multi-channel CD-R hack

Posted by: sfw

multi-channel CD-R hack - 02/10/05 12:46 AM

Have any of you played around with the following technique?

A DD or DTS 5.1 soundtrack is cleverly converted to a stereo WAV file that is then burned to a plain vanilla (red book) audio CD-R. The resulting disk is played on DVD player connected digitally to a DD or DTS decoding sound system. The DVD player thinks it is playing a stereo audio recording of static and dutifully outputs PCM to the sound system that detects it as either DD or DTS and decodes it as a multi-channel soundtrack.

The technique and how the content is created is described more fully at

http://www.5dot1.com/articles/ac-3_5_1_audio_onto_a_cd-r.html

Some such content can be found at

http://www.sr.se/multikanal/english/e_index.stm
http://www.sr.se/multikanal/english/e_arkiv.stm

Does anyone know of other sources?
Posted by: gonk

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 02/10/05 08:05 AM

Very curious. I hadn't ever heard of this...
Posted by: gw10nt

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/17/05 03:07 PM

It does work, in fact one can also get Powerpoint to play out DTS or DD tracks.
Posted by: psklenar

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/17/05 03:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gw10nt:
It does work, in fact one can also get Powerpoint to play out DTS or DD tracks.
I hate to ask, but as one who's sat through way too many PP presentations ... why on earth would you want to do this? smile
Posted by: MeanGene

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/17/05 05:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by psklenar:
Quote:
Originally posted by gw10nt:
I hate to ask, but as one who's sat through way too many PP presentations ... why on earth would you want to do this? smile
Ditto, why would you want to convert DD to stereo then back to DD?
Posted by: painttoad

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/17/05 06:07 PM

touche'!
Posted by: Unferth

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/17/05 06:21 PM

...you're not converting anything.... the recorded cd (and / or wav file) is just the raw DD or DTS data

Then when you output that bitstream your preamp treats it as DD or DTS (because that's what it is)
Posted by: sfw

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/18/05 02:10 AM

This is the only way that I'm aware of to contain 5.1 sound on a CD. Its pretty nice... you can download some wav files from the links in the original post, burn them to a 9 cent CD-R and play them on your DD or DTS system (but not a plain CD player). Its a blast... give it a try.
Posted by: rance

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/18/05 07:57 AM

The link describing how its done is dead, tracked down and eliminated by the recording industry police no doubt.
Posted by: soundhound

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/18/05 10:37 AM

I would have to ask too.....why would you want to do this?
Posted by: sfw

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/18/05 06:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by soundhound:
I would have to ask too.....why would you want to do this?
This is the only solution I've encountered for the following problem...

How do I distribute some 5.1 material over the internet in a way that most users can then play it on their 5.1 sound systems. This technique requires only that the user have a computer that can burn music CDs and a 5.1 capable sound system.

soundhound... you could use this to distribute short samples of your work or to provide an illustration of some contentious issue to other Outlaws.

I suppose now, given the prevalence of DVD+/-R, this technique could be replaced by a more direct solution, but that would narrow the potential audience.

Try the content links in the original post, download some tracks, burn them to a CD-R and give it a spin. If nothing else, it is some free 5.1 content to listen to.
Posted by: sfw

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/18/05 06:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rance:
The link describing how its done is dead, tracked down and eliminated by the recording industry police no doubt.
Dahhh...

Google cache to the rescue:

http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:9t4n_BoOk_MJ:www.5dot1.com/ac-3_5_1_audio_onto_a_cd-r.html+baking+CD-AC3+disc
Posted by: sfw

Re: multi-channel CD-R hack - 03/18/05 06:44 PM

Here's one more source for info on the technique:

Mike Sokol (pdf)