Affordable WAV->AC3 encoder?

[goemon]

The only affordable one that existed seems to no longer be sold.

All the currently sold ones that I have found cost $500-$600...

Who sells an affordable WAV->AC3 encoder?

I need AC3 encoder so I can make audio for NTSC DVDs that are created from SVHS captures... if I try to use PCM audio then I run out of room to fit on a 4.7g DVD-RW. And not all players will do mp2 audio on NTSC (you need at least ac3 to be compliant with NTSC DVD spec)

[Cayne]

Try using Besweet

[Deepa DvD]

What DVD Authoring program are you using? Does it accept AC3 files?

[goemon]

Originally posted by Deepa DvD
What DVD Authoring program are you using? Does it accept AC3 files?

I am using the authoring program which came with my Pioneer 104, Sonic Mydvd 3.0. And it doesnt seem to support AC3.

[goemon]

Originally posted by Cayne
Try using Besweet

I tried it (v1.4b7 with ac3enc) and it does not generate valid ac3 files.

[DSPguru]

2.0ac3 seems to be invalid, but 5.1 is valid.

[goemon]

Originally posted by DSPguru
2.0ac3 seems to be invalid, but 5.1 is valid.

How do you make BeSweet encode 5.1 from a 2.0 stereo wav file?

All I need is 2.0 :(

[DSPguru]

sorry, dude. atm, ac3enc's 2.0ac3 is buggy.

[goemon]

Originally posted by DSPguru
sorry, dude. atm, ac3enc's 2.0ac3 is buggy.

Ok so how do you make BeSweet encode 5.1? Do you have to make a 5.1 wav file? (And how do you do that?!?!)

[DSPguru]

what's is your audio source ?
if it's originally two channels, i don't think you should create a 5.1 track out of it.

[goemon]

Originally posted by DSPguru
what's is your audio source ?
if it's originally two channels, i don't think you should create a 5.1 track out of it.

From the very beginning of this thread, I stated my audio source!!

I need AC3 encoder so I can make audio for NTSC DVDs that are created from SVHS captures

I think it's pretty obvious that SVHS is 2.0 and not 5.1 ...

So, given that I am capturing a 2.0 audio track from SVHS, and I need to make an 2.0ac3 out of it for DVD purposes, what software can I purchase for reasonable price to do this?

[DSPguru]

Originally posted by goemon
I think it's pretty obvious that SVHS is 2.0 and not 5.1 ...not exactly.
if the 2.0 source is dolby surround encoded, you could create 5.1ac3 tracks out of it.
just like they did with old "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".

as for tools :
digigram & surcode.

but don't know about prices...

[Doom9]

what's so wrong with 192kbit/s mp2 instead of 192kbit/s AC3? mp2 is cheaper and also supported by every DVD player

[goemon]

Originally posted by Doom9
what's so wrong with 192kbit/s mp2 instead of 192kbit/s AC3? mp2 is cheaper and also supported by every DVD player

No its not!! I have personally verified that mp2 is not supported by every player.

Thats the whole reason I'm trying to do AC3, so that it WILL work on every player.

[DSPguru]

one example, please :).

[goemon]

Originally posted by DSPguru
one example, please :).

Verified on a couple friends Samsung and a Pioneer (though one of the latest pioneers did handle it), dont recall the exact model numbers but I could probably get them.

[TRILIGHT]

Originally posted by DSPguru
not exactly.
if the 2.0 source is dolby surround encoded, you could create 5.1ac3 tracks out of it.

No offense, DSP but it seems to me that it is a total waste of this person's time to expect them to re-mix an entire piece of audio to "simulate" 5.1. Sure, there are ways to do it but it's a total waste of time. It would be much simpler if they just stuck to keeping their 2 track with surround for encoding to a Dolby Digital 2.0 S track. If the footage is from stereo "home movies" then the attempt at 5.1 is even more futile.

Back to the original question, the only ones I've seen out there is SurCode's stereo-only Dolby Digital encoder that runs $599. (5.1 is $995, DTS is $1995 :eek: ) and Digigram's which is around $750-800, depending on where you look. I've personally not had experience with either. There was a very nice one available from Sonic called SoftEncode. You may be able to find a used copy somewhere as they no longer sell it. I was lucky and a colleague of mine gave me his company's copy of SoftEncode when they upgraded to a more sophisticated hardware solution.

[goemon]

Originally posted by TRILIGHT
Back to the original question, the only ones I've seen out there is SurCode's stereo-only Dolby Digital encoder that runs $599. (5.1 is $995, DTS is $1995 :eek: ) and Digigram's which is around $750-800, depending on where you look. I've personally not had experience with either. There was a very nice one available from Sonic called SoftEncode. You may be able to find a used copy somewhere as they no longer sell it. I was lucky and a colleague of mine gave me his company's copy of SoftEncode when they upgraded to a more sophisticated hardware solution.

I wonder why all these ac3 encoders are so horridly expensive? Are dolby's licensing fees really that huge? :O

[Deepa DvD]

goemon is right! mp2 is not supported by every player.It clearly states in the book that I was reading-DVD Authoring & Producton.

[DSPguru]

Originally posted by Deepa DvD
goemon is right! mp2 is not supported by every player.It clearly states in the book that I was reading-DVD Authoring & Producton. okay. i couldn't find a proof either.

@TRILIGHT
no offense. no problem.

[goemon]

Originally posted by DSPguru
not exactly.
if the 2.0 source is dolby surround encoded, you could create 5.1ac3 tracks out of it.
just like they did with old "The Rocky Horror Picture Show".

as for tools :
digigram & surcode.

but don't know about prices...

$839 for digigram ac-3 encoder
$995 for surcode