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Using Handbrake: Apple TV Preset how do I get 5.1?

M

MrMister111

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 28, 2009
3,900
382
UK
Hi

I use handbrake to encode using the Apple TV preset. I chose it and go, leave everything as is.

How can I get 5.1 sound though on my encodes, is there a particular option I have to chose?

Also if I chose 5.1, what happens if I just play it trough normal TV stereo speakers, will the sound still be ok?

cheers
 
Sorry for asking, but can you post a screenshot of the actual Handbrake setting for me? I've read the articles thanks. Just dont want to go ahead and nto tick the right one.

So all the sound will be ok even when playing on a normal stereo TV?

thanks
 
I can only give a reply based on playing the files on the Apple TV, but seeing as you are using that preset, I'll assume there is a fair chance you are using one to play your files.

If so, the Apple TV preset will almost always pick up the 5.1 track for you. If you look in the audio tab then you will see that by default audio track 1 will be a stereo version of the soundtrack and audio track 2 will be a passthru of the 5.1 track.

If you play the file on a non surround system then it will use the stereo track. If you play it through Apple TV connected to a 5.1 system it should automatically pick up that track.

I've found that getting the Apple TV preset to pick up the 5.1 tracks is never a problem. What I have to watch out for is it creating a second track when there is just one stereo audio. This doesn't cause a problem, but I'm sure it would create a bigger file than is necessary.

Basically, if you are using Apple TV and your films have a 5.1 track then generally you don't need to do anything to the Apple TV preset.
 
You can transcode the .mkv file in Handbrake.

1.
Just open the .mkv file in Handbrake, use the Apple TV preset (you may have to click "Toggle Presets" in the toolbar), change the audio to AC3.

2.
Save it as preset (click the pink-coloured + sign on the bottom of the Preset sidebar) and give your desired title.

3.
Use the preset on every AC3 enabled file you want.​

Screenshot, attention: large!

Clickable
rkt2yo.png
 
KeithJenner said:
I can only give a reply based on playing the files on the Apple TV, but seeing as you are using that preset, I'll assume there is a fair chance you are using one to play your files.

If so, the Apple TV preset will almost always pick up the 5.1 track for you. If you look in the audio tab then you will see that by default audio track 1 will be a stereo version of the soundtrack and audio track 2 will be a passthru of the 5.1 track.

If you play the file on a non surround system then it will use the stereo track. If you play it through Apple TV connected to a 5.1 system it should automatically pick up that track.

I've found that getting the Apple TV preset to pick up the 5.1 tracks is never a problem. What I have to watch out for is it creating a second track when there is just one stereo audio. This doesn't cause a problem, but I'm sure it would create a bigger file than is necessary.

Basically, if you are using Apple TV and your films have a 5.1 track then generally you don't need to do anything to the Apple TV preset.
Click to expand...
Ah I see, so Handbrake will use a 5.1 audio track and a stereo track, and encode both in the same file, then if an Apple TV unit (which I have got 1st Gen), then it will use this if it connected to a 5.1 system, and the stereo one if not.

I also use the files encoded with Apple TV preset for on my PS3 as well,, this is connected to a .1 system, so will the HB ATV preset, be able to play these in 5.1?

Also do you experts use the Handbrake nightly builds or just the standard HB 0.9.4?

cheers again for all your help
 
Man your explanation picture looks sweet, if only exposé was that multicolored...
 
MrMister111 said:
Also do you experts use the Handbrake nightly builds or just the standard HB 0.9.4?
Click to expand...

You'll need to use the latest nightly build to be able to convert non AC3 (DTS) tracks to a 5.1 AC3 track - As that feature has not made it into a stable build as yet.
 
MrMister111 said:
Ah I see, so Handbrake will use a 5.1 audio track and a stereo track, and encode both in the same file, then if an Apple TV unit (which I have got 1st Gen), then it will use this if it connected to a 5.1 system, and the stereo one if not.

I also use the files encoded with Apple TV preset for on my PS3 as well,, this is connected to a .1 system, so will the HB ATV preset, be able to play these in 5.1?

Also do you experts use the Handbrake nightly builds or just the standard HB 0.9.4?

cheers again for all your help
Click to expand...

If I remember correctly, the PS3 does not handle this well because it only handles the standard .mp4 format whose specs do not allow a 5.1 AC3 and stereo AAC track within the same file. That along with chapter support are the major differences between mp4 and m4v. Other than that they are interchangeable.
 
newagemac said:
If I remember correctly, the PS3 does not handle this well because it only handles the standard .mp4 format whose specs do not allow a 5.1 AC3 and stereo AAC track within the same file. That along with chapter support are the major differences between mp4 and m4v. Other than that they are interchangeable.
Click to expand...

Ah ha, this is a problem then, I was wanting one file to play on my iPhone 4, Apple TV 1G, and PS3.

So maybe I have to go back to the start then? so should I just use the standard Apple TV preset and remove the 5.1 passthrough thing?

Is he PS3 issue still present even in the latest firmware (v3.5)? How can I check please? I can test if needed?

cheers
 
MrMister111 said:
Ah ha, this is a problem then, I was wanting one file to play on my iPhone 4, Apple TV 1G, and PS3.

So maybe I have to go back to the start then? so should I just use the standard Apple TV preset and remove the 5.1 passthrough thing?

Is he PS3 issue still present even in the latest firmware (v3.5)? How can I check please? I can test if needed?

cheers
Click to expand...

You may have a rock and hard place issue. If you remove the AC3 passthru, the file may play ok on your PS3 but you won't have 5.1 on your Apple TV.
 
steviec said:
You'll need to use the latest nightly build to be able to convert non AC3 (DTS) tracks to a 5.1 AC3 track - As that feature has not made it into a stable build as yet.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I have a recent build (svn3633) and it seems stable. An earlier build with the ability to create an AC3 track automatically (svn35xx), would produce files that will play on my iMac but crash my Apple TV. I see that 3634 is out, but I'm going to run with 3633 for a bit I think.
 
rayward said:
FWIW, I have a recent build (svn3633) and it seems stable. An earlier build with the ability to create an AC3 track automatically (svn35xx), would produce files that will play on my iMac but crash my Apple TV. I see that 3634 is out, but I'm going to run with 3633 for a bit I think.
Click to expand...

Oh dear I didnt realise some of these nightly build would break compatibility... thats not what I want at all!

I have svn3626, not sure why or how, wasnt sure if it was latest or anything either :O
 
MrMister111 said:
Oh dear I didnt realise some of these nightly build would break compatibility... thats not what I want at all!

I have svn3626, not sure why or how, wasnt sure if it was latest or anything either :O
Click to expand...

They are updated regularly, hence the "nightly" moniker, and they have only been tested in a very limited manner...if at all (I have no idea of the process that goes on before these builds hit the interwebs).

If you want one that is guaranteed to work, you should get the official version off the main site. I like the nightlies, because they can create an AC3 passthru track on any encode (or all the ones I've tried, at least) whereas the official version will not. As I said, 3633 is working fine for me, but they're already up to 3634.

All you have to lose is a little time. If one doesn't work for you, reinstall your prior version or take a leap of faith and go to the next night's build. If the problem is commonplace, chances are it's already solved.
 
rayward said:
They are updated regularly, hence the "nightly" moniker, and they have only been tested in a very limited manner...if at all (I have no idea of the process that goes on before these builds hit the interwebs).

If you want one that is guaranteed to work, you should get the official version off the main site. I like the nightlies, because they can create an AC3 passthru track on any encode (or all the ones I've tried, at least) whereas the official version will not. As I said, 3633 is working fine for me, but they're already up to 3634.

All you have to lose is a little time. If one doesn't work for you, reinstall your prior version or take a leap of faith and go to the next night's build. If the problem is commonplace, chances are it's already solved.
Click to expand...
mmm I might go back to a stable release of v0.9.4 then. This allows 5.1 doesn't it on Apple TV preset?

been reading and trying to understand that wiki on surround sound, and I have to add that on my PS3 the 5.1 is connected optically to my 5.1 system, there some stuff in there which I don't really understand thats says about it wont work optically, not sure though

cheers
 
MrMister111 said:
mmm I might go back to a stable release of v0.9.4 then. This allows 5.1 doesn't it on Apple TV preset?
Click to expand...

It will on certain rips only - not sure why (hopefully someone can fill in for my ignorance). The nightly builds have the ability to create an AC3 passthru track, which gives you 5.1 on Apple TV, but v0.9.4 can only copy an AC3 passthru if there is a compatible track in the source file.

Eventually, the official release will get the ability to create AC# tracks, but until then you have to take pot luck on your encodes with v0.9.4. If it can't copy a passthru track, you'll get stereo only*.


* For quite a while I thought I was getting 5.1 when I wasn't. I'm having to re-rip my entire library after my external media HDD crashed without a recent backup (because I'm an idiot), so I'm using a nightly build (svn3633) to make sure they all now have 5.1 sound. So far, that build has encoded 3 dozen files flawlessly.
 
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