.ac3 file not playing on Apple TV 3 (when separate AAC is added)

[JP]

Hi. I'm finding that when you import a separate stereo AAC file as part of the mux process, the .ac3 file will not play on Apple TV models 2 and 3. i.e.:

.mov + .ac3 + .m4a (AAC)

Although the resulting file does seem to play fine with the new Apple TV 4, the Apple TV models 2 or 3 will only play back the stereo AAC track. The only way to produce a file which works for the Apple TV 2 or 3 is to leave out the AAC stereo file and have Subler create a new one when adding the .ac3 file. ie. "AAC + Passthrough".

The problem with using "AAC + Passthrough" is the down mix quality for the surrounds is of poor quality, specifically in that the surround channels get summed to mono and sound out-of-phase. For best audio quality, it's generally preferable to import the specifically mixed 2.0 version for stereo playback.

Let me know if you have any questions about this. Thanks!

(PS. I'm not able to post the actual files used in the project. However, the problem has been present on a variety of files, over Subler versions 1.0.6 and 1.0.8, so I'm confident this issue should be easily reproducible.)

[Damiano Galassi]

Did you set the right fallback for the ac3 track?

[JP]

Yes - to the AAC track. I also tried the "optimize" function.

[Damiano Galassi]

Post a small file I can test.

[JP]

Busy at the moment but will put something together in a day or two...

[JP]

Here is a test file I put together. The AC3 Dolby track plays on Apple TV 4. Stereo AAC-only playback on Apple TV 3.

Subler version 1.0.8

Let me know if you need the original test files to try for yourself. Thanks.

[Mari Marasu]

I got your file to play just fine on my AppleTV 3. You need to go into the Settings>Audio & Video> and specifically turn Dolby Digital "On". When left on "Auto", it does a terrible job of detecting when AC3 playback is possible, so just leave it on since you specifically know playback is possible on your TV.

[Damiano Galassi]

The AC-3 track should go after the AAC one, and the language must be the same for both track.

[JP]

Yup, that fixed it, Damiano - thanks! Wasn't thinking about language, as my original files are for music w/o dialogue. I also didn't know it mattered which track to add first, so long as the fallback was set correctly.

Cheers!