Really stupid question but i cant figure it out

Now I'v got a wife and kids, life is really hectic and im sleepy all the time...I figured I'd now start my long held desire to re-edit Superman II!!!

What can I say, I want a project...something to keep my busy (busier!) and given time has passed a fair bit since I last edited anything, the programs used to do so have improved (which is nice)

However im having problems in relation t 5.1 and the AC3 Channel I have. Basically I have created and fixed my M2V files and I have the relevant AC3 file (both the 2 channel and the 6 channel). But im now in a quandry...

In Premier Pro I can actually edit using the M2V file and this is great, but I cant 'connect' the AC3 file. Meaning I could edit the M2V file to my hearts content but I wouldnt have any audio over the top.

Perhaps I could put the entire row of footage and the relevant AC3 file and drag over into the time line and then edit from there (as opposed to highlighting the clips i want before i drag it over whcih is how id normally do it). I have done this and been successful in doing so because I had the ability to link up the footage but Id prefer to do this before putting on the time line. Also eventually Im going to want to know how to edit these individual channels because maybe id want to remove something here or something there. Add in a sound effect etc.

Another alternative is to link up the M2V and the AC3 within TMPGENC using HuffyUV (if anyone knows of a better codec now then please let me know) and thus creating an avi with the audio over the top...but how would I then be able to have a 5.1 soundtrack?

If anyone could help it would be much appreciated.

Basically I wish to have a 5.1 soundtrack but need to know how to 'link' up the audio and the video and then be able to get access to the individual channels.

I do plan to edit irrespective of the audio and will worry about this later, but id rather have a basis as opposed to having to link everything up manually.

In Premiere, you're going to have to split the 5.1 AC3 file into six mono WAV files, edit using those, then export the video separately from the audio, export six mono WAVs, and recombine them into a new 5.1 AC3 file.

But when the three WAV files have been created, would it automatically know the 'in' and 'out' of my video clip so the corrosponding audio would link up?

If not then the way Im thinking of doing it is to keep the one AC3 file and drag and drop it over along with the video. Link the two items and then edit from the timeline (as opposed to the bit before), then once the edit has been done visually, get to work on the soundtrack using the method you decribe.

Really appreciate the reply and may have your opinion on this? Would it be better to do the audio edits after I'v locked in the edit visually? Means I only have 1 audio file to play with then as opposed to 6...but when it's locked in visually then i can get to work on extracting the wavs.

How do I extract the AC3 file into 6 wavs using Premier?

I don't have a lot of experience with Premiere, I just know it can't work with AC3 files, it needs to be WAV or possibly AIFF.

You might consider cutting it with a stereo mix-down of the 5.1 track, then go back once you're done with the picture and match up the six WAV files to the picture, then render it out as six mono WAVs and mix them back together into an AC3 file.

I don't think you can use Premiere to split a 5.1 file into six mono files, but I could be wrong.

I'm sure someone else here could help you out.  I'd recommend changing the title of the thread to something like "Working with 5.1 in Premiere," so more people who know Premiere will click on it.

This might help a little.