alternative PC AC3 decoders

[Chibi Jasmin]

@valex: The 'standart' preset in AC3-Filter is different from what you describe as 'standart' in the english html-doc.

Which one is really the most standart compliant setting? And you don't mention the state of the normalize under master gain control, the 'use drc control' and of 'master' in mixer settings in the html-doc for standard compliance:

Quote from doc:

Maximum standart compatibility
Recommended in all cases.

Master = 0dB
DRC Power = 0dB
BSI lock = all on.
Auto matrix = on.
Normalize matrix = on.
One-pass norm = off.
Expand stereo = off.
Voice control = off.

end of quote!

missing in the doc:

Use DRC = on/off?
Gains/Master/Normalize = on/off?
Master in mixer settings = ?

what 'standart' preset does differently (unknown for the above 3 unmentioned entries):

Normalize matrix = off.
One-pass norm = on.
Expand stereo = on.
Voice control = on.

So which are really the most standard compliant settings? :D

UPDATE: Just realized one pass normalize and gains/master/normalize seem to be dependend on each other (one off = the other off, too, and vice versa) or they are actually the same? didn't get that too clear from the readme...

And one other thing: The C, SL, SR values in the matrix (BSI lock all on) now decrease from 1 to 0.7071 on playback start, in earlier versions they stayed at 1, if I remember correctly, what has happened there? Is the value read from the audio stream or is it standard this way?

[Palikrovol]

Originally posted by Snakeisthestuff
@Alestrix

If tested you Mix Matrix with 2ch ogg, mp3 and ac3 files, all works great! got good sound in my FrontCenter Speaker, many thx for this!

btw mentioned a bug in Trombettworks' Channel Downmixer:
if i open an avi with mplayer2, and then open an second avi in the same player window the sound from the first avi wont stop, so i have the sound for the avi i watch and the sound from the avi watched before :) .

How have you tested with ogg and mp3? The AC3 filter only is loaded when there is an AC3 audio stream :confused:

[dTb]

@ Palikrovol
I haven't tried it myself but I believe Alestrix's filter is independant of the ac3 filter. Afaik it's simply a surround upmix filter.

[slolsby]

Valex,

I have a problem with the AC3filter, when playing several files on a playlist in Zoomplayer. As the first file ends, I then get an Access Violation as follows:

Access Violation at address 7401D607 in module quartz.dll. Read of Address 000000A0

I have tried removing all the filters I can, and when AC3filter is removed, the problem does not happen. Also, I only get this problem when I set Zoom to use Default Waveout Device rather than Default Directsound Device - I need to use Waveout because if I use Directsound I get occasional jumps and stutters when playing AC3 (this is set in Zoom by going to Options/Manual Filters, ticking "Use custom audio in media mode" and select Default Waveout Device). I can also reproduce this on another PC.

I am running Windows XP SP1 with a Creative Live Player. This happens both when set to SPDIF output or not.

Hope this helps

Thanks

(BTW, your email seems to be broken. If I send to the address on your web page - xvalex@mail.ru -, I get a bounce back saying your account is blocked)

[cabal]

i think this: http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/ is the new adress for valex ac3 filter ...

now v0.61

greetings cabal

[sAXIn]

I have Windows 98Se and Onboard sound based on the ALC650 chip
With your filter Valex everything works great the sound is clear I love the gain options for the surround and center cause I Always had them very low sound. Good Work for me now, it's the only one AC3 playback filter for DivX!!!

I don't get why people saying they can't get 5.1 analog output with Win98 for me everything works great I remember that once I installed some Path from Microsoft for the OS support for SDIF output and Multi channel Audi!

I can check the file if someone needs it , I have it somewhere here....

[Snakeisthestuff]

@sAXIn
yeah, that would be nice, iam using win98SE too and didnt get 5.1 sound output, except with PowerDVD :(

[yosemite]

hi,

I'e installed these AC3 filters now, but BS Player only give me the chance between INTERVIDEO AUDIO DECODER and CYBERLINK AUDIO DECODER in the "For AC3 decoding use" menu.

what is wrong?

[Valex]

Big bug with seeking is fixed in new version:
http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/ac3filter/ac3filter_0_62b.exe?download

Too tired to say something more and went to sleep.....

[Chibi Jasmin]

Would be great, if it would be possible to somehow pass DTS-streams over to Intervideo Audio Decoder, instead of accepting and outputting silence...I understand this is not as easy as it sounds, as it would probably require building a new filter graph throwing ac3filter out and intervideo decoder in, when dvd just switches from ac3 to dts...so if it's not possible, I'd be happy with a simple switch in the ac3-filter-config to disable/enable the whole thing, so that in disabled state intervideo decoder (if installed, of course) is loaded...

[smok3]

@valex: simply amazing :) (the ds-ac3 filter on xp with sb live 5.1)

so is there a plan or an existing ds filter for somethig like:
mp3 -> decode surround -> mixer(voice/surround/lfe) -> 2ch out ? (edit: this could 'improve' the playback of the divx movies with mp3 soundtrack which were badly made/decoded from 5.1 ac3 files i imagine, usualy center is way to low)

(i know something like that was already mentioned in this thread)

[MaTTeR]

Originally posted by Valex
Too tired to say something more and went to sleep..... Thx for the bug fix Valex. I'm not able to pass through SPDIF anymore with 0.62b though. I went back to 0.61b and it worked like a charm.

Win2k/SP3
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz
Direct Sound(tried Wave Out as well)

Hope you got some rest:)

[Valex]

[MaTTeR]
I'm not able to pass through SPDIF anymore with 0.62b though.

Sorry about it but it is too hard to work when you cannot see the result (as you remember I have no spdif at all). But I really found a bug that can make spdif mute on some ac3s/receivers. Try this:
http://xvalex.hotbox.ru/download/ac3filter_test.exe

[slolsby]

Valex,

Thanks for the new version. I'm pleased to say it fixes the Access Violation I reported above. I was also just about to post that I too was not getting anything through SPDIF when I saw your post about the test version. I have just installed this and tested and I now have SPDIF working again.

Once again, many thanks for a great job!!

[Valex]

I need a regular testers for this not happen again. Not just anyone but advanced users who can test it on different players try much combinations, reproduce other's errors, work in graphedit and explain what is wrong and where if possible. It is really hard job but I cannot propose anything for it except for filter itself that will be much more stable. Write to my email with that (mailto:xvalex@mail.ru?Subject=Tester)

[Valex]

@Snakeisthestuff
MS patch (SPDIF & multichannel under w98):
http://xvalex.hotbox.ru/download/269601usa8.exe

[MaTTeR]

Originally posted by Valex
Sorry about it but it is too hard to work when you cannot see the result (as you remember I have no spdif at all). That's perfectly ok, I can't imagine how difficult it is to code blindly;)

The new test version indeed fixed the SPDIF issue, works fine now. I sent you an email offering to help do testing.

Happy Holidays Everybody!

Edit- @Valex, Thx again for this excellent filter you have provided:D

[Snakeisthestuff]

@Valex
thx, will try it immediately!

[pirata]

Hi Valex. Wonderful tool.

I guess that when you tell AC3filter that you want stereo output and the matrix is set to auto, it computes a downmix matrix.

I just thought it could be nice if the matrix currently being used by the filter was showed in the matrix display in the settings dialog, in real time.

Just tell me what you think.

[Valex]

@pirata

I just thought it could be nice if the matrix currently being used by the filter was showed in the matrix display in the settings dialog, in real time.

Yes it is showed in real time as it computes. Try to change levles and you'll se how matrix is changing.

[kauffmbe]

@Valex

Why does the filter default to setting the Voice (center channel) and the surrounds approx 3.3 lower than the LFE or mains when the auto matrix or BSI lock is selected. Is this some sort of standard output level that is specified by Dolby for playback of AC3?

[Gforce_Ti]

@ Valex

Thanks for the great tool n Merry X'mas to all. Happy Holiday :)

[pirata]

Yeah it's true. How did you determine the right coefficients for a 5.1 to 2.0 downmix?

I have also noticed that, in stereo output mode, C' = 1* LFE. What does that mean? I do not have any center speaker!

[Snakeisthestuff]

@Valex
i have tried 269601usa8.exe + Waveout under Win98 SE and it works really great! i must say better than under Win2k, cause i have no channel-jumping during video seeking. but the big problem is all the ogm stuff didn't work correctly with Waveout, maybe some sort of plugin like in winamp were useful...

[Valex]

@Snakeisthestuff
What sound card do you use? I need it for statistics about channel jumping problem.

@pirata
It does not matter. If channel does not exists at output (input) it does not matter what is in corresponding row (column).

@kauffmbe
Yes, I need to check all mixing modes. -3dB gain should appear only if center is mixed to front channels.

[pirata]

@Valex: how do you compute coefficients for downmixing to stereo or quad?

[romei]

@Valex

When using Nandub and Morgan Stream Switcher to create 2 AC3-audiostreams in 1 DivX-movie, audio plays only f.e. the first 22 minutes of a 135 minutes-movie when jumping with video-seek-function or pausing playback. When playing from start to end without breaks it seems that audio plays complete.

[falcon_b]

@Valex:

I have tried the new version but it seems sometihing wrong with it. When I play AC3 448kb the playback is erratic. When I reinstalled the v0.6.0.0 there is no problem with the playback.

v0.6.0.0 - OK
v0.6.0.1 - no SP/DIF output
v0.6.0.2 - SP/DIF plays tic...tic...tic...tic... etc.
v0.6.0.3 - erratic playback

Hope this helps a little bit

Best regards
BS

[Valex]

@pirata
It is just straightforward implementation of
http://www.atsc.org/standards/a_52a.pdf (page 92).

In case of 5->2 downmix it is just
L' = 1.0*L + clev*C + slev*SL + lfelev * LFE;
R' = 1.0*R + clev*C + slev*SR + lfelev * LFE;

where clev is center mix level, slev is surround mix level, lfelev is LFE mix level. When 'BSI Lock' is on theese factors (except for lfelev) are got from bitstream. lfelev is not defined in bitstream, so I suppose lfelev = 1.0 when BSI Lock is on. When BSI Lock is off all theese factors become adjustable gain levels.

@romei
Which version of filter do you use?
Sound Card/Windows version?
PCM/SPDIF?
Does it work without MMSwitch? (In BSP for example)
Is it errors in stream when audio stops (look in bitstream info)?
What is Master level when audio stops?

@falcon_b
Can you describe the distortions?
Does it work normally in PCM mode?
Does it work with other ac3s (384kbit for example)?
Can you try this:
ac3filter.sourceforge.net/download/ac3filter_avisync.exe

[falcon_b]

@Valex:

I have tried v0.64b with the following results.

1. If I config SP/DIF by default -> no SP/DIF output.
2. If I config anything else + set SP/DIF on the property page then
a) 448 kbps works fine
b) 384 kbps no SP/DIF output (no digital input on my receiver)
3. No erratic playback.

regards
BS

[romei]

@valex

I use newest version 0.63b. Operating-System: Windows 98 SE with Soundblaster Audigy Player.
The error appears both in PCM and SPDIF-Mode. With MMSwitch uninstalled the error is still the same.
There are no errors in bitstream. If only one AC3 stream is used, it playes without problems! Audio stops independent from a specific position when jumping out of the first 22 minutes. When jumping within the first 22 minutes or when playing from within the first 22 minutes to the end, audio plays without problems. When the movie is splitted to 3 smaller parts there are also no problems at all.

[Snakeisthestuff]

@Valex
i use Creative Labs SoundBlaster 5.1 Live, in know its an trouble making soundcard but it works fine for me in most cases :)

[downloada]

hi,

i have encountered similar problems as romei did. with 2 ac3-tracks in one video (in my case it was xvid, doesn't matter, i think), audio seems to play fine only if i don't seek through the movie or change the active track with morgan stream switcher.

after switching the track, the video plays very choppy and jerky, it isn't smooth any more. but after some time, the audio just stops playing.

when seeking through the movie, the audio stops after playing for a while, too.

all these problems don't appear when using the intervideo audio-filter, so it has to be something wrong with your filter.

i used 0.63b of ac3filter, win2k, a terratec dmx xfire soundcard, directx 8.1 and zoomplayer or wmp 6.4 for avi-playback. i used 2.0 channel-downmixing and no spdif, i don't have a a/v-receiver connected to my pc.

cu

[marcobdivax]

@Valex
I was using your filter from the beginning, and they work well.
Just a question, to clarify myself if this is a hardware problem: if I play (PowerDVD) a dvd I note no "ripple" (little noise on low volume scenes) even if I raise the ampli volume.
But if I "rip+extract ac3+encode video+create avi with ac3(nandub)", when I play this avi with different players (and your filters) low audio scenes have a lot of noise.
Please note that the noise is concentrated on center/rear channels (and, apparently, not on front channels).
Do you have any comment?

Thanks a lot

marco

[RockoS]

Hi Valex,

I'm following this threaf for a while and I read all the FAQs but unfortunately I don't manage to get the AC3 sound as 5.1 to my SPDIF if the source isn't a DVD. (Thus playing via the PowerDVD suite and thus having an option in the soundcard management console which says digital output from: PowerDVD or main outputs)

I've installed some of your ac3 drivers, 5 minutes ago the 64b version
but it's always the same problem. When I set everything to SPDIF output I don't get anything. The only way to get a sound to my receiver is by setting output to anything but SPDIF.

Hardware: Dell Precision 340 Workstation, Hercules 7.1EX fortissimoIII soundcard. 1GB RAm

Software: Win XP SP1, BSplayer, WMP9, Powerdivx Nextgen

I'm really desperate. Your decoder shows me that my DIVX file is delivering a ac3 (3+2) output which I can nicely downmix to DSurround or anything but no way to get it to the SPDIF directly and then decode with my receiver. The DD light stays off an no sound comes out. I hoped the latest driver version from Hercules would solve that problem but unfortunately I got disappointed. Is there any help or anyone with the same mess?

thanks,
Rocko :confused:

[Valex]

@falcon_b
Can you try Moonlight Odio decoder (I looked at) will it work in SPDIF mode with 384kbps stream?
http://www.moonlight.co.il/download/OdioDec.zip

Does v0.6b have no problems with 384 kbps?

@romei
I made an AVI with 2 ac3 streams (nandub) and have no problems with it. :\

@marcobdivax
But if I "rip+extract ac3+encode video+create avi with ac3(nandub)", when I play this avi with different players (and your filters) low audio scenes have a lot of noise.

AC3 standart have a feature to enable noise at low-level scenes. It is bitstream-defined flag should channel have noise or not.

[marcobdivax]

Thanks, Valex.
Going further, how can I set this bit? Or how can I extract ac3 stream with this bit set (I've used smartripper, dvd decrypter, ac3 tools, vstrip) ?

marco

[falcon_b]

@Valex

I can't donwload. Needs l/p.

And yes. It works perfect with oooops.... while typing this words it just happend. Audio is 384kbps and after a while I have lost the signal. Now I getting the property page and press OK. The player comes back and everything works well.

So it seems it is working know. :)


Regards
BS

[rjamorim]

http://www.elecard.com/ftp/pub/OdioDec/OdioDec.zip

[falcon_b]

@rjamorim
THX.

@Valex
It works with Elecard filter. Hope it helps.


regards
BS

[ookzDVD]

@Valex,

I'm using the latest 0.63b, and having "crack" sound while pause and then play again from the ZoomPlayer.

Thank you.

[bokus70]

I think it has to do with choosing PCM 24bit or PCM float option, instead of (the default) PCM 16.

I had the same problem as you, until I reverted to PCM 16.

[ookzDVD]

Originally posted by bokus70
I think it has to do with choosing PCM 24bit or PCM float option, instead of (the default) PCM 16.

I had the same problem as you, until I reverted to PCM 16.

Thank you,
switch to PCM 16, no "click" or "crack" sound problem after pause/play.

PS.
But: "Sometimes" if I skip forward/backward the sound is played with
wrong channel mapping :(

[bokus70]

@ookzDVD:

Glad that's solved. But I'm not sure whether the problem is with the filter or with the drivers (I have sblive value)... Anyway, I didn't notice the difference regarding sound quality between those three modes.

About wrong channel mappings - this is one problem that ac3filter has to solve. It happens just the way you said and I will add the situation when I pause the movie and resume. The same thing. But this never happens in win98SE...

[MaTTeR]

Originally posted by bokus70
But I'm not sure whether the problem is with the filter or with the drivers (I have sblive value)... I've tested the three modes with three different sound cards running Win2k/SP3. The results weren't a big shock...

Santa Cruz- All modes play perfectly even while changing on the fly.

Hercules Fortissmo II- All modes play perfectly even while changing on the fly.

SB Live- All modes worked but 24bit and PCM float seems to have a slight crackle when seeking. (Now I can take it back out of the machine and put it back in the closet where it belongs)

@Valex
Using the latest pre-release you sent me, well its working great even with AVI files. I guess OGM files were never really a problem in the first place. The seeking is very fast, no problems noticed yet.

[Laryllan]

I have a different problem:

The ac3filter 063b works very well for me, but when I use spdif out the video stutters in ZoomPlayer.

I´m using WinXP SP1, DirectX 9.0 and a Sb Audigy Card with latest drivers (5.12.1.253 says windows).

[MaTTeR]

@Laryllan
Is this happening with other players like PowerDivx, BSPlayer or WiMP too? If so, how did you mux the AVI file(ie. NanDub or AVImux)? The muxing is very important when using SPDIF out. I'd advise using AVImux with it's default settings and then try playing it through SPDIF, you should see much smoother playback compared to muxing with NanDub. Just a thought...

[Valex]

@Laryllan

Try this:
http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/download/ac3filter_avisync2.exe
or
http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/download/ac3filter_avisync3.exe

It should solve problem with stuttering. I need to know is it noticable difference between these two version?

@Matter
(Now I can take it back out of the machine and put it back in the closet where it belongs)

Agree! :D

[Valex]

For everyone who have problems with jumping channels:
http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/download/ac3filter_mapping.exe

Does this test version have this problem?

[ookzDVD]

Originally posted by Valex
For everyone who have problems with jumping channels:
http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/download/ac3filter_mapping.exe

Does this test version have this problem?

@Valex,

Thank you,
I still have jumping channel problem with that version,
after play/pause.