Why no decode as well ? -AC-3 Encoder - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Why no decode as well ? Posted by: jrr Date:10/19/2003 6:11:27 PM I know the tool is known as the AC3 Encoder, but why doesn't it support decoding as well ? It seems very strange to me that I can build AC3 soundtracked mpeg 2 files & DVDs, but not directly edit them ! If I wish for whatever reason to open a DVD or straight mpeg file that I have previously created with an AC3 soundtrack, I can't just drop it in Vegas. The video will open fine, but not the audio. So I have to use a third party app, such as BeSweet or DVD2AVI to rip the Ac3 audio out of my video, and convert it to wav files, which Vegas will then open. This seems madness ! I know Ac3 is a lossy algorithm, so one wouldn't by choice go through repeated encode / decode sequences, but sometimes it is really useful to open Ac3 audio tracks. Moreover, why can't Soundforge use the codec too ? My copy of ACID uses the AC3 encoder now that I've got Vegas/DVD Architect. Why not Forge ? regards, James
Subject:RE: Why no decode as well ? Reply by: farss Date:10/19/2003 9:13:27 PM i had asked a similar question and the issue is the cost. I agre its a pain, at least to be able to hear how it sounds after you've encoded it and to check levels etc. but probably SoFo would have had to pay Dolby heaps for the licence and also I heard that the code isn't that stable. So all things considered it was probably a sensible decision at the time to leave it out.
Subject:RE: Why no decode as well ? Reply by: B_JM Date:10/29/2003 9:47:17 AM the cost for the decoder is almost nill ... in fact its either one dll or just use directshow support (as the ac3 decoder has been released for directshow support for a long time) thats why you can play and edit ac3 in such programs as goldwave and virtualdub and tmpgenc and even the main concept encoder .. even windows media player (once you have installed the codec) .. http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/
Subject:RE: Why no decode as well ? Reply by: Neil Wilkes Date:12/28/2003 8:05:57 AM Seriously bad decision. I use Nuendo all the time, and the DD Encoder/Decoder for that is perfecrly stable. It's the main reason I'm still not yet convinced to buy Vegas, although with Premiere Pro being sent back as bad beyond belief, I'm getting left with little choice. Import of Dolby Digital files would be a MUST for me though.

Subject:Why no decode as well ?

Posted by: jrr

Date:10/19/2003 6:11:27 PM

I know the tool is known as the AC3 Encoder, but why doesn't it support decoding as well ?

It seems very strange to me that I can build AC3 soundtracked mpeg 2 files & DVDs, but not directly edit them !

If I wish for whatever reason to open a DVD or straight mpeg file that I have previously created with an AC3 soundtrack, I can't just drop it in Vegas.

The video will open fine, but not the audio.

So I have to use a third party app, such as BeSweet or DVD2AVI to rip the Ac3 audio out of my video, and convert it to wav files, which Vegas will then open.

This seems madness !

I know Ac3 is a lossy algorithm, so one wouldn't by choice go through repeated encode / decode sequences, but sometimes it is really useful to open Ac3 audio tracks.

Moreover, why can't Soundforge use the codec too ? My copy of ACID uses the AC3 encoder now that I've got Vegas/DVD Architect. Why not Forge ?

regards,

James

Subject:RE: Why no decode as well ?

Reply by: farss

Date:10/19/2003 9:13:27 PM

i had asked a similar question and the issue is the cost.

I agre its a pain, at least to be able to hear how it sounds after you've encoded it and to check levels etc. but probably SoFo would have had to pay Dolby heaps for the licence and also I heard that the code isn't that stable.

So all things considered it was probably a sensible decision at the time to leave it out.

Subject:RE: Why no decode as well ?

Reply by: B_JM

Date:10/29/2003 9:47:17 AM

the cost for the decoder is almost nill ... in fact its either one dll or just use directshow support (as the ac3 decoder has been released for directshow support for a long time)

thats why you can play and edit ac3 in such programs as goldwave and virtualdub and tmpgenc and even the main concept encoder .. even windows media player (once you have installed the codec) ..

http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/

Subject:RE: Why no decode as well ?

Reply by: Neil Wilkes

Date:12/28/2003 8:05:57 AM

Seriously bad decision.
I use Nuendo all the time, and the DD Encoder/Decoder for that is perfecrly stable.
It's the main reason I'm still not yet convinced to buy Vegas, although with Premiere Pro being sent back as bad beyond belief, I'm getting left with little choice.
Import of Dolby Digital files would be a MUST for me though.