DVD audio and DTS/DD

[murdof]

I want to create a DVD audio disc with DD 2.0 streams (I understand that DTS 2.0 doesn't exist).
The reason I want to do this is to keep the audio file size small (the source is mp3 and a DD 2.0 is about the same size) but I want to add slideshows, menus and groups.
The only way I found out how to add a DTS/DD stream is to make DTS 5.1 WAV or DD 5.1 WAV.
My source as you understand is 2 channel and if I convert it to 5.1 I have a file almost as big as the uncompressed wav.
So I'm looking for a way to keep the audio file as small as possible.

Also does anyone have any info on how to create linked lyrics and is there a limit on the number of tracks a DVD audio disk can have (like 99 on a DVD video)?

Unfortunately the sources about DVD audio on the internet are very limited so any help would be greatly appreciated...

[TRILIGHT]

Don't know about the number of tracks. I've not made a DVD-A disc yet. As for Dolby Digital encoding, there's just no way that your AC3 file should be as big as the original WAV file; even if it was 5.1. Anyway, there is Dolby Digital 2.0 encoding which is 2-channel. It's a function of your encoder. If 5.1 is all you're getting then you must simply be making the wrong selections when you encode.

[murdof]

Sonic DVD audio creator and Minnetonka accepts WAV Dolby Digital and WAV DTS files.
Besweet has option to encode only in 5.1 AC3-WAV file and you can't specify bitrate for that (I tried specifying but it overrides it.)
Here is output from besweet:

C:\>BeSweet.exe -core( -input "c:\testwav.wav" -output "c:\testac3.wav" -ddwav )
BeSweet v1.4 by DSPguru.
--------------------------
Using Shibatch.dll v0.2 by Naoki Shibata & DSPguru (shibatch.sourceforge.net).
Using AC3enc.dll v0.2 by Gerard Lantau & Dg (http://ffmpeg.org).

[00:00:00:000] +------- BeSweet -----
[00:00:00:000] | Input : c:\001_Alkinoos Iwannidhs-08-Bythos.wav
[00:00:00:000] | Output: c:\testac3.wav
[00:00:00:000] | Floating-Point Process: No
[00:00:00:000] | Source Sample-Rate: 44.1KHz
[00:00:00:000] +------- AC3ENC ------
[00:00:00:000] | Bitrate method : CBR
[00:00:00:000] | AC3 bitrate : 640
[00:00:00:000] | Channels Mode : 2.0
[00:00:00:000] | Error Protection: Yes
[00:00:00:000] +---------------------
[00:03:27:220] Conversion Completed !
[00:03:27:220] Actual Avg. Bitrate : 1411kbps
[00:00:09:000] <-- Transcoding Duration

As you can see DDWAV creates 2.0 stream with an actual bitrate of 1411kbps so that's why I get the file as big as the original wav.
Apparently DDWAV makes senses only for 5.1 streams that's why it won't allow you to lower the bitrate.
Maybe dspguru can help me about that...

Although I can't listen to the output file on my PC when I burn it as dvd audio or cd audio it works on my standalone without any problems.

[Okar Gona]

@Murdof,

Try DVD Architect of Sonic Foundry. With this program you can create DD 2.0 audio streams and slideshows.

[SVCD4Me]

murdof-

Get the BeSweet GUI. When you select your files and choose AC3 as the output, it will have a ( -b 384) by default I believe. When you copy it to your clipboard, paste it into notepad or something similar and edit the 384 to 160 or whatever bitrate you need. Then re-copy it and paste into command prompt.

-jb