Hi folks,

I've seen a number of posts on here about people trying to "convert DVD to DVD-A format," and I wanted to offer up an alternative: converting the LPCM, AC3 and DTS files on your DVDs to the multi-channel AAC audio (A4A) format that is supported both by the iPod and the ELS audio system.

Now some audiophiles might be crying foul, but hear me out: while AAC is not a completely "lossless" compression technology, AC3 and DTS files can be converted to AAC mulltichannel format with a minimal loss of fidelity, one that is certianly within the acceptible range for mobile applications such as car audio.

With this in mind, by following the steps outlined below, you can extract the audio content from a DVD, convert it to a multi-channel AAC file, add ID3 tags to it, sync it to your USB stick or iPod, then play it back with crystal-clear, balanced sound on your Acura ELS system. While these instructions are for PC users, I'm sure that there are equivalent products for Mac, but I've not worked with them - suggestions are welcome.

To start, you'll need the following:

1. One or more DVDs from your collection (please, only use discs you own)
2. A copy of DVD Audio Extractor
3. A copy of XviD4PSP
4. Media player of your choice to add ID3 tags (WMP/iTunes)
5. USB Stick or iPod (output files are large, I don't recommend a CD)

Once everything is loaded, do the following to extract the audio files:
1. Load the DVD into the drive and start up DVD Audio Extractor
2. Select the source DVD (if not already selected)
3. Select files to export from box on right (you can preview within the app)
4. Select "from" format from lower left - e.g. English AC3 (48Khz6ch)
5. Click on "Next"
6. Select "Direct Stream Demux" and click on "Next"
7. Select your output location and click on "Next"
8. Make sure "Pop up a notify window" is selected and click on "Start"
9. When the files are extracted, a notification window will pop up

To convert the files to AAC/A4A format, do the following:
1. Open XviD4PSP and select "Audio" for the format
2. Select AAC-LC VBR 1.00 from the Audio Encoding menu
3. Click on "Open" and select the directory where your files are
4. Select the file type (next to the file name), then multi-select the files
5. Click on "Open"
6. Click on "Encode"
7. Pick a target folder for your files (hint: within your WMP/iTunes directory)
8. Click on "Save"

Once the files are in your preferred music app, add ID3 tags and sync with your USB stick or iPod - that's it. Files should play back in multi-channel format on your Acura's ELS sound system.


Some additional tips/notes:

I like to add track names within DVD Audio Extractor, that way I can edit them in my music app when creating ID3 tags.

On DVDs that offer multiple soundtrack options, I've found that AC3 tracks translate pretty well to AAC/A4A, and even LPCM or AC3 2-channel soundtracks converted to two-channel AAC with Dolby ProLogic II will often sound better than DTS soundtracks converted to multi-channel AAC, because the DTS tracks have been optimized during mixing to take advantage of that compression technology. (Converting 48K DTS files to 44.1K DTS files is a bit complex, and outside the scope of this post.)

The sound seems about right to me in my TL with the bass notched up about +2 with most recordings, though results may vary by listener. (Note: If this is due to something I'm doing wrong with the conversion process, please let me know and I'll update the instructions.)

Finally, if you prefer to use Windows Media Player with your iPod, check out MGTEK dopisp, which is a plug-in for WMP that allows you to sync your iPod with windows media player. Works great, and no need to convert all your files to iTunes formats!

Hope this is helpful to one and all!

 

great write up. will try this.

btw, how can you verify if you are indeed playing it as multi-channel in the car from the usb or ipod?

thanks.

 

We did a write up years ago here at Acurazine about DVD formats and extractions, but I can't find it in the search. We even came up with a unofficial PDF manual?

If any one needs a write for the Mac side let me know, I'll re-post the apps needed.

 

It actually saves as M4A format, so the file itself is multi-channel. But I will verify using a USB stick that the iPod doesn't dumb it down to stereo. (I use a program that syncs WMP to iPod, so I can't speak for what iTunes might do.)

 

Do you use the dolby prologic? if you do, if its not there, the ELS is probably decoding it as multi channel. if the dolby logo is there, then its stereo input and dolby is extrapolating it to make multichannel..

ipod will only output in stereo, right? not sure if connected to USB will it let it output to multichannel [same with usb stick].

 

hi guys,

I'm 90% sure that moving anything to an iPod dumbs it down to 2-channel AAC.

If anyone can find me a digital format that's multi-channel that works with ELS that'd be golden. Alternatively if anyone has an idea of how to pull DTS onto the HD....

~D

 

You are correct - it does.

Happily, a simpler version of the technique I outlined above can be used to produce a DVD-Audio disc.

Once everything is loaded, do the following to extract the audio files:
1. Load the DVD into the drive and start up DVD Audio Extractor
2. Select the source DVD (if not already selected)
3. Select files to export from box on right (you can preview within the app)
4. Select "from" format from lower left - e.g. English AC3 (48Khz6ch)
5. Click on "Next"
6. Select "OGG Vorbis" and click on "Next"
7. Select your output location and click on "Next"
8. Make sure "Pop up a notify window" is selected and click on "Start"
9. When the files are extracted, a notification window will pop up


At this point, open up DVD-Audio Solo, import your OGG files and burn your DVD-A. (Happily DVD-Audio Solo also works with M4A files so my prior work is not a total loss, but OGG is supposedly a higher-quality format.) I'm happy to report the resulting DVD-A sounds great.


I did learn that you can take OGG (or DTS or AC3) files and convert them to A4A or any of the other high(er) quality iPod compatible formats using Xvid4PSP. It's free and I highly recommend it if you are the type who likes to play around with such stuff.

Personally, stick a fork in me - I'm done.

 

thanks as always for the instruction. it really helps people like me

 

.... so is there any way at all to play multi-channel audio from any kind of usb device, if not with an IPOD? I'd love to somehow get all my multi channel audio stuff on a usb stick or something without popping in disc after disc.

 

The issue here is that the ELS audio system does not support muti-channel audio formats on the USB stick - M4A, MP3 (yes there is a version of the MP3 standard that is multi-channel), etc. Basic rule of thumb is, if you can't put it on a CD and play it you won't be able to play it off of an USB stick, either. So as far as I know, you're out of luck.

The best compromise I've found for daily listening is extract the stereo audio tracks from most DVDs, which are recorded at extremely high resolution, convert it to lossless MP3, then play it via USB or iPod with Dolby Prologic II turned on as appropriate. It's not perfect, but the results are more consistent, you can use MP3 tags and the increase in sound quality is noticeable over a normal CD in almost all cases.

 

I agree with bc0203 - after several tentatives, the best compromise is the playout of stereo tracks. However one note: if you convert your stereo HD audio files to HE-AAC, you will be able to have them played out with high sampling rate (i.e. higher than 48 KHz which is the limitation in iPods) in your Acura. Does this matter? Probably not a whole lot, but it is a nice advantage of USB sticks over iPods in our Acuras.