.1 audio, that's the goal).

I don't care about the background image, it can be a black image, a pretty girl or a UFO, I won't see the image, I just want to hear the audio!

I used DVDLab, GoLand Audio DVD Creator and GUI to DVD Author, among others, a long time ago, but honestly, I'm old and I've forgotten a lot and how to use these programs.

In the past, I used CCE and waited more than a day to make a simple DVD; now my patience has run out and my memory has followed suit.

I don't want a dvd-audio, i want a audio dvd(a dvd with audio 5.1 in Video_ts folder that can be played in 'all' dvd players.

➡️Muxman can do that? Just teach me or send me a guide page.

Thank you both! ✨🥇☼☼☼☼☼

[tebasuna51]

How to create a DVD with a single image and DTS/AC3 audio:

1) We need a DVD-compatible video and audio file.
Create a folder with all the audio files you want to include, and also:
- a pal.jpg (720x576) or ntsc.jpg (720x480) image file, depending on your system
- a copy of ffmpeg.exe (not necessary if it's in the system PATH)
- one of the attached command files, depending on your system
- run the command file, for example, AC3-PAL, which does the following:

copy /B *.ac3 audio.ac3

to combine all the audio files into one and

ffmpeg -loop 1 -i pal.jpg -i audio.ac3 -shortest -target pal-dvd DVD_PAL.mpg

To create a DVD-compatible video.

2) Drag and drop the created DVD_PAL.mpg file into an authoring program.
I recommend DVDStyler (https://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?sc=128)
It's relatively up-to-date, portable, and free.
I tested it by creating an ISO image, and it works well. It also has help for other features like chapters, menus, etc.

[raquete]

How to create a DVD with a single image and DTS/AC3 audio:

1) We need a DVD-compatible video and audio file.
Create a folder with all the audio files you want to include, and also:
- a pal.jpg (720x576) or ntsc.jpg (720x480) image file, depending on your system
- a copy of ffmpeg.exe (not necessary if it's in the system PATH)
- one of the attached command files, depending on your system
- run the command file, for example, AC3-PAL, which does the following:

copy /B *.ac3 audio.ac3

to combine all the audio files into one and

ffmpeg -loop 1 -i pal.jpg -i audio.ac3 -shortest -target pal-dvd DVD_PAL.mpg

To create a DVD-compatible video.

2) Drag and drop the created DVD_PAL.mpg file into an authoring program.
I recommend DVDStyler (https://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?sc=128)
It's relatively up-to-date, portable, and free.
I tested it by creating an ISO image, and it works well. It also has help for other features like chapters, menus, etc.

As i always write around the forums in the whole world:
tebasuna51 is a friendly, very wise person and have enormeous good will to help.
He knows 'everything' about audio.
i always recomend you tebasuna51 for users in outside forums to call your help.
My sisncere opinion as electronc technician for more than 45 years(now retired) and with audio as hobby(is my center of the universe) for more that 66 years: you're a genious. You can transmit with extreme facility the solution of the problems.
I know you for more than 24 years tebasuna51, a long time ago i had another username here...i think that i'm here in doom9 for more than 30 years and you always was my preferencial reference.
You're ablessed person, you can transmit your great personality and knowledge in your posts.
you're a shining star in Doom9. ✨:helpful:

Gold medals for you.🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇
Thank you for magnific solution!:thanks: 👍
➡️ God bless you!
(Jorge Luiz)

PS: this page was saved as .pdf

[raquete]

Off topic (?) maybe but i don't want a new thread for a simple doubt

i have 2 old notebooks(Itautec 2009 and love both)
The headphone output is optical output too(red light is there all the time)

IF i use this optical output from Notebook to the optical input of the Micro System, i'll have 5.1 AC3 audio?

[Columbo]

Yes if the application is outputting AC3 5.1 and the port is configured for passthru. YMMV

[tebasuna51]

...
IF i use this optical output from Notebook to the optical input of the Micro System, i'll have 5.1 AC3 audio?

Listen a channel test yourself. Dolby Digital Ac3 5.1.mp4 from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JxmeedtAtgmoafXv9rroiDOS2vEX7N4b

[raquete]

Listen a channel test yourself. Dolby Digital Ac3 5.1.mp4 from:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JxmeedtAtgmoafXv9rroiDOS2vEX7N4b

I'm still connecting the new devices, since I have some Bluetooth (surround) speakers, I'm adding another subwoofer, connecting a Blu-ray player, a DVD player, the notebook with optical output, and 'learning' how to use the new home theater system. (The remote control has 'billions of functions', it looks like a piano full of keys and drives anyone crazy.)
Thank you for the precious link with the Dolby Digital AC3 5.1.mp4 playlist to test, tebasuna51. :-)

Columbo,
thank you too for secure information. :-)

[raquete]

Tebasuna51, ✨✨✨✨✨
you are very talented, you teach with great ease and are objective with generous patience to teach anxious people like me.

I achieved perfect results following your instructions. 🥳
(https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=2031826#post2031826)

I burned a DVD with three AC3 files for testing and everything is fine!😊

I just need to learn how to use one chapter per song...

Cheers and thank you very much again! :thanks:

[raquete]

tebasuna51
No matter how hard I try, racking my brain, I can't get the expected result, and I'm turning to you for help once again.

i'm using the AC3-NTSC.bat :
copy /B *.ac3 audio.ac3
ffmpeg -loop 1 -i ntsc.jpg -i audio.ac3 -shortest -target ntsc-dvd DVD_NTSC.mpg
pause
This .bat give the complete album as only one track.

Have a way to change the .bat to do one .mpg for each music with the name of the music? (one chapter for each music with the music name)

[Columbo]

You didn't say what was unexpected in your result!

My understanding is that *.ac3 in a batch file does not sort the way you think. In fact, it doesn't sort at all. You just get the file table ordering. Windows Explorer however is designed to use natural sorting. Easiest is to use explicit ordering:

copy /b file1.ac3+file2.ac3+file3.ac3 audio.ac3

which defeats the idea of a general batch file.

It's very tricky to get natural ordering. You can try:

for /f "delims=" %%f in ('dir /b /on *.ac3') do (
echo %%f
)

But that gives you lexicographic, not natural. So track2.ac3 comes before track10.ac3 but track10.ac3 comes before track9.ac3.

Finally, there are caveats with concatenating .ac3 files that you must be aware of.

[tebasuna51]

...
Have a way to change the .bat to do one .mpg for each music with the name of the music? (one chapter for each music with the music name)

Of course, replace the two lines with (or dts/ntsc):

for %%A in (*.ac3) do ffmpeg -loop 1 -i pal.jpg -i "%%A" -shortest -target pal-dvd "%%A.mpg"

Also you can create a image for each chapter, if you have tracks like:

01 Roxane.ac3
...
and you create a image for each ac3 like:

01 Roxane.jpg
...

You can use:
for %%A in (*.ac3) do ffmpeg -loop 1 -i "%%~nA.jpg" -i "%%A" -shortest -target pal-dvd "%%~nA.mpg"

[raquete]

tebasuna51
Both lines work perfectly, I am very satisfied and grateful. :thanks:

I'm having 'problems' with DVDStyler to create chapters cos i don't have a 'movie' ('movie clips') to load in the program.
I need to re read the 'manual' or read somewhere how to create a 'movie'(a little .mkv for example)
I really don't care about the 'movie' cos i will only hear the musics, can be one movie with 'horrible' quality.

[tebasuna51]

I'm sorry I can't help you with DVDStyler; I don't even have a DVD player anymore to run any tests.

BTW a 'movie clip' is a .mpg already, don't need mkv at all.

[Emulgator]

Let's see If I can get a medal too ;-)
########################################################

Muxing a skip-chaptered DVD-Video Disc for Audio-only using Freeware
This makes a simple 1-VTS 1-title 1-still DVD-Video disc with up to 99 audio chapters (PTT).

Freeware needed (oldest versions should suffice)

Excel (>=1995) or LibreOffice for spreadsheet calculation
MPC-BE for timing and playback checks
paint.net (old v4.3.12-32 will suffice) for background preparation
MuxMan >=0.16.8 for muxing
ImgBurn 2.5.8.0 for DVD writing

0. All your audio files got to be fs=48kHz (for LPCM and DTS additionally 96kHz, see mpucoder's work about restrictions), matching in coding method and channels.
It helps to prepare your audio files by prepending your desired audio track number.
If needed use ye olde DAW (Audio editor) for resampling to fs=48khz, re-mapping re-channeling etc.
(First audio file to be accepted by Muxman will set the DVD audio track parameters, locking all non-matching out.)

1. Start paint.net -> New -> prepare a 720x480 Black.bmp (or what ever you prefer as background).

2. Prepare an Excel/LibreOffice spreadsheet with 6 head columns:
A1: "Chapter#" Column format <Standard> You may input chapter# here, or you may omit this column.
B1: "Title" Column format <Standard> You may input title name here, or you may omit this column.
C1: "MPC-BE-Duration" Column format <hh:mm:ss,000> # Input title duration times here !
D1: "Total Time" Column format <hh:mm:ss,000> | formulae starting with D4=SUMME($C$3:C4), autofill by inheriting
E1: "Total Time (s)" Column format <[ss],000> | formulae starting with D4=SUMME($C$3:C4), autofill by inheriting
F1: "Muxman frames 29.97" | Column format <Standard> | formulae starting with F4=RUNDEN(E4*86400*(30000/1001);0), autofill by inheriting
This last F column of this spreadsheet will calculate your chapter frames ready to copy.
Omit last framecount, include top 0, paste into Editor and save as MyChapters.txt file in ANSI format

3. Start Muxman
Video: Press ... button and add 720x480 Black.bmp as video file.
This first video/picture file will automatically trigger a NTSC project in Muxman, its still duration will be auto-matched to audio.
Audio: Press ... button and load all your audio files at once. (These can be sorted in the pop-up File manager if needed.)
File: Import chapter -> navigate to your MyChapters.txt file
Choose a destination, then press Start.
From SSD to SSD it takes ~6s to mux a 500MB CD worth into DVD.

4. Use MPC-BE to check folder playback, then use ImgBurn to burn your DVD.
#############################################################################

And here is my designed-for-raquete-and-LPCM-tested-to-be-working spreadsheet for all the spreadsheet abhorers out there,
accompanied by the famous pitch-black OLED-friendly NTSC blackground ;-)

[raquete]

Emulgator,
it looks great—it's an authoring course.

Believe it or not, I've never used Excel. :confused: :o (laughs)

I'm translating your tutorial into my language, and my son will be helping me with the .xml files (he's an engineer and works with Excel all the time, but he only comes home on Fridays).

Thank you very much! :thanks:

[Emulgator]

Vamos ver se consigo uma medalha também ;-) (says Google Translate)
########################################################

Criando (muxing) um disco DVD-Video com capítulos e apenas áudio usando software gratuito
Isso gera um disco DVD-Video simples (1 VTS, 1 título, 1 imagem estática) com até 99 capítulos de áudio (PTT).

Softwares gratuitos necessários (versões mais antigas devem servir):

Excel (>=1995) ou LibreOffice para cálculos em planilha
MPC-BE para verificar tempos e reprodução
paint.net (a versão antiga v4.3.12-32 serve) para preparar a imagem de fundo
MuxMan >=0.16.8 para o processo de muxing
ImgBurn 2.5.8.0 para gravar o DVD

0. Todos os seus arquivos de áudio devem ter taxa de amostragem (fs) de 48 kHz (para LPCM e DTS, aceita-se também 96 kHz; consulte o trabalho de mpucoder sobre restrições) e devem ser compatíveis quanto ao método de codificação e canais.
Ajuda preparar os arquivos de áudio adicionando o número da faixa de áudio desejada ao início do nome do arquivo.
Se necessário, use uma DAW (editor de áudio) para reamostragem (para 48 kHz), remapeamento de canais, etc.
(O primeiro arquivo de áudio aceito pelo MuxMan definirá os parâmetros da faixa de áudio do DVD, rejeitando quaisquer arquivos incompatíveis.)

1. Abra o paint.net -> Novo -> prepare uma imagem "Black.bmp" de 720x480 (ou qualquer outra imagem de fundo de sua preferência).

2. Prepare uma planilha no Excel ou LibreOffice com 6 colunas de cabeçalho:
A1: "Chapter#" (Número do Capítulo) | Formato da coluna: <Padrão> | Você pode inserir o número do capítulo aqui ou omitir esta coluna.
B1: "Title" (Título) | Formato da coluna: <Padrão> | Você pode inserir o nome do título aqui ou omitir esta coluna.
C1: "MPC-BE-Duration" (Duração no MPC-BE) | Formato da coluna: <hh:mm:ss,000> | Insira aqui a duração do título!
D1: "Total Time" (Tempo Total) | Formato da coluna: <hh:mm:ss,000> | fórmulas começando em D4=SUMME($C$3:C4), preenchimento automático por herança
E1: "Total Time (s)" Formato da coluna <[ss],000> | fórmulas começando em D4=SUMME($C$3:C4), preenchimento automático por herança
F1: "Muxman frames 29.97" | Formato da coluna <Padrão> | fórmulas começando em F4=RUNDEN(E4*86400*(30000/1001);0), preenchimento automático por herança
Esta última coluna F da planilha calculará os quadros (frames) dos capítulos, prontos para copiar.
Ignore a última contagem de quadros, inclua o 0 inicial, cole no Editor e salve como arquivo MyChapters.txt no formato ANSI.

3. Inicie o Muxman
Vídeo: Pressione o botão ... e adicione Black.bmp (720x480) como arquivo de vídeo.
Este primeiro arquivo de vídeo/imagem iniciará automaticamente um projeto NTSC no Muxman; a duração da imagem estática será ajustada automaticamente ao áudio.
Áudio: Pressione o botão ... e carregue todos os seus arquivos de áudio de uma só vez. (Eles podem ser reorganizados no gerenciador de arquivos pop-up, se necessário.)
Arquivo: Importar capítulo -> navegue até o seu arquivo MyChapters.txt
Escolha um destino e pressione Start.
De SSD para SSD, leva cerca de 6 segundos para realizar o muxing de 500 MB (capacidade de um CD) para DVD.

4. Use o MPC-BE para verificar a reprodução da pasta e, em seguida, use o ImgBurn para gravar seu DVD.
#############################################################################

E aqui está a minha planilha — projetada para o "raquete" e testada com LPCM para garantir o funcionamento — para todos aqueles que detestam planilhas,
acompanhada pelo famoso fundo preto absoluto (pitch-black) compatível com telas OLED ;-)
Arquivos Anexados
Tipo de arquivo: 7z DVDVAudio.7z (5,2 KB, 2 visualizações)

BTW, the Excel spreadsheet in attachment is ready to use, unpacking the .7z you will find an .xls.
Then install LibreOffice, open the .xls with it and input your found durations overwriting mine.
For a song with duration 3min 41sec 560msec -> 00:03:41,560, etc.

[tebasuna51]

Emulgator, you already have many medal's from years of collaboration.

I admit that my experience with burning DVDs didn't go beyond a couple of unsuccessful attempts.

Back in the days of DVD players, I burned DVDs with DivX files.

[raquete]

tebasuna51, Emulgator & Columbo :

The help you all provide here is invaluable to me.
I am amazed at how people with such deep knowledge have the patience and kindness to help someone who has been on the forum for so many years—longer than you have—yet I still know practically nothing.
Without your help, I wouldn't even know where to start.

With reverence, :thanks:

[Columbo]

Thanks but don't wear out those kneepads. ;)

[raquete]

@tebasuna51

i'm using this .bat changing the .bat you did:

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=25:lfe_high=150" -c:a pcm_s24le OUTPUT_5.1.wav

:confused: i don't know why appear here as 's24le' cos in the .bat that i copyed is 's241e' !

How to get Center channel with 'only center channel'?
Pure center without sounds from left and without sounds of right.

example:
sax - voice - trumpet
Left: sax and voice
Center: only voice <--
Right: trumpet and voice.

!

[tebasuna51]

i don't know why appear here as 's24le' cos in the .bat that i copyed is 's241e' !

's24le' correct: Signed 24 bits Little Endian
's241e' incorrect

How to get Center channel with 'only center channel'?
Pure center without sounds from left and without sounds of right.

For karaoke? I don't know.

[raquete]

First of all: Thank you for your willingness to help.

Oh yes, is 's24le'. My eyes was reading as 1 but in the .bat is really l.
The type of font my system is using deceived my eyes.

And no, it’s not for karaoke; it’s not for removing the center channel or mute it.

I would like the center channel to contain only what is common to the center channel—excluding the left and right channels—within that same script:

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=25:lfe_high=150" -c:a pcm_s24le OUTPUT_5.1.wav

If you can do changes in this .bat to have:

L R C(Center only) LFE SL SR

C(Center only) will have only what is in the center channel without what have in L and R channels.
I want he center channel containing only what is unique to it, rather than the sum of L + R
(that seems or is mono sum of L + R)

Sorry for my poor English, which caused confusion! :(

[tebasuna51]

Sorry but I don't know how obtain that.

The surround ffmpeg filter (https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#surround) have many parameters: angle, focus, allx, ally, win_func,...
but I don't know how use them for that or how to find more information about them.

[raquete]

I started reading the ffmpeg documentation page, but it is too advanced for my level of knowledge and my English skills.
It contains so many details that I can barely grasp even 1/90th of the content. :confused: https://www.kpnemo.eu/engine/data/emoticons/hunter.gif
I'm not "smart," and I usually achieve the results I'm looking for. It's pure stubbornness—not "intelligence"!
(Like Thomas Edison with the lightbulb—running 700 tests before getting the desired result.
I don't call that persistence; I call it stubbornness lol ... though he had hearing problems, and I have ears like an elephant)

could you please explain what means:
-i %1 -af and -c:a (meaning of '-c:a' specially.)
like your fantastic clarification in
's24le' correct: Signed 24 bits Little Endian

:thanks:

edited: Thank you for the links, tebasuna51. :helpful:

[Columbo]

-c:a means here's the audio codec to use. E.g., you could give:

-c:a pcm_s24le

Little tip for ya... Just ask Claude or ChatGPT these questions. Then you won't have to wait for a reply here. ;)

[raquete]

@Columbo
My nephew told me about 'Claude' yesterday.
Waiting for answers here is great.
Here have kind and helpful people —who, over time, become friends.

Thank you, Columbo. :)

[tebasuna51]

could you please explain what means:...

Yeah, ffmpeg syntax is difficult to understand.

I will try to explain the meaning of:

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=25:lfe_high=150" -c:a pcm_s24le OUTPUT_5.1.wav


ffmpeg
Runs any program (.exe, .com, .cmd, .bat, ...) with that name in the current directory or in the system %PATH.

drc_scale 0
Global parameter to prevent the Dolby audio decoder from applying Dynamic Range Compression (the default behavior unless overridden) to maintain the original audio volume. If the audio is not Dolby, a message is displayed but ignored.

-i %1
Uses the first provided parameter or the dragged-and-dropped file as the input file.

-af
Applies the audio filters specified within the quotation marks to the first (or only) audio stream of the input file, once decoded.

"aresample=48000,
First filter (aresample=) to use with a single parameter (48000); the comma separates it from subsequent filters.
Converts the audio frequency to 48000, which is required for DVDs. It does nothing if the frequency is already 48000.

surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=25:lfe_high=150"
Second filter to use (surround=) with three parameters, separated by :, and their corresponding values. We could add more parameters, for example
:angle=180.
The quotation mark closes the filters to be used, although we could add more for example:
,volume=2 to double the output volume.

-c:a pcm_s24le
Output audio codec, as I said PCM Signed 24-bit Little Endian. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endianness)

OUTPUT_5.1.wav
Output filename

[raquete]

Thank you very much, tebasuna51; your post was a real masterclass.
:thanks:

[SeeMoreDigital]

Back in the day I used to use MuxMan v0.16.8

MuxMan accepts .bmp images created at any resolution and offers the ability to resize them to suit PAL or NTSC DVD's at either 4:3 or 16:9. You can also state the duration of the images.

It's been years since I used MuxMan but I remember it worked very well when I created an DVD with DTS 96/24 audio ;)

[raquete]

@SeeMoreDigital
Believe, i forgot how to use Muxman.
I need to re-learn.
I used in the past Gui for DVDAuthor for an dvd with only audio but forgot how to use too and need to re-learn.
https://download.videohelp.com/gfd/Help/AudioTitleset.html

Be sure, i'm going old with memory failing. I am forgetting that I am forgetting. :confused:

I am searching the entire guide to use MuxMan.
Thank you for the hint!

[raquete]

tebasuna51.
i'm reading and trying to understand the complicated ffmpeg but still far away of a simple knowledge.
Can you explain me what means:

-c:a and -center_mixlev:a please?

[tebasuna51]

-c:a prefix to specify the output audio codec. E.g.:
-c:a ac3
-c:a pcm_s24le

-center_mixlev (https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-codecs.html#ac3-and-ac3_005ffixed)
Modifies the default setting for an AC3 codec parameter. E.g.:
-c:a ac3 -center_mixlev 0.707

Apply -3dB gain
Recommended to improve the dialog volume when downmix to stereo, instead 0.595 -4.5dB gain (default)

I don't know why ffmpeg uses a default different from the one recommended by Dolby.

Center Downmix Level
When the encoded audio has three front channels (L, C, R), but the consumer has
only two front speakers (left and right), this parameter indicates the nominal
downmix level for the Center channel with respect to the Left and Right channels.

0.707 (–3 dB) default
0.596 (–4.5 dB)
0.500 (–6 dB)

[raquete]

Fantastic clarifications. :-)

Remember when I commented, questioning the possibility of:

L R C (center channel only) LFE SL SR

Where the C channel (center only) contains *only* what is in the center channel, excluding the content found in the L and R channels (i.e., not the sum of L+R).
Where the center channel holds only its exclusive content, the L channel holds only its exclusive content, and the R channel holds only its exclusive content.

8.83 dialoguenhance https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#toc-dialoguenhance
https://ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#toc-dialoguenhance (stereo to L,C,R)

I found this option for converting Stereo to L, C, R but don't know how to do the .bat for that!
If it proves effective, I’ll obtain the three front channels exactly as I want them and replace the ones extracted via the .bat file you sent me (ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=25:lfe_high=150" -c:a pcm_s24le OUTPUT_5.1.wav).
In that .bat file you sent, the bass in the center channel is wonderful—it’s lively—though the channel itself is mono. The extracted LFE is incredibly satisfying; countless high-end programs don't give me an LFE that sounds this good.

If you can do a .bat for the DIALOGUENHANCE where the input is a stereo source to get L-C-R will be more than cool.

[tebasuna51]

Ok, instead:
ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=25:lfe_high=150" -c:a pcm_s24le OUTPUT_5.1.wav
(-drc_scale 0 only needed to decode ac3/eac3 input)
we can use that filter with:

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "dialoguenhance=original=1:enhance=1:voice=2" -c:a pcm_s24le OUTPUT_3.0.wav

I put the default values for the allowed parameters:
This filter accepts stereo input and produce surround (3.0) channels output. The newly produced front center channel have enhanced speech dialogue originally available in both stereo channels. This filter outputs front left and front right channels same as available in stereo input.

The filter accepts the following options:

original
Set the original center factor to keep in front center channel output. Allowed range is from 0 to 1. Default value is 1.

enhance
Set the dialogue enhance factor to put in front center channel output. Allowed range is from 0 to 3. Default value is 1.

voice
Set the voice detection factor. Allowed range is from 2 to 32. Default value is 2.


EDIT:
Try with different values. The default values output (for me) worse output than CenterCut.

[raquete]

Geez. You're right, tebasuna51.

Is hard to deal with dialoguenhance values and Centercut give better results.

Using some parameters from Robert Haenggi effects - reduction of vocal and isolation in Audacity give good results too.(more or less equals Centercut: some with more basses, others with less basses, some with more voice, other with less voice, some with more separation, other with less separation.
Only after each process and testing the result you'll know if you like and it takes a long time, is needed to be very patient)
What i really like in ffmpeg is the high speed of the process!

Thank you for post the .bat for 3.0!
Looking all .bats that you send me and explaining the parameters i can understand a little more how ffmpeg work!

I really want to learn more about FFMPEG.
Is very good, full of possibilities

:thanks:

[raquete]

Tebasuna51

I didn't want to start a new thread just to report a strange result when using .bat files with FFmpeg.
(The descriptions below might be confusing, as I'm using Google Translator to help.)

After processing a stereo audio file with any FFmpeg .bat script,
the output shows an extra 42 to 43 milliseconds at the beginning of the track compared with the original stereo source,
with the CenterCut-processed output, and with files processed in Audacity... :confused:
All .bat files using FFmpeg exhibit the exact same timing sync error at the start of the song!
This creates a sort of 'echo' effect because I mix lots extracted tracks from other programs together.
I do a lot of mixings, and my temporary files can exceed 30 GB per song and sometimes need 'days' to end one unic music.

To achieve perfect synchronization, I trim(remove) 43 milliseconds from the beginning of the result of the.bat file's output.
By doing this, everything(all tracks) synchronizes correctly.
(result perfect sincronization between .bat, from CenterCut, from Stereo Source and with Audacity processes)
I’ve run these tests dozens of times, and I consistently encounter the same timing discrepancies.


For example, to better explain what's happening:
A stereo file is exactly 2 minutes, 48 ​​seconds, and 32 milliseconds long.
To synchronize the .bat output with the stereo source, with the CenterCut output, and with any Audacity processing,
I have to remove 42 to 43 milliseconds from the beginning of the file generated by FFmpeg.

Once I do that, the FFmpeg output becomes 2 minutes, 47 seconds, and 989 milliseconds. In other words:
The stereo source (2m 48s 32ms) minus the 43ms removed from the start of FFmpeg file
results in perfect synchronization with the StereoSource, with the CenterCut output, and with any Audacity process.
In the end, the result of .bat reduce the total time of the music but give synchronization.
I want to reiterate that these .bat scripts using FFmpeg are excellent—very fast and versatile—and they are my preferred method!

ps:It was very difficult to figure out what was causing the echo and the delays in the music, and please excuse my repetitive attempts to explain it.

Now the question:
Is there anything that can be done to fix this timing difference (a 42–43 millisecond delay) in the .bat file's output?
Another question: How to encrease the 5.1 output volume in wave files using ffmpeg .bat file?

:thanks:

[tebasuna51]

You're right; I've tested the `dialoguenhance` filter, and although the total duration of the output is correct, I notice a delay of about 35–36 milliseconds.

The issue should probably be reported to FFmpeg, but in my experience, they don't usually pay much attention to such reports.

Have you noticed this only with this filter, or with others as well?

This work for my example:
ffmpeg -i STEREO.wav -af "atrim=start=0.036,dialoguenhance=original=1:enhance=1:voice=2,apad=pad_dur=36ms" -c:a pcm_s24le OUTPUT_3.0.wav
cut 36 ms from the beginning and add 36 ms to the end

You can boost the volume of any audio by using the 'volume' filter at the end of the filter chain.

-af "...,apad=pad_dur=36ms,volume=2"

[raquete]

It happens with all .bats that you send me, not only with dialoguenhance. i left dialoguenhance, CenterCut give better result as you confirmed. :)

In the .bats that you send me the difference are exactly 42 millisecons in all of them.

My hasty and premature solution involved using an axe.
(It’s a crude and clumsy execution, but it works.. :D )

1- Encode the stereo audio with any ffmpeg.bat(that you send me)
2- Open the 5.1 result in audacity and remove 42 millisecons from the begining of the music. (is easy to adjust the time desired in Audacity)
3 Save the 5.1 resul from Audacity with less -42 miliseconds in the start of the audio encoded
4 Done.

This may the 5.1 output from ffmpeg.bat after be cutted in -42 miliseconds in Audacity be in exactly start point of all others effects that i use and with the stereo music used as source!

...and your last ffmeg way posted seems very cool,
give less 'work' and fast result. :)
:thanks:

[raquete]

tebasuna51

You can boost the volume of any audio by using the 'volume' filter at the end of the filter chain.

-af "...,apad=pad_dur=36ms,volume=2"

i understand how work but don't know how to add that in the .bat! :(

Can you add this parameters in this script, please?

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150" -c:a pcm_s24le OUT_51.wav

[tebasuna51]

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=2" -c:a pcm_s24le OUT_51.wav

-af "CHAIN"
Where CHAIN is:
A comma-separated chain of filters, with filter parameters and their values ​​following an equals sign, and separated from one another by a colon.
When only the basic parameter of a filter is needed, the parameter name can be omitted.
The following are equivalent:
volume=volume=2
volume=2

If you want add the sync 42 ms:
ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=2,atrim=start=0.042,apad=pad_dur=42ms" -c:a pcm_s24le OUT_51.wav

[raquete]

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=2" -c:a pcm_s24le OUT_51.wav

-af "CHAIN"
Where CHAIN is:
A comma-separated chain of filters, with filter parameters and their values ​​following an equals sign, and separated from one another by a colon.
When only the basic parameter of a filter is needed, the parameter name can be omitted.
The following are equivalent:
volume=volume=2
volume=2

If you want add the sync 42 ms:
ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=2,atrim=start=0.042,apad=pad_dur=42ms" -c:a pcm_s24le OUT_51.wav

oh friend,
for you all is so simple.:)
➡️ I will use both ways.
(i save all pages with your lessons as .pdf in english and in portuguese, help a lot cos i don't lose a simple 'comma')
:thanks:

Edited: Volume 1.5 was enough.

[raquete]

tebasuna51

i changed in the .bat

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=1.5,atrim=start=0.041,apad=pad_dur=41.5ms" -c:a pcm_s24le OUT_51.wav

And summed OUT_5.1 result with C and Surrouns from CenterCut (for test) and the result sincro is completely perfect! :cool:

If you have to change some on my mad changes, please do that! :)

[tebasuna51]

That's fine.

But why do you cut 41 ms and then add 41.5 ms of silence at the end?

It doesn't really matter, since 0.5 ms of silence at the end amounts to just 24 samples at 48 kHz.
And when it gets encoded into a compressed format later, it's unlikely to generate an extra frame (1536 samples in AC3).

[raquete]

:):)That's fine.

But why do you cut 41 ms and then add 41.5 ms of silence at the end?

It doesn't really matter, since 0.5 ms of silence at the end amounts to just 24 samples at 48 kHz.
And when it gets encoded into a compressed format later, it's unlikely to generate an extra frame (1536 samples in AC3).
First:I'm very happy with the result where all the waves processeds in other programs give perfect sincro with .bat from FFMEG.

Second: Why 0.5ms in the final at the end? :confused:
I really don't know :o,
i still don't understand FFMPEG, i only know that give me the perfect sincro in the result with the script with 41.5 in the final.
I'll try to remove that 0.5 ms in the script to see what happen.

Edit: changed the scritp to have very cool sincro!
volume=1.5,atrim=start=0.043,apad=pad_dur=43ms"
work perfectly.

[raquete]

tebasuna51

I use a lot of speakers in my 5.1 system, so I look for the best possible quality.:

A- Front left and right channels, each with a 10-inch speaker and a tweeter.
B- Center channel with three 6-inch drivers (wired in a series/parallel configuration to achieve the correct impedance).
C- 3 subwoofer enclosures: two sealed boxes with a 12-inch subwoofer in each, plus one box with an 8-inch subwoofer (wired in series/parallel to achieve the correct impedance).
D- 4 6-inch speakers in Surrounds: two 6-inch speakers wired in series for the Left surround channel and two 6-inch speakers wired in series for the Right surround channel (each pair wired in series to maintain impedance).

➡️ All of this is used to achieve quality, not to get "volume" that shatters windows.

The 5.1 audio generated by the FFmpeg .bat file produces fantastic bass in the Center Channel output (truly impressive and clean),
but the Front Left and Right channels exhibit somewhat weak bass.

Have any way to encrease a little the basses levels only in the Front Left and Right channels in the script?

[tebasuna51]

Bass in Center and Front channels? For what?
The amplifier must redirect the bass to the subwoofer.

BTW I have no experience adjusting surround filter parameters to achieve what you're asking for.

[raquete]

ok tebasuna51, i understood.

Good news:
Last night, I created my first DVD using DVDStyler, featuring 9 songs in AC3 format and background images.
I am grateful to the entire team that helped me; you were very attentive, and without you, I never would have managed to do this. 🥇👍
:thanks:

[raquete]

tebasuna 51

(The .bat file below is the best one I have for converting stereo to 5.1 WAV :cool: )

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=1.5,atrim=start=0.043,apad=pad_dur=43ms" -c:a pcm_s24le OUT_51.wav

pause


Could you modify the .bat file above so that one of them generates a 48 kHz AC3 output file and the other generates a 44.1 kHz AC3 output file, please?

[tebasuna51]

The `aresample=48000` filter is needed when the source has a different sample rate—typically when the input stereo comes from a CD (44100).
If it is already 48000, it is not necessary.

AC3 at 44100 is never necessary; some players would not support it.

It would be as simple as `aresample=44100`, but I cannot recommend it.

You can obtain the AC3 directly with:

ffmpeg -drc_scale 0 -i %1 -af "aresample=48000,surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=1.5,atrim=start=0.043,apad=pad_dur=43ms" -c:a ac3 -ab 448k -center_mixlev 0.707 OUT_51.ac3
pause

Where:
-drc_scale 0 (only needed for sources AC3/EAC3)
aresample=48000, (only needed if source is not 48000)
-ab 448k (or 384k, for DVD AC3 allowed bitrates)
-center_mixlev 0.707 (to replace the ffmpeg default by the Dolby default)

[raquete]

@tebasuna51

Magnificent explanations! You aren't just a basic education teacher; you are a university professor.
I learn more from your detailed answers than from reading dozens of articles!
I authored an audio-only DVD with still images containing 9 songs, relying solely on your teachings
(and those of various others here on Doom9 who are also so helpful).

I also did some crazy things—it's my specialty:
A DVD(Video_TS folder) with 9 songs and images totaling 2.46 GB
and,
using DVDStyler,
I created a folder with the same 9 songs and images in AC3 48kHz 448kb/s .MPG format, totaling 644 MB, for use with MPC-HC,
and, first using DVDStyler and then HandBrake (https://handbrake.fr/),
i did another folder with the same 9 songs and images in AAC 48kHz 448kb/s .MP4 format, totaling 170 MB, also for use with MPC-HC.

All 3 ways are working perfectly using MPC-HC in my NoteBook!

:thanks: very much tebasuna51! :)

[raquete]

I could do a 'DVD ISO' with AC3 448KBPs 48K (.mpg 5.1 with background image 720x480) with DVDStyler and after that,
I could do another 'DVD ISO' with AC3 448KBPS 48k (.aac 5.1 with background image 720x480) using HandBrake.
After 'unzip' both ISOs the AAC have round 1/4 of the size comparing with .MPG!

The size AAC is really short comparing with .mpg!
About the sound quality, using headphones(32 Ohms 18Hz to 22KHz) and with MPC HC i could not feel differences in the audio.

The very good result:
I don't need no more of DVD cos i only want to hear the sound in my systems. :D
I used Santana III as source, upmix to 5.1 and
using the .bat from tebasuna51, the AC3 with image in background was done.

I did 'playlist' with MPC HC using the result of the script !
Now i only need to 'double click' in the MPCPL (playlist) to start to play all musics. :cool:
The size, of course is really short comparing with the DVDs unzippeds!

Thanks to Columbo, SeeMoreDigital and Emulgator for help.

--> A very special special THANKS to tebasuna51 that gave directions, miraculous .bats and lessons!

:thanks:

[tebasuna51]

Of course, you can improve your quality/size using the best AAC encoder (qaac must be in the SYSTEM %PATH%) and include a image per track, for instance:

ffmpeg -i %1 -af "surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=1.5" -acodec pcm_s24le -f wav - | qaac.exe -V 91 --artwork %1.jpg -o %1.m4a -
pause

I don't know the AAC encoder used with HandBrake.

[raquete]

Doubt: AAC sounds better than AC3?

HandBrake use AAC AV CODEC
mono bitrate until 256,
stereo bitrate until 512
Dolby Surround and Dolby Prologic II bitrate until 512
5.1 channels bitrate until 1536

https://handbrake.fr/

Thank you, one more gem is saved:

(ffmpeg -i %1 -af "surround=lfe_mode=sub:lfe_low=30:lfe_high=150,volume=1.5" -acodec pcm_s24le -f wav - | qaac.exe -V 91 --artwork %1.jpg -o %1.m4a -
pause)

[tebasuna51]

Like say here https://handbrake.fr/docs/en/latest/technical/audio-codecs.html :
On Linux and Windows, HandBrake uses the FFmpeg AAC encoder.

On Mac, HandBrake uses Apple’s CoreAudio AAC encoder. It’s known to be much better quality and is the default option for Mac users.

The Apple’s CoreAudio AAC encoder (used by qaac) is better.

The Variable Bitrate (-V 91) is better quality than AC3 448 kb/s
For the same size AAC soudns better than AC3

[raquete]

Ok,
I'm using win 11 64b.

Apple’s CoreAudio AAC encoder (used by qaac)
Is the right place to get qaac?
https://www.free-codecs.com/download/qaac.htm
remember, i can't deal with command lines.

and hard question is how to put it inside HandBrake? :confused:

[tebasuna51]

Is the right place to get qaac?
Tle last version is always here: https://github.com/nu774/qaac/releases/

I changed the FAQ about AAC with some info here:
https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=424070#post424070

and hard question is how to put it inside HandBrake?
Sorry, I don't know.
I don't like HandBrake like encoder (for me the variable fps sucks) I always use ffmpeg.

[raquete]

...and hard question is how to put it inside HandBrake?

Sorry, I don't know.
I don't like HandBrake like encoder (for me the variable fps sucks) I always use ffmpeg.

Well, if you can do a .bat with ffmpeg for me i'll forget the HandBrake!
Yours ffmpegs .bats are faster, do 'miracles' and i need only audio with single picture in background, i don't care about 'videos'. :)

[SeeMoreDigital]

Why are you considering using AAC audio, as it's not DVD compliant.

Or has the conversation moved away from "authoring DVD's with audio only"?!

[Emulgator]

From #54 it looks as if our friend raquete has indeed left the search for authoring a physical DVD-Video disc ;-)

[raquete]

Why are you considering using AAC audio, as it's not DVD compliant.

Or has the conversation moved away from "authoring DVD's with audio only"?!
I will author DVDs, separateds 5.1 AAC, separateds 5.1 AC3 and separateds Flacs(completely lossless) to hear in my audio systems (without images).
This thread is really important for me and i save the pages in english and in Portuguese! :)

[raquete]

From #54 it looks as if our friend raquete has indeed left the search for authoring a physical DVD-Video disc ;-),
:D ,
no...i learn more than expected but i don't know what means #54!

is the post #54?

[Emulgator]

Yes, post #54.

[raquete]

FROM POST #54
I could do a 'DVD ISO' with AC3 448KBPs 48K (.mpg 5.1 with background image 720x480) with DVDStyler and after that,
I could do another 'DVD ISO' with AC3 448KBPS 48k (.aac 5.1 with background image 720x480) using HandBrake.

..then, with a great deal of help, I created the DVD using DVDStyler and learned how to make a disc compatible with my three DVD players and my Sony 380 Blu-ray player (which also plays SACD ISOs).

As a bonus, I learned how to use HandBrake, which also does an excellent job.
In the end, I went ahead and authored a physical DVD-Video disc—I have it now—and I also learned how to use the files on my 5.1 systems without needing the TV for the visuals.
I achieved results that exceeded my expectations, thanks to your help.

ps: This thread is saved in external hd in English and in Portuguese to be used as 'guide for clueless newbies' to do DVDs with songs with or without images!

:thanks: to you and all persons that help me, each step was inportant and i wiil ask more, be sure. :D