How to Convert MTS/VOB/MKV, etc to MP4 AC3 5.1?

Convert to MP4 with Dolby Digital AC3 5.1 to Solve Audio Quality Poor and Lower on New Apple TV 3/Apple TV 2/PS3

May 22th, 2012 Updated by Bigasoft Support

Tags: mp4 ac3, mp4 ac3 5.1, mkv to mp4 ac3, mts to mp4 ac3, avchd to m4 ac3, convert mkv to mp4 ac3, mp4 ac3 5.1 converter, apple tv ac3, apple tv ac3 6 channels, ps3 mp4 ac3 5.1

Overview

Are your disappointed with the quality of the sound after converting your video mostly in MKV, VOB, MTS, and TS to MP4 AAC and transferred to new Apple TV 3, Apple TV 2 or PS3 to play? Even though you have set to convert your video to MP4 with AAC surround 5.1 (6 channels), the sound is still at low, tinny volumes and the audio sounds full of noises and muffled and distorted like hearing it all through a tube or something.

Solution

After testing, we've found that if we convert video to MP4 with Dolby Digital AC3 5.1, we can get better audio quality. And converting video to MP4 with AC3 is particle because many free media players like VLC, KMPlayer on PC and Mac and portal devices like Sony PS3 can play the MP4 video with AC3 5.1 audio codec.

However, MP4 with AC3 5.1 will not pass-through Apple TV 3 and Apple TV 2. Anyway, we can still watch movie with AC3 surround sound from Apple TV by the help of Dolby Digital AC3 supported AV receiver.

This article introduces how to convert video to MP4 with AC3 codec as well as includes a trick to play the MP4 AC3 with Apple TV in two parts:

Part I is a step-by-step guide on how to convert video MTS, TS, VOB, MKV, etc to MP4 with AC3 5.1 surround sound.
Part II is a detailed guide on how to play MP4 with AC3 5.1 with Apple TV 3 and Apple TV 2.

Part I: Step-by-Step Guide - How to convert video to MP4 AC3 5.1?

Prepare: Free download Bigasoft Total Video Converter.

Free download Bigasoft Total Video Converter (Windows Version, Mac Version) free trial, install and launch it.

Bigasoft Total Video Converter can convert various video to MP4 video with AAC stereo (2 channels), MP4 video with AAC 5.1(6 channels), MP4 video with AC3 stereo and MP4 video with AC3 5.1. In addition, it can convert various format video to AVI with MP3 or AC3 5.1, MKV with AAC or AC3 5.1 audio, MOV with AAC 5.1 audio, MPEG-2 with AC3 audio as well as convert video and audio to audio only AC3 5.1, AAC 5.1, AIFF 5.1 and WAV 5.1.

The versatile video converter presets ready playback video for many devices like Apple TV, PS3, iPod, iPad, iPhone, Zune and more. So you can enjoy movies with excellent video and audio quality on your devices wherever you like.

Step 1 Add your source files

Drag the video you want to convert into the interface of Bigasoft Total Video Converter.

How to convert MKV, VOB, MTS to MP4 AC3 5.1

Step 2 Choose output format

Click the little triangle beside "Profile" to open the profile drop-down list.

Choose HD H.264 MPEG-4 AVC Video (*.mp4) or MPEG-4 HD video (*.mp4) from "HD" category if the resolution of your source video is 720p or above 720p.

Choose H.264 MPEG-4 AVC Video (*.mp4) or MPEG-4 HD video (*.mp4) from "General Video" category if the resolution of your source video is under 720p.

To convert 1080p HD video for Apple TV 3, select "Apple TV 3 H.264 1080p Video (*.mp4)" from "Apple TV" category.

To convert 1080p HD video for Apple TV 2 or 720p HD video for Apple TV 3, select "Apple TV H.264 HD MPEG4 Video (*.mp4)" from "Apple TV" category.

To convert stand definition video for Apple TV, select "Apple TV H.264 MPEG4 Video (*.mp4)" from "Apple TV" category.

To convert video for PS3, choose PS3 H.264 MPEG4 Video (*.mp4) or PS H.264 HD MPEG4 Video (*.mp4) from "PS3" category.

Step 3 Customize audio codec from to AC3 from AAC

Click "Setting" to open "Advanced Setting" window.
Click "Advanced" tab. You will see three sections including "Video", "Audio" and "Expert".
In the "Audio" section, click "Audio Codec" drop-down and choose "AC3".
If you source video is in 6 channels, click "Channels" drop-down and choose "5.1". Otherwise, do nothing.

Change MP4 AAC to MP4 AC3 5.1

Step 4 Convert your video to MP4 AC3 5.1

Click the "Convert" button to start convert your video to MP4 with AC3 5.1 audio codec

Part II: How to play MP4 AC3 5.1 on Apple TV 3, Apple TV 2?

Step 1: Connect Apple TV with your PC or Mac.

Step 2: Steam MP4 AC3 5.1 to Apple TV/Apple TV 2/Apple TV 3.
Open iTunes and in the "DEVICES" find Movies library of Apple TV.
Drag the converted MP4 AC to Apple TV movie library.

Step 3: Connect Apple TV by an optical cable with your AV receiver.
Make sure your AV receiver supports Dolby Digital AC3 5.1. Some people find audio is missing while video plays fine. This is because they are using Analog audio ports to output audio instead of Optical digital audio port, or the connected AV receiver/amplifier does not support AC-3 decoding.

Connect Apple TV with AC receiver

Step 4: Play MP4 AC3 on your smart TV.

Conclusion

By converting your video MKV, VOB, AVCHD MTS etc. to MP4 AC3 5.1, playing favorite movies with pristine audio quality is now achievable. Free download Bigasoft Total Video Converter free trial right now to start experiencing now.