Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

For questions and discussion that is NOT (I repeat NOT) specific to a certain Operating System.
gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 25 Jul 2017 23:16

I can play mkv files with AC3 as 5.1, but when the audio is E-AC3 it only plays as stereo.
Can you please help me, how can I play these as 5.1 as well?
Thank you.

User avatar
InTheWings
Developer
Developer
Posts: 1275
Joined: 07 Aug 2013 13:15
VLC version: crashing
Operating System: Linux
Contact:

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby InTheWings » 26 Jul 2017 11:11

That's just your EAC3 track has only 2 channels then
:!: If you want your problem to be solved :
* First read troubleshooting guide VSG:Main
* Always provide verbose LOGS ! (command line or from gui)
* Always check your issue against a developer build from Nightly Build of VLC
* Tell us when your problem is solved !

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 26 Jul 2017 11:55

No, it has 6 channels, over the TVs USB it plays 5.1 properly, but VLC don't.

Codec: A/52 B Audio (aka E-AC3) (eac3)
Channels: 3F2M/LFE
Sample rate: 48000 Hz
Bits per sample: 32

Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 37523
Joined: 22 Jul 2005 15:29
VLC version: 4.0.0-git
Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac
Location: Cone, France
Contact:

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby Jean-Baptiste Kempf » 26 Jul 2017 17:26

Please share such file with us.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf
http://www.jbkempf.com/ - http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/category/Videolan
VLC media player developer, VideoLAN President and Sites administrator
If you want an answer to your question, just be specific and precise. Don't use Private Messages.

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 26 Jul 2017 17:55

I have the same problem with EVERY e-ac3 soundtrack files.
But here is an example, the latest GOT episode.
(In this torrent, there is a sample MKV inside that is only 90 megabytes so you don't need to download the whole episode.)

https://thepiratebay.org/torrent/182003 ... ESub_-_GoT

Lotesdelere
Cone Master
Cone Master
Posts: 9985
Joined: 08 Sep 2006 04:39
Location: Europe

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby Lotesdelere » 27 Jul 2017 11:22

We are not going to download torrent files.

Please upload a short sample of a problematic file to either Zippyshare.com (200 MB max) or to EmbedUpload.com, the latter will upload the file for you to several other hosts (use the default ones) and then post the link to the file here.

If needed cut it with DGsplit and read here about how to do it:
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=57724&p=193335#p193335
50 MB max should be enough.

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 27 Jul 2017 14:50

May I ask what's the problem with downloading the torrent I linked?

Unfortunately I can't upload, because in my country it is illegal to upload such files.

But you can use any MKV file with E-AC3 voice track if you don't want to dowload the torrent.

But my question is really not about a specific file, it is about the E-AC3 tracks, what in my understanding is something that can't be played through SPDIF.
What I don't understand, that why VLC downconvert them to stereo instead of normal AC3 5.1?

Thank you.

Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 37523
Joined: 22 Jul 2005 15:29
VLC version: 4.0.0-git
Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac
Location: Cone, France
Contact:

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby Jean-Baptiste Kempf » 27 Jul 2017 15:35

Works perfectly fine here with 5.1 in 3.0.

Decodes fine in 5.1 on a speaker setup. Passthrough in HDMI decodes perfectly in 5.1.

Passthrough in SPDIF does not work, as expected, and converts to Stereo, as expected.

Also, VLC is not going to reencode to AC-3 an E-AC3 stream, just because you use SPDIF. To me, that's not really useful, and a lot of work for not much.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf
http://www.jbkempf.com/ - http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/category/Videolan
VLC media player developer, VideoLAN President and Sites administrator
If you want an answer to your question, just be specific and precise. Don't use Private Messages.

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 27 Jul 2017 15:45

So what should I do to play it as 5.1?
My dolby system don't have HDMI connection, just optical and coax.

Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 37523
Joined: 22 Jul 2005 15:29
VLC version: 4.0.0-git
Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac
Location: Cone, France
Contact:

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby Jean-Baptiste Kempf » 27 Jul 2017 16:00

Reencode as AC-3. Also, if you Dolby System does not have HDMI, it is very unlikely that it decodes E-AC3.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf
http://www.jbkempf.com/ - http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/category/Videolan
VLC media player developer, VideoLAN President and Sites administrator
If you want an answer to your question, just be specific and precise. Don't use Private Messages.

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 27 Jul 2017 16:03

So how can I reencode to AC3? Why can't VLC do this on the fly instead of reencode to stereo?
Also I'm not sure how would this HDMI connection work with a PC to TV / 5.1system wise, since the HDMI goes to the TV, and the soundcard don't have HDMI out...?
(My pc's HDMI goes to the TV for image, and my PC's soundcards optical goes to the 5.1 system.)

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 31 Jul 2017 13:32

I have tried everything, looked for help online, searching for answers, but nothing. :(
Can someone please help me?

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 02 Aug 2017 13:17

Just to be clear that it is a VLC problem, the PowerDVD mediaplayer properly outputs the 5.1 sound on the MKVs with EAC3 audio track, but the VLC mediaplayer don't. Not even in the 3.0 nighly build.

kila25
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 11 Aug 2017 21:16

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby kila25 » 11 Aug 2017 21:29

I have a same problem, but i use my vga hdmi output to my philips tv and the audio play through my tv optical output to sound system

I try 2.2.6 and 3.0 nightly and cant work in 5.1 just stereo, but i play same mkv file in windows 10 default player and work fine.

sorry for my pure english...
Last edited by kila25 on 11 Aug 2017 21:39, edited 1 time in total.

kila25
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 11 Aug 2017 21:16

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby kila25 » 11 Aug 2017 21:38

I love VLC please solve that problem...

dobrowolsk
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 11 Aug 2017 22:05

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby dobrowolsk » 11 Aug 2017 22:17

So it seems VLC has an issue with E-AC3 audio files. These files will gain popularity as Amazon / HBO are using this codec in their newer shows. The is one with dragons and dying kings I think...

Telling us users "VLC is not going to reencode to AC-3 an E-AC3 stream" is not really helpful. Playback doesn't work with HDMI, where it does correctly with other files. These files DO exist, they will continue to exist and there will be more of them.

Hell, Windows Media Player can play these files with correct audio, but VLC can't. This IS an issue that will continue to pop up. Reencoding every single file before watching them is not a feasible solution.

User avatar
InTheWings
Developer
Developer
Posts: 1275
Joined: 07 Aug 2013 13:15
VLC version: crashing
Operating System: Linux
Contact:

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby InTheWings » 24 Aug 2017 13:18

To me it looks like the E-AC3 5.1 passthough isn't supported by receiver and it gets downgraded/decoded to 2.0 PCM before being sent to receiver.

Can you confirm the status of your receiver in both cases ? passthrough should light up "dolby digital" indication or such, where pcm won't.
:!: If you want your problem to be solved :
* First read troubleshooting guide VSG:Main
* Always provide verbose LOGS ! (command line or from gui)
* Always check your issue against a developer build from Nightly Build of VLC
* Tell us when your problem is solved !

charles57
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 Aug 2017 05:42

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby charles57 » 29 Aug 2017 05:52

I'm having the same problem as the others. With Windows Media Player, E-AC-3 gets passed to my Yamaha receiver and my 5.1 speaker setup works fine. The front of the receiver reads "STRAIGHT" and all the speakers are active. With VLC, it does not work. The front of the receiver indicates PCM and the all the speakers are not active. VLC doesn't work with the now very popular Dolby Digital Plus. All connections are HDMI.

I'd like to add that my old WD TV Live box also has no trouble sending DD+ through the Yamaha receiver (HDMI).

A whole lot of files are using E-AC-3 now so hopefully this problem will get jumped on.

Thanks

gabor9005
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 17
Joined: 25 Jul 2017 23:01

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby gabor9005 » 29 Aug 2017 10:54

For me it seems that VLC downconvert it to stereo, while other mediaplayers (for example Cyberlink PowerDVD downconvert it to normal dolby digital 5.1.
I like 5.1 sound better than stereo so I use PowerDVD for the E-AC3 files now sadly, because I like VLC better... but more and more TV shows use E-AC3 so I am using PowerDVD more and more...
I really hope VLC fix this problem and outputs 5.1 sound to devices that can't deal with E-AC3 by converting them to Dolby5.1 or DTS on the fly.

charles57
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 Aug 2017 05:42

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby charles57 » 30 Aug 2017 13:32

I like 5.1 sound better than stereo
Well that's an understatement! Of course if 5.1 is available in your living room like almost every home theater out there, that's what you want. Sure, my receiver can do stereo but even a $450 theater-in-a-box system is 5.1. The VLC player completely fails here.

smhealey
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 6
Joined: 16 Jun 2017 20:29

Same issue here is a sample video clip

Postby smhealey » 12 Oct 2017 21:58

I have the same issue using VLC 2.2.2 on Ubuntu 16.04 ALSA output HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0 Audio Output Stereo
Is Codec: A/52 B Audio (aka E-AC3) (eac3) Channels: 3F2M/LFE Sample rate: 48000 Hz Bits per sample: 32 being passed through HDMI as 5.1 PCM because my receiver can handle 5.1 PCM and it received it as 2.0 PCM.

Isn't eac3 DD+ (Dolby Digital Plus) and ac3 (Dolby Digital) my receiver supports both DD+ and DD. Shouldn't VLC pass it through and my receiver show DD+ or 5.1 PCM not 2.0 PCM/Dolby ProLogic II?

Also, I notice if I change VLC audio channel output from stereo to 5.1, I get 5.1 PCM but the channels are all mixed up. (all other codecs pass-through fine DTS, DD, 5.1 PCM when leaving channel output as stereo.)

BTW, I play the same video files in Kodi and it outputs to my receiver properly as DD+

Edit: here is an eac3 video clip from my NAS: http://Mystuff.myqnapcloud.com:8080/sha ... id=08bw4B8
Last edited by smhealey on 13 Oct 2017 19:53, edited 1 time in total.

smhealey
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 6
Joined: 16 Jun 2017 20:29

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby smhealey » 13 Oct 2017 00:27

Please share such file with us.
Here is the file as requested:

http://mystuff.myqnapcloud.com:8080/sha ... id=08bw4B8

smhealey
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 6
Joined: 16 Jun 2017 20:29

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby smhealey » 13 Oct 2017 22:19

I have this issue with every EAC3 DD+ file I play with VLC. AS I stated in previous post other media players seem to handle it just fine.

my questions are:

1. Is VLC interpreting DD+ (eac3) incorrectly and seeing it as 3F2M/LFE and passing that info to my receiver and my receiver is saying WTF! and playing it as 2.0 PCM?

2. Is it standard for eac3 to be read as 3F2M/LFE vs 3F2R/LFE

4. Is this an encoding issue or is this a bug/handling issue with VLC?

5. Is this none of the above and an issue with some receivers not knowing how to handle 3F2M/LFS

Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 37523
Joined: 22 Jul 2005 15:29
VLC version: 4.0.0-git
Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac
Location: Cone, France
Contact:

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby Jean-Baptiste Kempf » 14 Oct 2017 21:07

This file is working fine for us. Please use 3.0.

If you are using SPDIF you CANNOT get 5.1 with EAC3. It is not possible, since the bitrate is too high.

You MUST use HDMI for this.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf
http://www.jbkempf.com/ - http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/category/Videolan
VLC media player developer, VideoLAN President and Sites administrator
If you want an answer to your question, just be specific and precise. Don't use Private Messages.

User avatar
InTheWings
Developer
Developer
Posts: 1275
Joined: 07 Aug 2013 13:15
VLC version: crashing
Operating System: Linux
Contact:

Re: Problem with E-AC3 audio tracks

Postby InTheWings » 16 Oct 2017 14:14

I have this issue with every EAC3 DD+ file I play with VLC. AS I stated in previous post other media players seem to handle it just fine.

my questions are:

1. Is VLC interpreting DD+ (eac3) incorrectly and seeing it as 3F2M/LFE and passing that info to my receiver and my receiver is saying WTF! and playing it as 2.0 PCM?
No, and that's correctly signaled as 2M

2. Is it standard for eac3 to be read as 3F2M/LFE vs 3F2R/LFE
That's your file
4. Is this an encoding issue or is this a bug/handling issue with VLC?
None
5. Is this none of the above and an issue with some receivers not knowing how to handle 3F2M/LFS
No, issue is your SPDIF output.

No EAC3 over SPDIF exists.
If that works somewhere else, that's EAC3 -> AC3 re-encoding on the fly. (You might want to pay Dolby a license deending on where you live)
Using SPDIF for E-AC3 is then pointless, you just get at best AC3.
:!: If you want your problem to be solved :
* First read troubleshooting guide VSG:Main
* Always provide verbose LOGS ! (command line or from gui)
* Always check your issue against a developer build from Nightly Build of VLC
* Tell us when your problem is solved !


Return to “General VLC media player Troubleshooting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests