Convert MKV DTS audio to AC3

Just as the title says,
I want to be able to convert the DTS audio track on most of my mkv files to one that is playable on my western digital hd media player.
I want to keep the original DTS audio track, but how can I add a second audio track to the mkv container that is AC-3 ?
Many thanks !
Answer #1
TMPGEnc Video Mastering Works 5.0.6.38. Load the MKV and format it to MKV output but with the DTS audio to Dolby Digital (AC-3). Be sure to use all the exact specs especially the frame rate that is in the original MKV. Encode.
After its done encoding, use MKVtoolnix 5.2.1. Take the original file and open it in mkvmerge GUI. You will see the video and DTS audio streams. Then click on “Add” and select the MKV file you just created with TMPGEnc. Select only the Dolby Digital AC-3 audio stream. Now you will have the Video, DTS audio, and AC-3 audio streams. Click on “Start Muxing”.
The produced MKV will contain both DTS and AC-3 audio streams.
Answer #2
This is all you need:
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/PopCorn-MKV-AudioConverter
You can tell it to keep the DTS track. It should work right off the bat. I remember the tool having issues though, if your locale is not set to english, in that case I had to switch mkvmerge’s default language to English.
Answer #3
@ .GhostShot.
That looks good! I never knew such a program existed.
Answer #4
.GhostShot.
thanks soooo much !!
very easy to use and just what i was looking for
Answer #5
You’re welcome
Answer #6
Ghostshot is right. I use it. It’s brill!
Answer #7
Additionally…….Read my Help Guide (link in my signature) under: Problems with 5.1 Audio tracks
Good luck
Answer #8
Popcorn audio converter ftw
Answer #9
erosman replied: Problems with 5.1 Audio tracks
I often have to do this since my hardware media player requires 5.1 processor (external amp) to play it which I dont have at the moment.
Extract the audio and convert the audio only. Then merge it back to the mkv.
You can keep both audio tracks if you wish in the mkv.
Usually, that’s not a problem of 5.1 sound as such, but DTS audio specifically. AC3 works on virtually all hardware players I’ve come across. Some claim to support DTS, but all they have is passthrough for DTS
Answer #10
.GhostShot. replied: erosman replied: Problems with 5.1 Audio tracks
I often have to do this since my hardware media player requires 5.1 processor (external amp) to play it which I dont have at the moment.
Extract the audio and convert the audio only. Then merge it back to the mkv.
You can keep both audio tracks if you wish in the mkv.
Usually, that's not a problem of 5.1 sound as such, but DTS audio specifically. AC3 works on virtually all hardware players I've come across. Some claim to support DTS, but all they have is passthrough for DTS
While WD TV HD (the model I have) can play some 6 channel audio (but not the DTS) through HDMI output, the result is less that satisfactory. It is designed to output DTS/Dolby 5.1 via its optical output to external processors, hence the entry in my guide
Answer #11
I’m not arguing that your device may not work as you would like it to, I’m just saying, that usually only DTS causes problems (i.e. unsupported), whereas AC-3 works fine, which is why tools such as the PopCorn Audio Converter exist.
Anyway, what does “less than satisfactory” mean? Further, the way I understand it, your device should not tamper with the AC-3 Stream and pass it via HDMI to the TV, which would then have to do the decoding. That would mean, that your TV is the culprit, not your device.
Answer #12
.GhostShot. replied: I'm not arguing that your device may not work as you would like it to, I'm just saying, that usually only DTS causes problems (i.e. unsupported), whereas AC-3 works fine, which is why tools such as the PopCorn Audio Converter exist.
Anyway, what does "less than satisfactory" mean? Further, the way I understand it, your device should not tamper with the AC-3 Stream and pass it via HDMI to the TV, which would then have to do the decoding. That would mean, that your TV is the culprit, not your device.
Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS, and SDDS are all commonly 5.1 systems.
AFA the culprit…I am not 100% sure
Since video decoding is done by the media player, it stands to reason that the audio decoding is also carried out by the media player and not the TV.
I have WD TV HD (Gen2) which supports DTS (Gen1 doesn’t)
I have tested it with 3 and 4 channels AAC audio without problems. With 6 channel AAC, sound gets cut off momentarily ie volume drops and comes back up every now and then throughout the playback which for me is very annoying.
With DTS, there is no audio through the HDMI output (Audio is outputted via optical port)
Frankly, I have NOT thoroughly tested every combination but above has been my experience so far.
Answer #13
I’m not sure where this discussion is going… I was merely trying to explain that the most common “5.1 problem” is related to DTS and not 5.1 audio in general.