Handbrake DTS-HDMA > Dolby Pro Logic II

[iOrbit]

can someone help me with what this setting does? what has it done to the track exactly? is it a stereo track? is it still a surround sound track? i don't really know.

when i first started my collection, i must admit, i never wanted to get too deep into the "perfect settings" thing. i just wanted to get going and my priority was picture quality.

since then i have kind of regretted my neglect for the audio part.. and i always set HD 5.1 sources into Dolby Pro Logic II "Core Audio AAC" setting.

regretfully i only did the SD audio in "5.1" mix down AC3.

i really have no idea what these differences are though, i'd like some one who is a bit of a guru in this area to help me understand which settings are ideal for films.

both the Codec and the Mix down?

i understand passthru keeps the original track but what are recommended settings for surround sound HD sources?

AAC vs AC3? CoreAudio vs ffmpeg?

and again, i only have a normal 2.0 tv set up, but I'm about to get my first 5.1 surround sound set.. what will my 5.1 speakers do with all of my Pro Logic II hd conversions? is it just going to be stereo played through all 5 speakers?

have i basically ruined the surround sound affect of 5.1?

thanks for anyone who can help.

 

[priitv8]

Check the definition of Dolby ProLogic. It is a matrix-encoded 4-channel surround sound encoded into 2 stereo channels.
Without special DPl decoder you will hear a stereo soundstage, with a DPl decoder you will hear 4-channel surround (L, R, C and Rear). In essence, very similar to SQ quadraphonic encoding.
So it needs 2 physical channels to carry data of 4 channels. To hear all 4, you need a DPl decoder, like the home cinema receiver produced within last 25 years.

 

[martinm0]

Check the definition of Dolby ProLogic. It is a matrix-encoded 4-channel surround sound encoded into 2 stereo channels.
Without special DPl decoder you will hear a stereo soundstage, with a DPl decoder you will hear 4-channel surround (L, R, C and Rear). In essence, very similar to SQ quadraphonic encoding.
So it needs 2 physical channels to carry data of 4 channels. To hear all 4, you need a DPl decoder, like the home cinema receiver produced within last 25 years.

Here's what I do:

Choose "High Profile" Preset
Change nothing on the Video tab
Go to Audio tab -> Change 1st and 2nd Track to the best Audio option (in order, DTS-HD MA, DTS, DD 5.1, or DD 2.0). On the first Track entry (codec showing AAC), up the bitrate to 320. On the 2nd entry, leave it as AC3 and Mixdown of 5.1. Add a 3rd Track and make it a pass-thru (I specifically select, for example, DTS-HD pass thru).
Go to Subtitles tab ->Select Foreign Audio search. (Add any others you may want.)
And run it.

You get a high quality picture, plus 3 soundtracks which includes a lossless DTS-HD MA option (hopefully). If the movie is only DD5.1, just set the second Track to AC3 pass thru and don't waste time converting to the same format.

That's it. DTS will not play from the AppleTV, but its there for when you play from a computer or Plex.

 

[Cave Man]

What do you use for video playback? That makes a bit of difference as to how you might taylor your encoding strategy, both video and audio codec, and the container used.

i only have a normal 2.0 tv set up, but I'm about to get my first 5.1 surround sound set.. what will my 5.1 speakers do with all of my Pro Logic II hd conversions? is it just going to be stereo played through all 5 speakers?

Dolby Pro Logic 2 gets you stereo front R&L, center, and mono rears so long as your source had at least DPLII.

have i basically ruined the surround sound affect of 5.1?

If you encoded in DPLII you won't get the full surround effect but you'll get some.

 

[westrock2000]

1.On the 2nd entry, leave it as AC3 and Mixdown of 5.1.

Select Bitrate of 640 if you have a modern receiver...like 10 years old or newer. That's the max that Dolby Digital spec allows, but is considerably more then "DVD quality" Dolby Digital which was 448.


2. Go to Subtitles tab ->Select Foreign Audio search. (Add any others you may want.)

Might make sure you select Burn In, so it burns it to the movie. Otherwise it can do a soft sub-title which is nice, but compatibility is tricky.

3. If the movie is only DD5.1, just set the second Track to AC3 pass thru and don't waste time converting to the same format.

This is your best bet, but practice it first, I had hit and miss success on getting this to work. Once I set Hand Brake to always re-encode to DD5.1@640kb/s I never had any problems.

answers within quotes.