AC3, is it worth the hassle?

[Capturebat]

I want to encode my HuffYUV captures to MPEG2 for NTSC DVD. I can't decide on what to use, AC3 stereo or MP2. I have heard that AC3 is indeed better in quality, but not have not done any tests yet.

Not too many authoring/encoding programs support AC3, could someone recommend me some that do? Are there special authoring techniques you have to use for DVDs containing AC3? Can I just encode with Besweet, mux, and do a simple author? What is the compatibility with DVD players like versus MP2 audio?

[Axed]

All DVD players support AC3. Just test the mp2 audio on your own player/s, if it plays fine then stick with that. Im not sure if its true, but i heard that not all players in NTSC support mp2 audio, so you might want to watch out for that.

99% of DVD's that you pickup off the shelf will have an AC3 track, so any authoring program will support AC3.

[Capturebat]

Pinnacle Studio, DVD movie factory, and TMPG enc do not support AC3.

[Capturebat]

I found a guide on videohelp on how to encode AC3 properly. I'm gonna try it out.

[SiXXGuNNZ]

Originally posted by Capturebat
Pinnacle Studio, DVD movie factory, and TMPG enc do not support AC3. all the real authoring programs do support ac3

ac3 is the dvd standard for audio, it just doesn't make sense that it wouldn't be supported.

[Happygolucky]

TMPGEnc DVD Author DOES support AC3. You have to purchase the additional AC3 encoder from them for it (and TMPGEnc Xpress) to do the AC3 encoding, but if you already have AC3 files, it will use them in authoring your DVDs without a problem. You don't even have to purchase the AC3 encoder if you use something else (like BeSweet) to do your encoding, DVD Author accepts the AC3 files as the audio track, be they 2.0 or even 5.1 channel.

[hendrix]

ok...AC3 is REQUIRED in ALL NTSC and Australia PAL DVD players, MP2 is REQUIRED in ALL EU PAL DVD players...not all NTSC and Australia PAL players will accept mp2 audio and not all EU PAL DVD players will accept AC3 audio but newer players do.