When producing a Blu-ray disc, most creators focus heavily on video quality—but audio quality is just as important. Many videos downloaded online, including MKV, MP4, and M2TS files, originate from retail Blu-ray discs. These often contain high-fidelity audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio, LPCM (PCM), and EAC3.

If you’re authoring your own Blu-ray disc, you may wonder:

How can I keep this original audio without re-encoding, downgrading, or losing quality?

Part 1. Why Preserve the Original Audio?

Audio is half the cinematic experience. Many downloadable MKV and M2TS files are extracted directly from retail Blu-ray discs, meaning they include professional, studio-grade soundtracks. These formats—TrueHD, DTS HD Master, LPCM, and EAC3—are vastly superior to compressed DVD-level audio.

Here are the main reasons you should preserve original audio during Blu-ray authoring:

1.1 Maximum Sound Quality

Blu-ray is a high-definition format capable of delivering:

• Lossless multichannel audio (5.1, 7.1, Atmos)
• Up to 192kHz / 24-bit depth
• Studio-master quality with no compression artifacts

If you re-encode audio to AC3 or AAC, you permanently lose detail and clarity. High frequencies become dull, surround channels lose precision, and dynamic range decreases. Keeping the original audio guarantees the same cinematic sound you get from retail discs.

1.2 Preserve Special Audio Effects

Modern Blu-ray rips frequently include:

• Dolby Atmos (within TrueHD)
• DTS:X (within DTS HD Master Audio)
• Wide dynamic surround mixes
• Extra commentary tracks or alternate languages

Re-encoding audio can cause these advanced formats to break. Only a true passthrough workflow preserves metadata, channel mapping, and special features.

1.3 Maintain Full Compatibility with Blu-ray Players

Blu-ray players expect audio formats that meet professional standards. If you preserve original audio, you maintain:

• Perfect synchronization
• Bitrate and codec compatibility
• Zero risk of player decoding errors

Re-encoded audio may occasionally cause playback issues or mismatched channel layouts.

1.4 Save Time With Faster Authoring

Re-encoding audio requires CPU/GPU power and can take hours.
Copying or passthrough, on the other hand, is instant.
Most authoring tools that preserve audio finish much faster, especially when also preserving the video stream.

1.5 Reduce Quality Loss Over Multiple Generations

If you’re creating multiple Blu-rays—or editing the same content repeatedly—re-encoding introduces cumulative degradation. Passthrough preserves the studio-original version every time.

Part 2. Preserving the Original Audio Using Yuhan Blu-ray Creator

Yuhan Blu-ray Creator is a professional Blu-ray authoring software designed for users who want maximum quality control without complicated workflows. It allows you to create Blu-ray discs, ISO files, and BDMV folders from a wide range of video formats, including MKV, MP4, M2TS, MOV, and AVI, on both Windows and macOS.

One of its standout features is support for lossless audio preservation. With Passthrough Mode and Audio Copy Mode, Yuhan Blu-ray Creator can keep original high-definition audio formats such as Dolby TrueHD (including Atmos metadata), DTS-HD Master Audio, LPCM (PCM), EAC3, AC3, and DTS without re-encoding. When source videos meet Blu-ray specifications, the original video can also be preserved, ensuring zero quality loss.

Yuhan Blu-ray Creator also excels in Blu-ray menu authoring. Users can create professional static or animated menus, customize backgrounds, buttons, text, and music, and manage chapters and multiple titles with ease. It supports multiple audio tracks and subtitles, making it suitable for multilingual Blu-ray projects.

With hardware acceleration for Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA GPUs, fast processing speeds, and a clean, beginner-friendly interface, Yuhan Blu-ray Creator is an ideal solution for home theater enthusiasts and professionals who want studio-quality Blu-ray discs with original audio fully intact.

Unlike many consumer Blu-ray creators that force audio re-encoding, Yuhan provides two dedicated modes that preserve original audio perfectly:

• Passthrough Mode
• Audio Copy Mode

These modes allow you to author a professional, menu-equipped Blu-ray disc without changing or losing any part of the original soundtrack.

2.1 What Is Passthrough Mode?

Passthrough mode copies both the original video and audio into the final Blu-ray disc structure without transcoding.
This preserves:

• TrueHD + Atmos
• DTS HD Master Audio + DTS:X
• LPCM (PCM) uncompressed audio
• EAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus)
• Multichannel tracks (5.1 / 7.1)
• High sample rates and bit depths

This is crucial when your source files already match Blu-ray specifications—for example:

• 1920×1080
• H.264/AVC
• 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 fps
• Proper GOP structure

When these conditions are met, Yuhan Blu-ray Creator can build a Blu-ray disc with zero quality loss.

2.2 What Is Audio Copy Mode?

Audio Copy mode preserves the original audio but allows the video stream to be re-encoded when necessary.

This is ideal when:

• Your video resolution exceeds Blu-ray limits
• Your codec is not Blu-ray compliant (H.265 HEVC, VP9, etc.)
• Your framerate needs standardization
• You want to upscale or downscale video

Even when video must be reprocessed, your audio remains untouched.
This ensures:

• No audio degradation
• No codec conversion
• Perfect compatibility with home theater receivers

It’s the best compromise when your video requires adjustments but your audio should remain original.

2.3 Audio Formats Supported by Yuhan Blu-ray Creator (for Lossless Preservation)

Yuhan supports passthrough or direct copy for nearly all high-end Blu-ray audio:

Unlike other consumer authoring tools, Yuhan does not downgrade HD audio to AC3.
This is what makes it one of the best software choices for home theater enthusiasts.

2.4 Steps to Preserve Original Audio in Yuhan Blu-ray Creator

Before we start, we need to download and install Yuhan Blu-ray Creator. If your computer is Windows, you can click the button on the left below to download it. If your computer is Mac, please click the button on the right below to download it.

Step 1: Add your MKV, MP4, M2TS, or MOV video

Launch the program and select the “Blu-ray” tab. Click “Add Video” to import MKV, MP4, M2TS, or MOV files. In the audio track drop-down menu, choose the track you want; all audio tracks embedded in the video will be listed. Supported high-definition audio formats include Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, and LPCM (PCM), among others.

Step 2: Select and Customize a Menu

Click “Select Menu” to browse templates. Customize backgrounds (images or videos), highlight styles, and bonus features. Add background music for a professional touch.

Step 3: Advanced Settings

To preserve the high-definition audio track, you have two options. The first is pass-through mode, which requires the video to fully comply with Blu-ray specifications. The second is enabling “Audio Copy” in transcoding mode, which works with all video formats and keeps the original audio without re-encoding.

Step 4: Output Settings

Choose your output type: Blu-ray folder, ISO, or burn directly to disc. Set default audio track, default subtitles, disc label, and title mode.

Step 5: Start Authoring

Click Start, and the software will encode and burn your Blu-ray. Depending on hardware, this may take from 1–2 hours.

Part 3. Preserving the Original Audio Using TsMuxer

TsMuxer is a classic, lightweight tool widely used for Blu-ray remuxing. It is especially powerful when your goal is to create a menu-less Blu-ray disc that preserves both video and audio in their original form.

Unlike Yuhan, TsMuxer does not offer menu templates or graphical navigation.

Its purpose is strictly technical: remux streams into a Blu-ray folder structure without altering them.

3.1 Why Use TsMuxer for Preserving Audio?

TsMuxer is one of the earliest tools capable of:

• Copying TrueHD with Atmos
• Copying DTS HD Master Audio
• Copying uncompressed PCM
• Keeping exact bit depth and sample rate
• Preserving bitstream timing

It does not attempt to process or convert audio; it simply repackages it for Blu-ray playback.

3.2 Ideal Scenarios for Using TsMuxer

TsMuxer is best for:

• Creating a quick Blu-ray folder without a menu
• Keeping untouched video and audio when both meet standards
• Combining multiple M2TS or MKV files into one Blu-ray structure
• Stripping unwanted audio or subtitle tracks
• Fixing minor sync issues

If you only want a simple Blu-ray without any interface, TsMuxer is perfect.

3.3 How to Use TsMuxer to Keep Original Audio

Before we begin, you’ll need to download tsMuxer, a free and open-source tool. You can get the latest version from GitHub:
https://github.com/justdan96/tsMuxer/releases

The package includes two components: tsMuxer (the command-line tool) and tsMuxerGUI (the graphical interface).

Step 1: Import your MKV, MP4, or M2TS file

TsMuxer automatically reads all streams.

Step 2: Uncheck streams you don’t want to include

Example: remove commentary tracks or unwanted languages.

Step 3: Choose “Blu-ray ISO” or “Blu-ray Folder” output

This creates a BDMV + CERTIFICATE structure.

Step 4: Start muxing

The process takes only a few minutes because:

• No video encoding
• No audio encoding

Everything is pure passthrough.

Part 4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I keep Dolby Atmos audio when authoring a Blu-ray disc?

Yes. Dolby Atmos is stored as metadata within a Dolby TrueHD or EAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus) audio stream. To preserve Atmos, the audio must be copied without re-encoding.
Both Yuhan Blu-ray Creator (Passthrough or Audio Copy mode) and TsMuxer can keep Dolby Atmos intact, provided the original audio track is not transcoded during Blu-ray authoring.

2. Will preserving the original audio increase the Blu-ray file size?

No. Preserving original audio does not increase file size—it keeps the audio exactly as it is.
In fact, re-encoding audio may slightly reduce size but at the cost of quality. If disc capacity allows, keeping the original audio is always recommended for the best sound experience.

3. Why do some Blu-ray authoring tools downgrade DTS HD or TrueHD to AC3?

Many consumer Blu-ray authoring programs do not support HD audio passthrough. To ensure compatibility, they automatically convert advanced formats like DTS HD Master Audio or TrueHD into AC3 (Dolby Digital).
This results in significant quality loss. Tools like Yuhan Blu-ray Creator are specifically designed to avoid this by offering dedicated passthrough and audio copy modes.

4. What happens if my video does not meet Blu-ray specifications?

If your video does not meet Blu-ray standards (for example, HEVC/H.265, incorrect resolution, or unsupported frame rate):

• Yuhan Blu-ray Creator will re-encode the video to Blu-ray–compliant H.264 while keeping the original audio unchanged using Audio Copy mode.
• TsMuxer will not re-encode the video and may fail to create a playable Blu-ray disc.

For mixed or non-standard sources, Yuhan Blu-ray Creator is the safer choice.

5. Can I preserve multiple audio tracks on one Blu-ray disc?

Yes. Both Yuhan Blu-ray Creator and TsMuxer support multiple audio tracks, including different languages, commentary tracks, and alternate mixes.
Yuhan Blu-ray Creator also allows you to label audio tracks clearly in the disc menu, making it easier to switch between them during playback.

6. Is LPCM (PCM) better than TrueHD or DTS HD Master Audio?

LPCM (PCM) is completely uncompressed and offers excellent quality, but it requires much more disc space.
TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio are lossless, meaning they provide identical audio quality to LPCM while using less space. Preserving any of these formats ensures studio-grade sound on your Blu-ray disc.

7. Can I create a Blu-ray menu and still keep original audio?

Yes. This is one of the key advantages of Yuhan Blu-ray Creator.
You can create animated or static Blu-ray menus, add chapters, and organize multiple videos without re-encoding the original audio, as long as you use Passthrough or Audio Copy mode.

8. Does TsMuxer support Blu-ray menus?

No. TsMuxer creates menu-less Blu-ray discs only.
While it excels at preserving original video and audio streams, it does not support interactive menus, buttons, or chapter navigation screens.

9. Which tool is better for beginners?

For beginners, Yuhan Blu-ray Creator is the better choice. It offers a user-friendly interface, automatic format detection, and guided workflows while still preserving original audio.
TsMuxer is more technical and better suited for advanced users who only need a simple Blu-ray structure.

10. Can I burn the Blu-ray disc later after creating an ISO?

Yes. Both tools allow you to output a Blu-ray ISO file or BDMV folder, which can be burned later using compatible Blu-ray burning software.
This is useful for testing playback in software players before writing the disc to physical media.

Part 5. Conclusion

High-quality audio formats like Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD Master Audio, LPCM, and EAC3 are among the main reasons why Blu-ray continues to be the best physical media format for home theaters. When authoring your own discs, preserving this audio is essential for maintaining the cinematic experience.

Fortunately, both Yuhan Blu-ray Creator and TsMuxer provide reliable ways to keep original audio intact:

• Yuhan Blu-ray Creator offers Passthrough and Audio Copy modes for lossless audio retention while providing full menu authoring and wide format compatibility.
• TsMuxer gives you a quick, menu-less Blu-ray structure with completely untouched audio and video.

Whether you're building a professional Blu-ray disc or simply creating a personal archive, these tools ensure your final product retains the same pristine audio quality as the original source.

If you want to learn more about Yuhan Blu-ray Creator, please click: https://yuhanmedia.com/bd-creator

If you want to download and try it for free, please click the button below to download it.