<p>Depending on the container format, multi-channel audio can either be in a single stream or in separate mono streams.</p>

<p>Most consumer formats allow both, but it's easier for the end-user to have it in one stream (it can be interleaved PCM audio, or encoded bit-streams as ac3 or aac). Notice that it doesn't prevent to have several multi-channel streams in one container (like several 5.1 mixes, each one being one stream, in ac3 codec in a single container)</p>

<p>The MXF OP1A often used in broadcast usually has several mono streams for multi-channel content. A 5.1 mix will then use 6 mono streams in the container.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-21T21:52:09.903Z
2016-01-21T21:52:09.903Z
audionuma
<p>No, channels are conjoint, so they are part of a single stream. It is possible, using ffmpeg or similar software, to split channels into distinct streams. In which case, each stream will contain one channel.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T14:31:26.460Z
What is the distinction here between channels and streams? Are you referring to left / right stereo channels, or...?
Jim Mack
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T14:45:07.200Z
Yes, channels as compositional elements of an integrated image, somewhat like R G and B channels for a full-spectrum picture.
Gyan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T18:01:31.907Z
It's not completely clear to me what the OP is asking, because surely if you have "channels" in different languages, codecs (5.1 vs MP3 etc) they are separated into streams already. It is of course the case that left and right stereo channels, or front/rear/mid/sub etc are streamed as units, but is that what he's asking?
Jim Mack
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-21T03:02:53.940Z
The 'channels' I mentioned was sort of left and right stereo channels. I just edited my question to clarify this point.
Gwangmu Lee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T06:02:08.587Z
2016-01-20T06:02:08.587Z
Gyan
<p>The title is self-explanatory. If a media container file (like MPG) contains multiple audio channels, such as left or right channels, does it take these audios in separate streams??</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T18:01:34.773Z
What do you mean when you say "channel" in this context? Do you mean the left and right channels of a stereo signal, or separate languages, or something else?
Jim Mack
<video><ffmpeg><mpeg>
Do media containers contain multiple audio channels in separate streams?
Gwangmu Lee
# Do media containers contain multiple audio channels in separate streams?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-20)

The title is self-explanatory. If a media container file (like MPG) contains multiple audio channels, such as left or right channels, does it take these audios in separate streams??

**Tags:** video, ffmpeg, mpeg

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you mean when you say "channel" in this context? Do you mean the left and right channels of a stereo signal, or separate languages, or something else?  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-21. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Depending on the container format, multi-channel audio can either be in a single stream or in separate mono streams.

Most consumer formats allow both, but it's easier for the end-user to have it in one stream (it can be interleaved PCM audio, or encoded bit-streams as ac3 or aac). Notice that it doesn't prevent to have several multi-channel streams in one container (like several 5.1 mixes, each one being one stream, in ac3 codec in a single container)

The MXF OP1A often used in broadcast usually has several mono streams for multi-channel content. A 5.1 mix will then use 6 mono streams in the container.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-01-20. Score: 0

No, channels are conjoint, so they are part of a single stream. It is possible, using ffmpeg or similar software, to split channels into distinct streams. In which case, each stream will contain one channel.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What is the distinction here between channels and streams? Are you referring to left / right stereo channels, or...?  
> **username_3**: Yes, channels as compositional elements of an integrated image, somewhat like R G and B channels for a full-spectrum picture.  
> **username_1**: It's not completely clear to me what the OP is asking, because surely if you have "channels" in different languages, codecs (5.1 vs MP3 etc) they are separated into streams already. It is of course the case that left and right stereo channels, or front/rear/mid/sub etc are streamed as units, but is that what he's asking?  
> **username_0**: The 'channels' I mentioned was sort of left and right stereo channels. I just edited my question to clarify this point.  

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