I cannot import 5.1 WAV files into iTunes

Hi Michael!

Yes Itunes 11 supports 5.1 surrond audio files if this audio file is inside of MP4 file, the Itunes will read MP4 without any video, only the audio file. I did this test yesterday and it works perfect.

Regards;

Paulo

Hi Michael,

I bounced a PCM 5.1 WAV Audio File from Logic Pro X, This File alredy plays 5.1 surround from desktop just with the space bar preview and also with QuickTime ok? But Itunes 11 doesn´t import PCM 5.1 (multi) Wav audio files as you know, so I Knew that in the Itunes 11 for the movies tracks the 5.1 surround audio is automatic.See this link below

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4072 -

What I did?

I just imported my audio file to Apple COMPRRESSOR, and choose the H.264 output format and I changed from .MOV to .MP4 (This one Itunes import with multi audio 5.1)

and also select 48 Khz and 720 Kbps. After encoding my audio file from ( 226 Mb) PCM 5.1 Wav about 4.20' went to a AAC 6 channes 48 Khz / 720 Kbps .MP4 file with 24 Mb size. Itunes import withou problem and played 5.1 surround as I wish.

I hope you understood my explanation,

Regards

Paulo

Hi Phillip, what´s up?

I had the same problem and I solved this way:

I am using COMPRESSOR from apple, but you can use any encoder video program in the web,

I imported my 5.1 PCM WAV File (made by Logic Pro) to compressor and I did a configuration for its output file to be a MP4 with 48Khz and 720 Kbps 5.1 surround, I did not abilitate the video because I am using only audio but you can if necessary.

In the end I had the same file but now MP4 48Khz / 720 Kbps / 5.1, My Itunes 11 accepted without problems and It´s playing 5.1 surround ( itunes thinks it´s a movie...hehehehe)

Don´t forget to configurate your speakers to multichannels 5.1 ( Audio/MIDI devices - utilitys )

I hope you have fun!

Regards;

Paulo

Well, I don't have a lot of experience with it, but I can't find anything on the intertoobz that says iTunes can actually play 5.1 surround audio.

I'm curious to know the details about how you were able to get it to work from your previous post.

From what the respondant wrote it sounds like the audio was packaged as a movie without a video track. It is being played as a movie which is probably more flexible in terms of extended audio formats, not a music file.

You transcoded the audio too which loses quality. For that matter you could have transcoded to any audio format including mp3 though you did preserve the multi channels encapsulating it in a movie wrapper. To preserve the original quality you would have had to pass through the audio unmodified but that's part of the question if iTunes would have accepted it since I believe .mp4 has limited codec compatibility (this is just may armchair AV expertise 🙂 ).

Yes Limnos you right! For me this quality difference it´s ok , becouse I am using with other proposes, but if you don´t want it, you can run it with Quicktime, in itunes as you know, we must choose one of this apple formats ( ipod / Iphone/ Apple TV). Just for you know, I ve tried unmodified, but I got only with .MOV the file was around 920Mb for 4 minutes of movie(audio) too much HD space buddy...

Thanks for your replay!

Paulo

phillip_97 wrote:

Does iTunes just not support surround sound audio, or is there something wrong with the files that I'm trying to import?

I do not believe iTunes supports 5.1 surround audio files.

That's what I was thinking, but didn't want to make any assumptions.

Yep, that mostly makes sense.