Volume control problems with digital out

[bgorrell]

The volume control in SageTV does not work on my computer. I am using the SPDIF output of my C-Media C8738 motherboard based sound card (to a receiver). I think the problem is that Sage only adjusts the "Master" volume as apposed to the "Wave" volume. Windows Media Player's volume control works fine, which seems to confirm the problem.

So, is there a way to make SageTV control the Wave out volume control? Alternately, does anyone know why the Master volume control doesn't do anything?

[roddym4]

Just a thought, but does your audio application controlling your MB SPDIF out have a volume control? Also, if you use a software-based DVD player and you select SPDIF output, can it control the volume?

I'm curious about this because although I have an SPDIF out on my motherboard and I bought a separate cable that seems to fit it, I can't get any audio from it at all.

Good luck.

[bgorrell]

My motherboard came with c-media software to including a mixer app. I can control the SPDIF volume by adjusting the "Wave Out" slider, but not the "Master" slider. I've found some DVD software controls the volume correctly, and others do not.

My c-media mixer settings have an option to output ALL sound through SPDIF (although, strangely enough, only in 2-channel mode). That is what I am using. I may switch back to analog though because of the volume problems.

[gplasky]

I thought using SPDIF on anything other than an nForce 1/2 is passthru. If it is passthru the volume control on your PC would not affect it. It is just passing thru and the volume would be controlled by the Digital Dolby receiver/amp that you are passing it to. The nForce1/2 is the exception because it does digital decoding on the fly and you can have any analog sound converted to DD 5.1. If I do passthru on this board it does not control the volume. My DD5.1 receiver controls it. Hope this helps.

Gerry

[bmzero0]

Is there any update on this? I'm having the same problem.


thanks,
.brit

[mlbdude]

The Master Volume in windows does not work for you as well?

[bmzero0]

Well, it works, it just doesn't affect the volume going to my receiver through my SPDIF (optical) cable connection.


.brit

[mlbdude]

I don't think you can adjust SPDIF volume. It is digital and not analog.

[Opus4]

But he said (elsewhere) that WMP can adjust the volume via the WAVE volume control. If you open the system volume control so you can adjust all devices individually, does adjusting the WAVE output change the volume? I'm asking that since I am curious if it is really changing the volume that way or if WMP is doing something internally that can't be adjusted by any of those sliders.

Edit: If the WAVE slider does adjust the volume, then the queston for now becomes: Is there a way to tell the system to adjust that volume? There is an APPCOMMAND that the system will respond to for adjusting the main voolume, but I don't yet know how to adjust the WAVE volume.

- Andy

[bmzero0]

Originally posted by Opus4
does adjusting the WAVE output change the volume?

Yes, it does.

The only issue I see with this is when I adjust the wave volume, I'm actually distorting the true sound. It just happens that I'm distorting it enough to raise or lower the volume. True sound is sent through the SPDIF directly to the receiver. In actuality, and to keep the sound clean, the receiver should adjust the sound.

I guess since it's just normal analog cable TV that I'm using, the sound isn't going to be that good anyway.


.brit

[bmzero0]

I'm now looking at remotes that can "learn" from other remotes. This way, I can control SageTV and adjust the receiver volume with the same remote. That should yield in a higher quality sound since the receiver will actually be controlling the volume level.

Any thoughts?


thanks,
.brit

[Opus4]

Originally posted by bmzero0
Yes, it does.See my appended comment in my previous post. (The 'edit'.)

I guess since it's just normal analog cable TV that I'm using, the sound isn't going to be that good anyway.Do you have other sound source going out from the PC? If not, it may be easier to simply use the regular analog outputs. Of course, that isn't a solution; it just gets around the problem.

- Andy

[Opus4]

Originally posted by bmzero0
I'm now looking at remotes that can "learn" from other remotes. This way, I can control SageTV and adjust the receiver volume with the same remote. That should yield in a higher quality sound since the receiver will actually be controlling the volume level.Check out the LONG thread: What's the BEST remote for use with SageTV? (http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2311)

I really like my MX-700, but it ain't cheap. I mentioned those JP1 capable remotes (http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/index.shtml) to you elsewhere -- they are fairly inexpensive & can be programmed to do almost anything.

- Andy

[bmzero0]

Andy,

I have seen this issue titled another way in some other forums. "Bind SageTV to Wave Out". I think that would be the simplest solution to the problem, but I just don't know if there's a way to do it.

I only have the optical out connected for sound. I tried the analog out earlier, like you suggested, but just didn't want to have to switch back and forth on the receiver to watch TV or hear PC sound. Plus, if I went to just analog, I don't have the ability to do 5.1 unless I go out and buy a bunch of specialty cables.

For example: if I run the audio out from the PVR-350 (analog) to the receiver, I think (don't remember) that should cure this problem. The only problem with that is, I will have to put that sound on a different (different from the optical input - example: Auxillary In) input on the receiver. Therefore, I would have to switch inputs on the receiver to go back and forth between "TV sound" and "PC sound". All sound, other than SageTV, will still be directed out of the SPDIF connector.

I'm not with my PC right now, so my logic may have a few holes. Please let me know if any of this is incorrect by your understanding.


thanks,
.brit

[Opus4]

Yes, I know that isn't an optimal solution... just thought I would mention it in case it was viable for you. :) While you are waiting for someone to say if they they know how to have the system adjust the WAVE output via some sort of message or something, don't forget to contact Frey tech support (support@freytechnologies.com) -- that way, you can let them know you would like this ability & perhaps they will already know something to suggest.

Edit: Oh - there is one problem using the silver Hauppauge remote for this sort of volume control... those 2 buttons won't be able to do double-duty in SageTV, as they do now. But, you could always use 2 other keys for vol control, like the green & blue ones perhaps.

- Andy

[bmzero0]

Originally posted by Opus4
I mentioned those JP1 capable remotes (http://www.hifi-remote.com/jp1/index.shtml) to you elsewhere -- they are fairly inexpensive & can be programmed to do almost anything.

Yeah, I've been checking out the JP1 stuff. That looks like a good fit.

I'm a minimalist, so I don't want a remote with a lot of buttons or flashing lights. In a strange twist, I actually built my HTPC so that I could do away with some complexity in my entertainment components. It's working well, suprisingly.


thanks again,
.brit

[bmzero0]

Originally posted by Opus4
Edit: Oh - there is one problem using the silver Hauppauge remote for this sort of volume control... those 2 buttons won't be able to do double-duty in SageTV, as they do now. But, you could always use 2 other keys for vol control, like the green & blue ones perhaps.

Andy,

I'm unsure of what you're refering to here. What do you mean by double duty?


thanks,
.brit

[Opus4]

Originally posted by bmzero0
I'm unsure of what you're refering to here. What do you mean by double duty?By default, the VOL +/- buttons on the silver Hauppauge remote are also configured to work as the Right/Left commands, respectively. SageTV then determines their actual functionality by the context within SageTV -- if in playback, they work as volume control; if in menus, they work as navigation control.

Check the last page of your v2 "Setup & Configuration Guide" for a picture of the remote's configuration layout. The PDF should be in your SageTV directory.

- Andy

[bmzero0]

Originally posted by Opus4
By default, the VOL +/- buttons on the silver Hauppauge remote are also configured to work as the Right/Left commands, respectively.

Oh yeah, I knew that. Sorry.

I'm leaning toward a "learning" remote to solve this problem.

I'll post the "solution" that I come up with.


thanks,
.brit

[bgorrell]

I'm the originator of this thread (last October!), and am still without a complete solution. I have a learning remote that controls the receiver's volume. That solves the "one remote" problem when using SPDIF. However...

I would still like a way to set my Wave volume in Sage. The purpose wouldn't be to actively change the volume as I watch shows, but rather to set a default volume relative to what other apps are putting out for Wave sources.

By default, Sage recordings tend to be relatively quite. I currently set the Mixer's Wave slider to 100% for Sage's sake. If I turn this down, I have to turn my receiver up louder than I would for other sources like the VCR or DVD player. But at this volume, system sounds are about twice as loud as what Sage puts out. Many "dumb" apps share the "Wave Volume" level of the mixer. If you ever turn on voice alerts in apps like mIRC, GetRight, or Nero to let you know when something is done or has failed, it will make you jump out of your skin in comparison to the TV level put out by SageTV.

This is not really a bug, more of a feature request to have Sage be smarter than these other apps by "remembering" it's own Wave volume setting. Then I could set the mixer to something like 50% as a default for all the "dumb" apps that don't have their own volume control.

Media Player is an example of a "smart" app that does this. I have it set to about 50% by default. It's output matches Sage's output pretty close because it ignores the default Mixer setting. Also, as I adjust the volume in Media Player, it only affects it's own volume. It won't mess with the Mixer default. Not sure how it works--it just does.

P.S. I've read the posts about boosting the default recording level through the registry, but I read that the sound quality decreases somewhat. Also, if I burn the file to DVD, wouldn't it play louder on my standalone DVD player? I think that is why the default recording level is set lower--it currently sounds perfect when I burn to DVD. There would also be the issue of all my existing recordings being recorded at a lower level.

It all seems complicated. Would buying a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 help? I currently use c-media built into the motherboard (pretty nice for built-in though).

[bmzero0]

bgorrell, I understand what you're saying about separate volume controls. That would be nice.

To solve this problem, I did the same as you, I bought a learning remote. I purchased the Philips PMDVR8. It has all of the DVR controls that you would expect and it matches almost perfectly to the Silver Haupauge remote that came with my PVR-350.

It even has three macros built-in that I have set to all of my stuff on or off.

For now, I'm very happy with this solution.


thanks for the info,
.brit