File Extension AC3

File type: Audio Codec 3 File

About the AC3 file type:

If Windows cannot find the appropriate program associated with .AC3 files, then your registry may have errors. Check your Windows registry for errors (includes file association errors).

The AC3 format file is also commonly known as the Dolby Digital file format for audio data. This technology can contain a maximum of 6-channel audio reproduction (including output from the subwoofer) which is referred to as 5.1 surround sound capability. This technology was developed by Dolby Laboratories which markets it under the Dolby Digital label and uses a series of lossy audio compression formats for sound reproduction. The use of five normal range speaker channels for the right front, left front, center, right rear, and left rear (with a frequency of 20Hz to 20,000Hz) along with a single channel subwoofer low frequency speaker (allotted audio ranging from 20Hz to 120Hz) is considered as the most elaborate mode supported by this system. Stereo and mono modes are also supported by this audio file format with a sampling rate that has a maximum frequency of 48kHz. The first full-length film to benefit from the development of this technology is Batman Returns which premiered in the Summer of 1992.


Detailed information for file extension AC3

Category: Audio Files
File format: Proprietary
Open with Windows: Microsoft Windows Media Player, Apple QuickTime Player with AC3 Codec, Nero ShowTime, Nullsoft Winamp, CyberLink PowerDVD
Open with Linux: N/A
The audio file AC3 format is known by several aliases like Dolby Digital, DD (used as an abbreviation an normally accompanied by its channel count), Dolby Surround AC-3 Digital (promotional name launched for both film and home audio devices between 1995 and 1996), Dolby Stereo Digital (LaserDisc technology support), Dolby SR-Digital (recording compatibility), Audio Coding 3 (referencing the format for the Dolby Digital bitstream), Audio Codec 3, Acoustic Coder 3, Advanced Codec 3, and ATSC A/52 (standard version for A/52 Revision B). The data layout utilized by the AC3 file extension is identified as simplified language similar to the official C specifications. The AC3 format file data stream is composed of multiple synchronization frames made up of a maximum of six audio blocks with every block containing 256 audio samples for each channel. Similar technologies in use include Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Surround EX, Dolby Digital Live, Dolby TrueHD, and Dolby Digital Plus.