Surround Channels when ripping dvd

[brettatredback]

Hi - basic question! When ripping on a mac with handbrake (am just planning on using a preset, either 'film' or 'appletv', what happens to the surround channels? Are they encoded in the resultant file also, or do you lose them and just go to stereo?

Thanks,
Brett

 

[Cave Man]

You get two audio channels with the Apple TV preset provided there's an AC3 track in your DVD.

1. Two channel Dolby Pro Logic (up to 5 channel surround) analog.
2. AC3 Dolby Digital (up to 5.1) digital.

The Apple TV automatically detects the DD track and uses it if you have a digital audio connection (i.e., HDMI or optical); otherwise it sends the analog out.

On a Mac, you have to manually activate the AC3 track in QT to get DD. Or you can manually set HB to do that. That can reduce portability, though.

 

[brettatredback]

OK, thanks for that.

By 'on a mac', do you mean if i want to playback the movie file on the mac or when i am ripping/encoding on a mac? I am on a mac!

Does this mean when ripping/encoding with the appletv preset on HB on the mac, i need to manually go and make sure it is using the DD (surround sound) track? I ripped/encoded my first set of dvd's before Christmas, and it looks like they all have only stereo tracks in them so my amp goes to dolby PLII or dts neo modes. How do i confirm what audio tracks are in those files? Just open up in HB i guess.

If these files are indeed 2 channel, is it worth it to go back and do them with DD5.1 you think? Would be great if there was a service would i could legally download rips of movies i own without having to do it all myself. I am sure someone has ripped my movies before!

thanks,.
Brett

 

[Cave Man]

Playback of DD on a Mac can be tricky with QuitTime and Front Row. Plex handles such things much better.

Open one of your video files in QuackTime and choose Window -> Show Movie Properties and you'll see if there's both analog ("stereo") and digital ("surround") audio tracks. The one that is checkmarked is enabled for QuickTime playback. You have to manually enable the other (and disable the original).

Getting QT to play is a pain in the @$$, which is why I use plex.

 

[brettatredback]

OK, thanks for that!
So, just to double check - HB will automatically add in the 2 tracks you mention above with the appletv preset without me having to change anything?
thx.

 

[Cave Man]

If the DVD has an AC3 track, you will get both analog AAC audio (track 1, enabled) and AC3 Dolby Digital (track 2, disabled). If your DVD does not have an AC3 audio track, you will only get analog AAC (up to Dolby Pro Logic II).