Outputting two audio tracks to one stereo audio channel?

Question

linux

Hello, good habroman!
I train in the ability to understand cinema in English, but at the same time I want to watch the same movie with my wife, who, in turn, does not want to listen to the original. We usually watch the video with headphones and an idea-question has arisen. Is it possible to simultaneously play two audio tracks (Russian and English), but at the same time make them monophonic and push them to the left and right earphones, i.e.:
Russian track -> mono -> left earphone
English track -> mono -> right earpiece
How would I do this in Linux (presumably in mplayer or vlc)?

Answer 1

One option is to create a video file yourself with such a division of audio tracks.

Answer 2

There is no such built-in functionality.
If it’s completely unbearable, then you need to make a multi-channel track in some audacity or ffmpeg and put the necessary tracks on separate pairs of channels. Let's say English in the front speakers, Russian in the rear speakers. And then separate headphones for you, separate for your wife. (well, or if you have a laptop with a stereo output, then as you originally suggested, mono sound and everyone's ear).
There is an even better option. Take pymplayer and run two player instances through it. In one, show a picture and English sound, in the other, do not show a picture, but simply play a Russian audio track. Accordingly, the system must have two audio devices, and each mplayer instance must work with a separate one. A cheap USB headset will work as a second audio device. At the same time, you need to periodically poll both mplayer instances for the position in the files and, if there is a noticeable out of sync, speed up or slow down one of the players. I have not found such a synka already written.

Answer 3

At one time they made it easier.
The desired soundtrack was stupidly recorded in mp3 on a portable mp3 player or phone, and listened to with headphones.
So it was possible to listen to the desired dubbing even in the cinema ...