AC3 (Audio Coding 3)

AC3 (Audio Coding 3) is a synonym for Dolby Digital, was created by Dolby Labs for use in a Dolby Digital audio on DVD, Blu-ray and other digital video formats, increases fidelity over its previous surround sound standard, Pro-logic, with independent tracks for each of the 6 speakers, a 16bit sampling at 48khz rate compressed by 10- 12 times, making for a total bit rate of 384kbps.

Dolby Digital AC-3 is based on feeling to the development of multi-channel surround sound coding system, an advanced audio compression technology. Currently, it has been adopted as the U.S. high-definition television (HDTV) audio system, the latest DVD drive also includes Dolby Digital AC-3. So Dolby AC-3 surround sound system may be very promising technology.

AC3 Player

AC3 Player is a free ac3 audio player for Windows platform from ac3directshowfilter.com, small and compact, no need install any audio codecs, it can play AC3 audio files directly, This program is very easy to use.
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Directshow Filter

After you install these audio filters, most media players, including Microsoft's Windows Media Player, that use DirectShow, should be able to play AC3 audio correctly. Filter also supports ProLogicII audio as well.

  1. AC3Filter

    A free DirectShow filter for real time audio decoding and processing. It can decode the audio formats AC3, DTS, and MPEG.
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  2. Spdifer

    A DirectShow filter that allows media players to passthrough multi-channel sound to the digital (SPDIF) output without any change, so an external receiver can decode it.
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  3. AC3File

    A DirectShow AC3 and DTS file source filter. Required to playback raw AC3 and DTS files.
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  4. WinampAC3

    AC3/DTS decoder with SPDIF output support, a high quality freeware AC3 and DTS decoder for Winamp.
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  5. QT AC3 Codec (Mac)

    AC3 Decompressor component for QuickTime (Mac), it allows the playback of AC3 audio in AVI files.
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