aften ☆

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Description:
Audio encoder which generates ATSC A/52 compressed audio streams

Type: Formula | Latest Version: 0.0.8@0 | Tracked Since: Dec 17, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Multimedia

Tags: audio encoding ac-3 multimedia atsc

Install: brew install aften

About:
Aften is a high-quality A/52 (AC-3) audio encoder designed for creating surround sound streams compliant with ATSC standards. It provides a command-line interface for encoding raw PCM audio into compressed AC-3 bitstreams, making it essential for DVD authoring and broadcast workflows. The tool is valued for its efficient encoding speed and adherence to strict format specifications.

Key Features:

Encodes raw PCM audio to ATSC A/52 (AC-3) format
Supports multi-channel surround sound (5.1, 7.1)
Command-line interface for scripting and automation
High-quality encoding with configurable bitrates

Use Cases:

Encoding audio tracks for DVD and Blu-ray authoring
Preparing audio for ATSC digital television broadcasting
Creating AC-3 files for home theater media servers

Alternatives:

ffmpeg – More versatile multimedia framework that supports AC-3 encoding among many other formats, but Aften is a dedicated tool focused solely on A/52 encoding.
toolame – MPEG-1/2 Layer II (MP2) audio encoder; used for different audio formats and standards compared to AC-3.

License: LGPL-2.1-or-later

Bottles available for: arm64_tahoe, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_ventura, arm64_monterey, arm64_big_sur, sonoma, ventura, monterey, big_sur, catalina, arm64_linux, x86_64_linux

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 10, 2025 4:44pm		0	VERSION_BUMP	e4ce479c