Enum DVDAudioFormat

Namespace

VisioForge.Core.Types.MediaInfo

Assembly

VisioForge.Core.dll

Specifies the audio encoding format used in a DVD audio stream.

public enum DVDAudioFormat

Fields

AC3 = 0

AC3 (Dolby Digital) compressed audio format.

AC3 is the most widely used audio format on DVDs, providing multichannel surround sound (up to 5.1 channels) with efficient compression. It's mandatory for NTSC DVDs and offers bitrates from 192 to 448 kbps. AC3 provides a good balance between audio quality and file size, making it the standard choice for most commercial DVD releases.

MPEG1 = 1

MPEG-1 Layer II audio format (stereo only).

MPEG-1 audio is limited to stereo (2-channel) playback and uses Layer II compression, commonly known as MP2. This format is often found on older DVDs or those targeting regions where MPEG audio is standard. It typically uses bitrates from 64 to 384 kbps and provides good quality for stereo content.

MPEG1_DRC = 2

MPEG-1 audio with Dynamic Range Compression metadata.

This variant of MPEG-1 audio includes Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) information, allowing players to automatically adjust the audio's dynamic range. DRC is useful for late-night viewing or in noisy environments, as it reduces the difference between quiet and loud passages. The compression can typically be enabled or disabled by the user.

MPEG2 = 3

MPEG-2 multichannel audio format.

MPEG-2 audio extends MPEG-1 with support for multichannel surround sound (up to 5.1 or 7.1). It's mandatory for PAL DVDs and optional for NTSC. This format maintains backward compatibility with MPEG-1 decoders for the stereo channels while adding surround information. It's commonly used in European DVD releases.

MPEG2_DRC = 4

MPEG-2 audio with Dynamic Range Compression metadata.

Similar to MPEG1_DRC, this format includes DRC metadata for MPEG-2 multichannel audio. The DRC information allows automatic adjustment of the audio dynamics, particularly useful for maintaining dialogue clarity while reducing loud effects and music. This helps prevent disturbing others when watching at low volumes.

LPCM = 5

Linear PCM (uncompressed) audio format.

LPCM provides the highest audio quality on DVD as it stores uncompressed digital audio. It supports various configurations: 48/96 kHz sampling rates, 16/20/24-bit depth, and up to 8 channels. While offering pristine audio quality, LPCM consumes significant disc space (approximately 4.6 Mbps for stereo 48kHz/16-bit). It's commonly used for music DVDs, audiophile releases, and bonus audio tracks.

DTS = 6

DTS (Digital Theater Systems) compressed audio format.

DTS is a high-quality compressed audio format that typically uses higher bitrates than AC3 (768-1536 kbps), potentially offering better sound quality. It supports up to 6.1 channels on DVD. DTS is optional for DVD players, so discs usually include an AC3 track as well. It's favored by home theater enthusiasts and is common on special editions and concert DVDs.

SDDS = 7

SDDS (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound) compressed audio format.

SDDS is a rare format on consumer DVDs that supports up to 7.1 channels using Sony's ATRAC compression. Originally developed for theatrical presentations, it offers high-quality multichannel audio but has very limited support in consumer DVD players. When present, it's typically alongside more common formats like AC3 or DTS.

Other = 8

Other or proprietary audio format not covered by standard types.

This value is reserved for future audio formats or proprietary extensions that don't fit into the standard DVD-Video audio format categories. Players encountering this format may not be able to decode the audio unless they have specific support for the proprietary format.

Remarks

This enumeration identifies the specific audio codec used to encode an audio stream on a DVD. Unlike DVDAudioCaps which represents capabilities, this enum identifies the actual format of a specific audio track. DVD-Video supports multiple audio formats to balance quality, compression efficiency, and compatibility. The format directly affects playback requirements, audio quality, and the amount of disc space consumed by the audio track.