MC forces Audio_1 from 5.1 to stereo

[rugbyman]

Win 7 x64 here. I'm trying to convert an audio_1 stream from 5.1 AAC to 5.1 AC3. Audio_0 is stereo. The problem is MC isn't "recognizing" the second audio stream as 5.1. In the properties section, it will only output it as stereo. When you look at the deeper properties (F8), you can see that it does, in fact, realize it's a 5.1 stream, but refuses to let me output it as anything but stereo. Any idea how I can force MC to recognize the fact that it's a 5.1 file?

General
Complete name : C:\Users\Matt\Desktop\The Fifth Element (1997) [1080p] {5.1}\Fifth.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 2.23 GiB
Duration : 2h 5mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 2 539 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:26:11
Tagged date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:26:11

Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.0
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 2h 5mn
Bit rate : 2 230 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 11.5 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 800 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.40:1
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.061
Stream size : 1.96 GiB (88%)
Title : Video
Writing library : x264 core 128 r2216 198a7ea
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.15 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-3 / threads=18 / lookahead_threads=3 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2230 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=25000 / vbv_bufsize=25000 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:26:11
Tagged date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:27:19

Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : HE-AAC / LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 2h 5mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 82.7 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 110 Kbps
Channel count : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz / 24.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : 83ms
Stream size : 74.5 MiB (3%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:27:10
Tagged date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:27:19

Audio #2
ID : 3
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : HE-AAC / LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 2h 5mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 223 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 279 Kbps
Channel count : 2 channels
Original Channel count : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz / 24.0 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : 83ms
Stream size : 201 MiB (9%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:27:12
Tagged date : UTC 2012-10-30 00:27:19

Menu

[meRobs]

It is possible that MediaCoder is merely selecting the audio_0 stream instead of the audio_1.

[rugbyman]

That's what I thought at first, but if you look at the readout I posted, Audio #2 has the "channel count" at 2 channels and "original channel count" at 6 channels. This makes it seem like there's something in the program preventing it from generating 6 channels.

Is there some limitation in the program where it won't recognize 6 channel audio streams anywhere other than #1 (or audio_0, as the case may be)?

[HuggiL]

Haha, looks like you have a file encoded by "Judas" too. I got one of his movies as well so I had a look at it in MediaCoder and I found I had the same problem occuring.

Code: Select all

General
Complete name                            : E:\Videos\Movies HD\The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) [1080p]\The.Hitchhikers.Guide.to.the.Galaxy.BluRay.1080p.x264.5.1.Judas.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom
File size                                : 1.93 GiB
Duration                                 : 1h 48mn
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 2 539 Kbps
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-10-29 01:21:02
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-10-29 01:21:02

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.0
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 4 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 1h 48mn
Bit rate                                 : 2 238 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 30.4 Mbps
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 800 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 2.40:1
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 23.976 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.061
Stream size                              : 1.70 GiB (88%)
Title                                    : Video
Writing library                          : x264 core 128 r2216 198a7ea
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.15 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-3 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2238 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=25000 / vbv_bufsize=25000 / nal_hrd=none / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-10-29 01:21:02
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-10-29 01:22:16

Audio #1
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : HE-AAC / LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 1h 48mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 80.4 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 105 Kbps
Channel count                            : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz / 24.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 62.6 MiB (3%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-10-29 01:22:00
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-10-29 01:22:16

Audio #2
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : HE-AAC / LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 1h 48mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 218 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 255 Kbps
Channel count                            : 2 channels
Original Channel count                   : 6 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz / 24.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 170 MiB (9%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-10-29 01:22:05
Tagged date                              : UTC 2012-10-29 01:22:16

Menu

I think this may be a problem with the original encoder because I opened up another video file of mine with dual 5.1 audio tracks and got this:

Code: Select all

General
Unique ID                                : 199167790233858162167050928247041241789 (0x95D65234B74BB7B7928CDB15DF6932BD)
Complete name                            : E:\Videos\Anime\Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children Complete [2005] (1080p).mkv
Format                                   : Matroska
Format version                           : Version 2
File size                                : 5.99 GiB
Duration                                 : 2h 6mn
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 6 776 Kbps
Movie name                               : Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete 1080p
Encoded date                             : UTC 2012-02-07 09:48:28
Writing application                      : mkvmerge v5.2.1 ('A Far Off Place') built on Jan  2 2012 23:21:10
Writing library                          : libebml v1.2.3 + libmatroska v1.3.0

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.0
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 3 frames
Muxing mode                              : Header stripping
Codec ID                                 : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                                 : 2h 6mn
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 5 500 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                         : 15.0 Mbps
Width                                    : 1 440 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 23.976 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.148
Stream size                              : 4.74 GiB (79%)
Title                                    : Japanese 1080p (AVC 5.5 Mbps)
Writing library                          : x264 core 76 r1271M 496d79d
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=0.6:0.3 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-4 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / keyint=48 / keyint_min=4 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=47 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=5500 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=44 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=15000 / vbv_bufsize=15000 / ip_ratio=1.10 / aq=1:0.60
Language                                 : Japanese
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No

Audio #1
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension                           : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness              : Big
Muxing mode                              : Header stripping
Codec ID                                 : A_AC3
Duration                                 : 2h 6mn
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 640 Kbps
Channel count                            : 6 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 579 MiB (9%)
Title                                    : Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC3 640 Kbps)
Language                                 : Japanese
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No

Audio #2
ID                                       : 3
Format                                   : AC-3
Format/Info                              : Audio Coding 3
Mode extension                           : CM (complete main)
Format settings, Endianness              : Big
Muxing mode                              : Header stripping
Codec ID                                 : A_AC3
Duration                                 : 2h 6mn
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 640 Kbps
Channel count                            : 6 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth                                : 16 bits
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 579 MiB (9%)
Title                                    : English Dolby Digital 5.1 (AC3 640 Kbps)
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : No
Forced                                   : No

Text
ID                                       : 4
Format                                   : VobSub
Muxing mode                              : zlib
Codec ID                                 : S_VOBSUB
Codec ID/Info                            : The same subtitle format used on DVDs
Title                                    : English (VobSub HD)
Language                                 : English
Default                                  : Yes
Forced                                   : No

So both of those 5.1 tracks are recognised properly by Mediacoder and they seem to convert properly to a 5.1 AC-3, which leads me to think that the original encode may be the issue. If this is the case, there's nothing much we can do except look for another version of the video to use.

[rugbyman]

That makes sense. Thanks for the response!