Can't get 5.1 Out of DVD Playback

[ReddogRacing]

I don't seem to be able to get 5.1 channels out of DVD playback in SageTV. I'm using the WinDVD decoder, and a Soundblaster Live 5.1.
I'm trying to use the SPDIF output hooked up to my receiver. In the WinDVD, I can turn on the SPDIF output, and the receiver sees and decodes 5.1 channels. When I play the DVD in Sage with the same (Intervideo) decoders, I only get two channels out in SPDIF. I assume that somewhere, something is decoding the audio to 2 channels. Is there a way to make Sage pass through the raw digital audio output with the Intervideo decoders? Thanks.

[laurenglenn]

Install AC3Filter 0.70

You should be able to find it via www.google.com

Change this in your Sage Properties file:

videoframe/additional_audio_filters=AC3Filter

Restart SageTV and select AC3Filter under DVD audio filter.

Lauren

[stanger89]

The other option is to set the WinDVD settings in the registry. It uses a different registry key for each app, should be in:
HKCU\Software\InterVideo\Common\AudioDec\[Appname]\

Try setting AUDIOCHAN = 0x4 for 6 channel (5.1) (0x3 for 4 chan, 0x5 - 7 ch)

Appname should be SageTV, it should already be there if you've run Sage with that decoder.

[ReddogRacing]

Originally Posted by stanger89

The other option is to set the WinDVD settings in the registry. It uses a different registry key for each app, should be in:
HKCU\Software\InterVideo\Common\AudioDec\[Appname]\

Try setting AUDIOCHAN = 0x4 for 6 channel (5.1) (0x3 for 4 chan, 0x5 - 7 ch)

Appname should be SageTV, it should already be there if you've run Sage with that decoder.

That did they trick, thanks. Now, the audio drops out while playing (it doesn't under WinDVD). Is there any way to correct this, or does it just mean I don't have enough processing power?

[stanger89]

Are you getting any video studdering? It's possible that the Audio/Video are getting out of sync, if that's the problem you might want to try this:
http://reclock.free.fr/

[ReddogRacing]

No, the video is fine, the audio just drops out occasionally. If I can't fix it, I'm not too worried as WinDVD plays just fine but I'd like to have everything work out of Sage jsut to keep things simpler.

[Polypro]

Originally Posted by stanger89

"The other option is to set the WinDVD settings in the registry. It uses a different registry key for each app, should be in:
HKCU\Software\InterVideo\Common\AudioDec\[Appname]\

Try setting AUDIOCHAN = 0x4 for 6 channel (5.1) (0x3 for 4 chan, 0x5 - 7 ch)

Appname should be SageTV, it should already be there if you've run Sage with that decoder".


Hello, first post. For any WinDVD 7 users, the AUDIOCHAN setting for 5.1 is 0x7. This is working with Logitech Z-680's via SoundMax SPDIF.

P

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Polypro

Hello, first post. For any WinDVD 7 users, the AUDIOCHAN setting for 5.1 is 0x7. This is working with Logitech Z-680's via SoundMax SPDIF.

P

Just to clarify:
0x4 is for 5.1 decoding, for analog output.
0x7 is (I take it) for no decoding, just S/PDIF passthrough.

Here's the whole list (that should be right but I'm guessing on some since won't let me select all options) it appears there are two dword that affect this, or at least are set by the filter:
AUDIOCHAN
0x1 = 2 speaker mode
0x3 = 4 speaker mode
0x4 = 6 speaker mode
0x5 = 7 speaker mode
0x6 = 8 speaker mode

AUDIO
0x0 = Mono
0x1 = Stereo
0x2 = Pro Logic Compatible - Note these 3 don't seem to stick.
0x4 = 4 speaker (I assume 4.0)
0x5 = 5.1, 6.1, 7.1 - Seems to be used with AUDIO CHAN, may not be necessary.

Oh, and props for figureing out the dword values, most people can't (or at least don't bother trying).

[Polypro]

LOL! Who do think I got the idea from Now if there was a way to make DNM stick... (Tried the *one* version of 6 where it worked...too choppy). Anyway, Pass Through...yup, you is correct

P

[stanger89]

Yeah, they seemed to have "fixed" it so it only works inside WinDVD.