Divx with AC3 - strange problem...please help

[angelleye]

First, let me say that I've installed the GKnot codec pack which included the AC3 Filter for playback and I've also installed the Morgan Stream Switcher filter.

I've got a Dave Matthews Band DVD that I'm trying to encode with to divx 5 with AC3 sound. The DVD has 2 AC3 files...one for 2 channel and one for 6 channel.

I would like to include both in my AVI. I currently only have 2 speakers connected to my receiver...but there are times when I connect my computer to a friend's receiver (with full surround) and I am soon going to get the rest of my surround set. So anyway, it's nice to have both audio streams.

I've tested this with the last VOB in the set...the smallest. I'm using GKnot and I selected both audio tracks under Audio A and Audio B under the bitrate tab. Then at the end I chose to Just Mux each of them and encoded.

The finished product works...but doesn't. It opens fine in Windows Media Player and intially the sound is fine...I can even switch between the 2 just fine (and I can tell a major difference between each.) The problem is that after about 10 or 15 seconds of play the audio goes silent. I can then switch back to the other stream which will work...for 10 or 15 seconds and then go silent again. I can continue to switch back and forth...and each will work when initially switched...but always goes silent.

WTF??? Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[KpeX]

Your problem is probably due to WMP. I'd try Media Player Classic by Gabest or some other advanced player. Why include both AC3 tracks? Any amp can downmix 6 channel AC3 to play over your two speakers, and it'll save you a lot of video bitrate.

[brute]

that's a known problem of Morgan Stream Switcher. Everybody has it, and we're all hoping, that somebody fix it, or programm an alternative switcher :(((

[angelleye]

KPex:

When I listen to the 6 channel stream on my setup right now...with only 2 speakers...I can really tell that there's a lot missing. I watched the actual DVD at a friends house the other day on a 5.1 surround system. Dave's voice and guitar comes through the main speakers...the rest of the band mostly comes through the rear speakers. You CAN hear them with my setup right now...but they're really faint.

When I play the 2 channel stream on my setup right now everything sounds crisp and great. But...not as cool sounding as the 6 channel sound.

I'll give another media player a try and let you know if that helps.

Thanks!

[KpeX]

Second thought: if that doesn't work, why not try it in a container that actually supports multiple audio tracks? I know for sure you could do two AC3 tracks in Matroska, and I think you can with Nic's latest OGM muxer, either of which would play back great in MPC or ZPlayer or any other good Dshow player and should allow you to switch back and forth. Of course you'll need the appropriate playback filters for either container format.

[angelleye]

I've got an IMAX video that I downloaded (Tropical Rainforests) that's got 2 audio streams. an english and a french. that video is playing perfectly fine in WMP...no audio outage at any time on either stream...and I can switch back and forth with no problems.

this makes me think I've gotta be doing something wrong either with my steps in gordian knot..or maybe I should be doing it another way. any thoughts?