What happened to Sony AVC choice to render as MP4 with AC3?

CaptainKen2 wrote on 7/11/2017, 9:40 AM

As shown in the link below the "AVCHD 1920x1080-60i 5.1 Surround" template used to allow saving to MP4.

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/rendering-mp4-with-5-1-surround--87499/

The "Internet HD 1080p" used to allow saving AC3 5.1 with the video in MP4 format.

https://forums.creativecow.net/thread/24/984759

Anyone know why the heck this MP4 5.1 option has been stripped from program, and am I the only one that sees their value? IMO rendering to m2ts or avc + ac3 and then using another program like Handbrake to get a MP4 or MKV file with 5.1 is an unreasonable unnecessary time consuming extra step, and can lower the quality. Even having to use MKVToolNix or ffmpeg to save quality is not reasonable.

Comments

set wrote on 7/11/2017, 9:58 AM

so far I know, the audio for AVC is AAC codec, not AC3.

Former user wrote on 7/11/2017, 10:21 AM

The 5.1 audio in Sony MP4 is AAC. It was never AC3. That is a licensed codec and needs to encoded as a separate file.

Marco. wrote on 7/11/2017, 11:45 AM

This depends on the project properties (which must be 5.1) and the template you select for Sony AVC (which must be an AVCHD one). Then you will have AC3 5.1 available (just use one of the given AVCHD 5.1 templates).

AC3 is not (and never was) available for any of the internet/MP4 templates, though.

CaptainKen2 wrote on 7/11/2017, 8:10 PM

According to the older links I provided, MP4 5.1 used to be an option.

So I looks like I haven't overlooked an option to render 5.1 to MP4?

Marco. wrote on 7/12/2017, 1:52 AM

The first link you posted says, it is not possible to render to MP4 5.1 AC3. It throwed an error message.

The second one mainly asked for 5.1 and the way suggested would be 5.1, but AAC audio.

You either can output MP4 5.1 AAC or AVCHD 5.1 AC3. And actually there should be no need to use AC3, besides the DD metadata AAC is superior.

CaptainKen2 wrote on 7/12/2017, 10:41 PM

Thank you everyone for your responses, especially to Marco to sticking with me.

So I should choose Sony AVC/MVC "Internet 1920x1080-30p" with "5.1 Surround" selected on the Audio tab.

Assuming the frame and bit rates for video and audio and other settings match the original, the above would be the highest quality MP4 with 5.1 selection?