[Help] Do you lose EX when editing 5.1EX?

[allldu]

Maybe a dumb question here...  If I want to edit the 5.1EX DD (first coverting it to wav files), will I lose EX after I render it out as 5.1 pcm when done? I guess you don't since the EX is encoded into the rear surrounds with an algorithm. Or am I wrong?

[pipefan413]

You're not wrong! Same thing with matrixed Lt+Rt. You kinda *can't* remove the matrix encoding, it's inherent to the bitstream.

[allldu]

Thanks, I thought so!

[pipefan413]

Thanks, I thought so!

Although maybe this is worth clarifying just because you said "render out to PCM": the decoder potentially isn't going to know that those surrounds are meant to be matrix-decoded (or upmixed, if you prefer) if you don't encode it back to a format that explicitly marks those channels as matrixed. So if you want to make sure it actually extrapolates out that extra centre surround on playback, you'd want to encode it to something like DTS-ES or Dolby Digital EX. I've never encoded Dolby EX but I have encoded DTS-ES just fine. It might depend on your AVR what it does if you just leave it as 5.1 but set it up with the 6.1 ES/EX speaker layout though, you might find that it just does that for every 5.1 track by default.

[allldu]

Thanks, I thought so!

Although maybe this is worth clarifying just because you said "render out to PCM": the decoder potentially isn't going to know that those surrounds are meant to be matrix-decoded (or upmixed, if you prefer) if you don't encode it back to a format that explicitly marks those channels as matrixed. So if you want to make sure it actually extrapolates out that extra centre surround on playback, you'd want to encode it to something like DTS-ES or Dolby Digital EX. I've never encoded Dolby EX but I have encoded DTS-ES just fine. It might depend on your AVR what it does if you just leave it as 5.1 but set it up with the 6.1 ES/EX speaker layout though, you might find that it just does that for every 5.1 track by default.

So speaking generically, there must be a set up EX flag for the AVR to read the 5.1EX correctly, unless you're able to push the button on this said AVR yourself?

[allldu]

Also, how do you set ap an EX/ES flag exactly?

You need a professional Dolby Digital encoder to enable the EX flag.

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken but I don't think any of the freeware encoders offer it.

As already noted in this thread, even if the EX flag is not enabled, one can still manually set EX decoding and get the same result.

[pipefan413]

You need a professional Dolby Digital encoder to enable the EX flag.

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken but I don't think any of the freeware encoders offer it.

As already noted in this thread, even if the EX flag is not enabled, one can still manually set EX decoding and get the same result.

Precisely.

[spoRv]

You need a professional Dolby Digital encoder to enable the EX flag.

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken but I don't think any of the freeware encoders offer it.

Aften has the EX flag option.

[allldu]

You need a professional Dolby Digital encoder to enable the EX flag.

Someone correct me if I'm mistaken but I don't think any of the freeware encoders offer it.

Aften has the EX flag option.

Thanks for the tip. Any good online guide of how to work with Aften? I found GUI, but somehow cannot render out the 5.1 AC-3...