Rendering AC3 sound from VMS 10

TOG62 wrote on 7/20/2010, 12:52 AM
I notice that, when rendering MPEG2 PAL to disc, there is no option to choose AC3 sound. This seems odd as if I choose the Burn to DVD option I do get AC3 as a separate file.

I thought this might be because DVDAS doesn't like video and AC3 in a combined file, but was pleasantly surprised that this has been fixed in DVDAS 5 (when importing files from other sources). I used to have to rename such files as VOBs, but this is no longer necessary.

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 7/20/2010, 7:00 AM
Many, including myself, consider an MPEG-2 with combined AC3 the least attractive of options.

The ability to replace the audio quickly without re-rendering the video, second language tracks, narrative tracks, separate stereo/5.1 mixes, a karaoke track, etc. are all reasons I would never use the rendering option you suggest.
TOG62 wrote on 7/20/2010, 10:11 AM
I agree about audio replacement, although I've never needed to use it as, in my case, it's always the video that needs re-editing.

I don't think any of the other factors apply to DVDAS in any case.

Mike
Allegretto wrote on 7/23/2010, 8:50 PM
>> I notice that, when rendering MPEG2 PAL to disc, there is no option to choose AC3 sound. This seems odd as if I choose the Burn to DVD option I do get AC3 as a separate file.

This is because Burn to DVD is automatically doing two separate renders for you, one to MPEG-2 and another to AC-3.

You'd need to do these renders separately. Recommend that you choose AC-3 first, as the audio renders go a lot quicker. Then choose MPEG-2, use the DVDA template of your choice.

When you open the MPEG-2 file in DVDA, it should also automatically see the AC-3 audio file if it is in the same folder and has the same root filename (the part before the file extension).
musicvid10 wrote on 7/23/2010, 9:09 PM
"I agree about audio replacement, although I've never needed to use it"

My audio-to-video replacements are about 5:1, over a dozen years of experience. It's just a matter of perception and experience.
TOG62 wrote on 7/24/2010, 1:39 AM
"I agree about audio replacement, although I've never needed to use it"

Actually, upon reflection, I can recall several occasions when I have had to alter the audio, to get sound balance right, without altering the video. Of course, separate renders would be very time-consuming in such cases.

Cheers
MIke