Encoding 5.1 DVD without Dolby.

[Amadou]

Is there a way to encode a movie on DVD in 5.1 without purchasing the DOLBY SURCODE which costs about 250 Euros?

 

[MichaelP]

Is there a way to encode a movie on DVD in 5.1 without purchasing the DOLBY SURCODE which costs about 250 Euros?

AC3. Most encoders will take the 6 individual tracks and do this as part of the encoding process.

Michael

 

[Amadou]

Huh... how do they incode without Dolby and if they can do it, why can't Premiere?

 

[Andrius Simutis]

.ac3 is Dolby. It doesn't have to be SurCode for DVD. 5.1 .ac3 is fine. Go borrow someone's Mac and use Compressor to encode it from your six discrete tracks.

 

[David Jimerson]

You may find this helpful.

http://forums.adobe.com/thread/921599

Be sure to read Harm Milaard's comment, #2.

 

[Amadou]

What about exporting in H264 in 5.1 (it does not require Dolby to encode H264 in 5.1) and then encoding the H264 file to DVD. Does that not allow for the same result without Dolby?

 

[Andrius Simutis]

no.

 

[Amadou]

Huh... why not?

 

[drapeama]

You may find this helpful.
http://forums.adobe.com/thread/921599
Be sure to read Harm Milaard's comment, #2.

That was the first thing that pop'd to my mind.
There's many software (most free) that will allow individual audio files to export to DD5.1.
There's some information/walkthrough that you can read here, with the free open source software that are needed to start from .wav to end up with .ac3.

What about exporting in H264 in 5.1 (it does not require Dolby to encode H264 in 5.1) and then encoding the H264 file to DVD. Does that not allow for the same result without Dolby?

It won't work, because DVD specs allows only to use stereo (2ch) wav/PCM. Only Dolby Digital and DTS are compatible in multi-channel audio.

 

[Jim Simon]

The short answer here is no. Dolby's encoding technology is not given away for free, so you will need to pay in some fashion. Any method that allows Dolby Digital 5.1 encoding for free would be illegal.

 

[drapeama]

Any method that allows Dolby Digital 5.1 encoding for free would be illegal.

It's only legal (as far as I know, I haven't been able to find anything to read on the subject) with a Certified encoder, like the one Vegas Pro has.

 

[Amadou]

I purchased the Dolby license. It was worth it. However, what are the best export settings?

 

[drapeama]

I purchased the Dolby license. It was worth it. However, what are the best export settings?

On DVD, max bitrate is 448Kbps for a multi-channel audio track. I'd suggest also to set the dialog normalization level to -31dB. As for Dynamic Range Compression, I'd suggest you to let it at "Film Standard".
You have the Dolby guideline available to read here. And if you need more information and explanations, there's always here as well.

 

[Amadou]

Why do you want the video normalisation level at -31 rather than the default -27? What about Original Bitstream options? What about DC filter and all the other boxes? Do you know what these boxes mean?