What’s the fastest way to combine DVD audio channels?

I’m looking for an easy and fast way to extract and combine DVD audio channels.

Currently I’m doing it like this:

– I extract 6 channels in WAV with DVD Audio Extractor (15 minutes)
– I load one channel in Wavepad (another 10 minutes)
– I move the sound to the right or left (another 10 minutes)
– I save the file (10 minutes again)
– I do the same thing with the other channel (take another 30 minutes…)

Isn’t there an easier and faster way to combine two front and rear channels into one stereo file? The waiting drives me nuts and I just want to hve one file (format doesn’t matter) that contains the front channels and another that has the rear channels in stereo.

I always just import the full AC3 file (or whatever type of file it is) into Audacity. When its done importint, I go to the dropdown menu of channel 1 and click "Make Stereo Track", and then do the same for channel 5.

So when you do that, do you end up with two stereo files? How do you save them seperately?

Simply click on the left of the stereo track you want to save so that only that track is highlighted then go to File–Export Selection. Then you can save only that track as another file…

When you follow the steps I listed earlier, you end up with an Audacity project with six channels – two front channels (in stereo) a center channel, a subwoofer channel, and two back channels (in stereo).

What you can do is ‘cut’ the two front channels, make a new Audacity project, ‘paste’ the two channels into there, and export. Then you can do the same with the two rear channels.

Alternatively, you can highlight the front channels and choose ‘export selection’, and do the same with the rear channels. The whole process takes about 10-15 minutes, and most of it is spent importing.

Thanks a lot both of you.

Okay, I’ve been trying this, but the results are kind of fickle… Perhaps I should tell you I’m doing this using my keyboard because of my braille display.

So, importing the AC3s works fine. I then move the arrow keys to channel 5 (only interested in the rear channels), use the application key and click on Make Stereo Track. After having done that, I press Enter on the stereo channel 5 because that apparently selects the channel. But after having exported my selection, it keeps exporting channel one and two as stereo tracks… Anyone have any idea how I proceed now? Audacity shouldn’t even bother with chanel 1-4because I don’t even select these.

Okay, I’ve been trying this, but the results are kind of fickle… Perhaps I should tell you I’m doing this using my keyboard because of my braille display.

So, importing the AC3s works fine. I then move the arrow keys to channel 5 (only interested in the rear channels), use the application key and click on Make Stereo Track. After having done that, I press Enter on the stereo channel 5 because that apparently selects the channel. But after having exported my selection, it keeps exporting channel one and two as stereo tracks… Anyone have any idea how I proceed now? Audacity shouldn’t even bother with chanel 1-4because I don’t even select these.

I think when you press "enter", it automatically selects the first two channels or something… or at least that’s how it works for me.

Maybe try deleting channels one through four, and then exporting?

Will definitely try that, thanks in advance!

Thaks so much, now it works. You’re a lifesaver!

No problem. Let me know if you have any other issues with Audacity.