Creating AC3 from scratch

[jansb000]

Hi,

I a new to most of the tools discussed on this web-site. A.f.a.i.k. this topic is in none of the guides:

For a computer game that I am working on I would like to be able to add AC3 sound-effects, using the full 6 channels. The sound-effects that I start with are just mono or stereo WAV files.

Can I use BeSweet (or another freeware tool) to combine sound-effects (explosions, voices, etc) to create a realistic AC3 track? Has someone used these tools for this purpose before?

PS; The game that I work on is freeware (http://wcs-jabe.sf.net).

[mikecito]

First a question - Are these sounds going to live in the game, or in other words, will the be dynamic as the game plays?

If yes, then AC3 isn't the answer. I don't know for myself but I read elsewhere that AC3 can't be generated on the fly because of the way it's compressed, you have to know what's coming up too soon. It wouldn't have a fast enough response to be live for the players.

If no, then just create the six waves by and encode them in Soft Encode, or equivalent. Remember, however, that you'll have to find a way to pipe the sound through the SPDIF port on the sound card.

I would suggest using a surround sound standard for games. Most cards don't support ac3 out anyway, so you would be limited in the number of players that could use the feature. Almost all cards that have 4 speaker outs (some have 6) support the standard gaming surround sound methods. You could probably find more about that on Creative's web site than here.

I hope this helps!

[jansb000]

"First a question - Are these sounds going to live in the game, or in other words, will the be dynamic as the game plays? If yes, then AC3 isn't the answer."

No, there will be an animation at the start of the game. This animation needs AC3 sound, so it can be prepared completely in my "studio". Processing time is no problem.


"If no, then just create the six waves by and encode them in Soft Encode, or equivalent."

Soft encode is a commercial program. Furthermore, Sonic Foundry doesn't sell it anymore. Also, I take some pride in the fact that I prepare my program 100% with free software.


"Remember, however, that you'll have to find a way to pipe the sound through the SPDIF port on the sound card."

I write the program for future users. In the future AC3 will be standard (I guess) on all sound cards. Many new PC's already have SPDIF. Furthermore, the program is primarily a learning project where I want to research the borders of multimedia. It is not my goal to have a game with "simple" sound. Such games are already available in great numbers.


Thanx for your reply.

[DSPguru]

Originally posted by jansb000
Can I use BeSweet (or another freeware tool) to combine sound-effects (explosions, voices, etc) to create a realistic AC3 track? Has someone used these tools for this purpose before?feed BeSweet with 6ch wav, and you'll get (in case you set the right switches ;)) a 5.1 ac3 stream.

[mikecito]

So - if I understand correctly, besweet will encode to 5.1 DD ac3, but you have to feed it a 6 channel wave file?

If I do this, how do I specify which channels are FR, FL, LFE, etc.?

Thanks!

[DSPguru]

L C R SL SR LFE

[jansb000]

Sorry for this newbie question:
How do I create a 6ch WAV?:rolleyes: