Selection of Dolby Digital AC-3 Pro

Enni wrote on 10/27/2012, 11:55 AM
Hello everybody,
I'm quite a newby to Vegas Pro, using Vegas Pro V12.0 (Build 367) 64-bit and DVD Architect Pro V5.2 (Build 135) on a Windows 7 Pro system. I use licensed versions, no trials.
Sorry if my question was already threaded but I didn't find useful answers yet.

Because I would like to input the rendered file to DVDA for a Bluray with Menu and Dolby Digital 5.1, in Vegas Pro I try to render my video as "AVCHD 1920x1080-50i 5.1 Surround". In "user settings" -> audio tab I would like to select "Dolby Digital AC-3 Pro" as desired audio format, but the only selection possibility I get is "Dolby Digital AC-3 Studio". As far as I know AC3-Pro is a prerequisite for burning Blurays with Dolby 5.1, isn't it?
Any tries with AC3-Studio gets me a Bluray with only stereo output. So what am I doing wrong?
Any help appreciated!

Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 10/27/2012, 11:16 PM
Your desired output is:

1. A BluRay compliant video file using a DVD Architect video template.
2. A BluRay compliant audio file using the Dolby AC3 Pro template.

That is two files. One video, one audio. The rest works as per your expectations.

Unfortunately, the AC3 Pro encoder is included only with Vegas Pro. As a result, Vegas Movie Studio does not encode AC3 5.1 to BluRay. This is a limitation of that entry level program. A workaroud is to use a 6 channel PCM audio file instead.

Also see, http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=703611
Enni wrote on 10/28/2012, 8:16 AM
Thanks for reply, musicvid.
But as I mentioned, I'm using Vegas Pro 12 64-bit edition, not Movie Studio.
As also mentioned, it's not a trial but a licensed version.
But again, on the audio tab of the template dialog there's a pulldown control for audio format, and the only shown and selectable item there is "Dolby AC-3 Studio".
So again, what's wrong?
musicvid10 wrote on 10/28/2012, 9:06 AM
"on the audio tab of the template dialog there's a pulldown control for audio format,"
Which audio tab on which template and which pulldown?

"I try to render my video as "AVCHD 1920x1080-50i 5.1 Surround".
That is NOT a compliant BluRay video stream template.
Use a compliant DVD or BluRay video stream template to prepare a video file for export to DVD Architect.



Once again:
You need a DVDA compliant video stream template WITHOUT audio.
You need a compliant Dolby Digital Pro audio template WITHOUT video.

That's two renders to two files from two different formats.
You do not want audio in your video file for DVD Architect.

If the Dolby AC3 Pro encoder does not show up in the Render As->Save as Type menu in Vegas Pro, there is a problem with your installation and it is probably time to reinstall DVD Architect (that's where Vegas gets the DD encoders). Of course you must be working in a 5.1 surround project in order for the options to show.

rraud wrote on 10/28/2012, 11:37 AM
Yes, if DVD Arc in not installed, Dolby Digital AC-3 Pro encoder will not be available..
Enni wrote on 10/28/2012, 12:35 PM
Hello musicvid,

thanks again, your screenshots helped me a lot, I got it now!
First thing was, I didn't know how to exactly render data in VP to maintain AC3-5.1 info in DVDA, so I tried out different formats, including AVCHD, which all lead to stereo downmix in DVDA. The second thing is, yes, i also thought about seperate video and audio rendering, but I didn't get any AC3-Pro entry from the template list. As I'm from Germany, I have a german version of VP V12, and as you can see, there is no hint to AC3-Pro anywhere:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g015tea4k4e1l0h/AC3-1.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/t7rx9ecubx1j26o/AC3-2.jpg

The AC-3 Studio, on the other hand, is mentioned, as you can see in the 2nd link.
As I found out, the "AC-3" entries here mean "AC-3 Pro", and, using them, I finally got it.
So, thanks again!
musicvid10 wrote on 10/28/2012, 3:56 PM
You probably should submit that to Sony as a bug so they will get it on their list.