Importing AC-3 audio streams

Tbob wrote on 7/31/2004, 8:57 PM
I enjoy working with DVDA2 and Vegas 5. I think that they are great programs, but I have a major complaint. I was very disappointed to find out that these programs cannot import AC-3 audio streams- I am especially disappointed that DVDA2 cannot do this. I have video that I archived using my set top recorder, and now I find that if I want to redesign the disks in DVDA2, I have to use a third party program to extract the audio and then rerender them first. There are programs that cost under $100 that can import AC-3, such as Video Explosion Deluxe ( a trimmed down version of Vegas Video) and Ulead Movie Factory Disc Creator 3, so I find it frustrating that DVDA2 and Vegas 5 cannot do this. I have searched the threads in this forum and it seems that I am not the only one complaining.

Comments

johnmeyer wrote on 7/31/2004, 9:25 PM
You are 50% correct: Vegas cannot import AC-3 files; DVDA not only imports them, it is the preferred audio format, and has been since its initial release
JaysonHolovacs wrote on 7/31/2004, 9:29 PM
DVD-A2 takes in AC-3 FILES no problem. But it doesn't rip them out of VOBs, if that's what you mean. Vegas won't import AC-3 files, I think that's the limitation. But I would think there are freeware DVD rippers you can use to bring in the video and audio from an existing DVD without much trouble. These files should already be DVD compliant and should be possible to drop directly into DVD-A2 and have them be used as titles without recompression. But you won't be able to master them in Vegas without conversion to AVI(or something).

Sure, it would be nice, but is it really a big deal to use a 3rd party program for your initial import? Once you import it, you can forget it and do all your work in Vegas or DVD-A2.

-Jayson
rontvs wrote on 7/31/2004, 9:40 PM
You are right, MPEG2 files with MUX AC3 and VOB (with MUX AC3) files will not import the AC3 audio into DVDA. Yes, there are many authoring programs that will allow this and it does make sense to allow these files. Maybe the next update will fix this, I hope.

Ron
Tbob wrote on 7/31/2004, 10:19 PM
I should have been more clear on what I meant by import. I realize that DVDA2 can import AC-3 from Vegas and others, but I meant that it can't import imbedded AC-3 audio streams from DVDs already created- such as the ones I make on my set top recorder.
John_Cline wrote on 7/31/2004, 10:47 PM
There are any number of ways to demux VOB files into their MPEG2 and AC-3 streams. I use a freeware program called "SmartRipper v2.41." Works great.

John"