Cannot get 5.1 audio to surround sound receiver

[bcjenkins]

Ripple,

Without playing anything, what do you get if you go into:

Windows Media Player -- Tools -- Options -- DVD Tab -- Advanced

On mine, it brings up the Nvidia audio control panel. If it brings up something else, what is it? Also, what is your source media? Recorded show(HD or SD?)? DVD?

B

[geogecko]

Ripple.

Also, this setting bothers me on your AC3 setup:

Main:
- Ouput: 3/2+SW 5.1 Channels, PCM 16bit
- SPDIF (disabled) CHECKED

Why are you disabling the SPDIF? And this works (5.1 to your receiver)?

I would switch back to AC3 Filter, change that setting to enabled, then switch back to the PV decoder, and see what happens...just something else to try.

Man, this has been a hard one.

[ripple]

Originally Posted by geogecko

Why are you disabling the SPDIF? And this works (5.1 to your receiver)?

The "SPDIF (disabled)" setting was confusing to me... I wasn't sure whether checking it makes it disabled or whether it is disabled unless you check it . I've tried both but most recently it is checked - what should it be?

Originally Posted by geogecko

I would switch back to AC3 Filter, change that setting to enabled

If AC3Filter should work, verifying my setup with that might be more productive - I found this snippet on the nvidia website faq regarding PureVideo:

"Sound cards support two mode SPDIF audio renderer modes which are DirectSound and WaveOut. Some audio chips require the use of WaveOut instead of the DirectSound renderer to get SPDIF output to work properly. Windows Media Player doesn’t support the Waveout option and only supports DirectSound via SPDIF. You will experience problems such as 2-channel audio, or no audio at all when expecting full 5.1 audio. This is an issue the NVIDIA decoders cannot control. Please use a supported audio card listed in the Decoder System Requirements to avoid these problems"

The audio on my MB is SoundMAX4 which, of course, is not on their list...I know the audio chip is capable of 5.1 (PowerDVD works) but it seems nvidia may not support the audio chip fully. Bummer.

Can someone with a working AC3Filter setup verify my property settings (listed a few messages back)?

[ripple]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

Without playing anything, what do you get if you go into:

Windows Media Player -- Tools -- Options -- DVD Tab -- Advanced

On mine, it brings up the Nvidia audio control panel. If it brings up something else, what is it? Also, what is your source media? Recorded show(HD or SD?)? DVD?

It pulls up AC3Filter properties if I have AC3Filter set as default. It pulls up Nvidia properties if not. I've been switching back and forth as I try different things...

And I am using a DVD for testing that has 5.1 audio and successfully plays 5.1 when viewed through PowerDVD.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by geogecko

Ripple.

Also, this setting bothers me on your AC3 setup:



Why are you disabling the SPDIF? And this works (5.1 to your receiver)?

You're not, it's dumb wording for AC3 Filter.

- My PV audio tab was:
- Audio format: Dolby Digital (shows only 2 dots on square)
- Listening mode: SPDIF
Seems like I should have more than 2 dots on the Audio format diagram, but I don't see any way to change this??

Yeah, two dots means that the source/file is 2 ch, not 5.1. What DVD are you using? You should see something like this:

[geogecko]

Ah, I'm guessing that your little snipit from Nvidia may apply. Wow, if that's it, that would stink.

[stanger89]

Well, the way I read it, one would just have to change to WaveOut instead of Directsound as the Audio Renderer in SageTV.

[bcjenkins]

FWIW - My sound card is not on Nvidia's list either. I looked up your card on soundmax's site. http://forms.analog.com/Form_Pages/s...tml#question24

In particular

NOTE: If your computer supports SPDIF digital connections and you want to connect SPDIF digital speakers or receiver to your computer, you must enable SPDIF in the Advanced button for the main volume within the mixer.

In my realtek card ACL650 (I think) built into ABit ICMAXIII (875 chipset)

My option looks like:



It is important to not mix digital and analog signals as I think everything gets down mixed to PCM

B

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Yeah, two dots means that the source/file is 2 ch, not 5.1. What DVD are you using? You should see something like this:

Keep in mind you'll only see this if you're actually playing something when you're at this window. If you check this out without actually playing the video you'll just see the 2 dots.

Gerry

[ripple]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You're not, it's dumb wording for AC3 Filter.

So...should it be checked or not?

As for the 2 dots - you guys were right - it shows 5.1 dots when playing a dvd thru PV audio decoder (even though only 2 channels make it to my receiver)

Originally Posted by stanger89

Well, the way I read it, one would just have to change to WaveOut instead of Directsound as the Audio Renderer in SageTV.

stanger, nice idea - it worked! It looks like the PV disclaimer was right - they (and WMP) won't do 5.1 to waveout and my SoundMAX audio wants waveout. When I use PV as default decoders set to SPDIF and set Default WaveOut Renderer in Sage, voila!

Beers are on me! Uh...well, I promise to drink one for each of you anyway...

[geogecko]

Very interesting issue.

I'll keep this one bookmarked, for future use...

[korben_dallas]

Ripple,

Could you post your final config? This issue comes up *alot*, and we seem to reinvent the wheel in each thread. Would be nice to have all the details of your config for easy reference.

[stanger89]

Well, the final nVidia decoder config is as in the picture posted above, ie:
Connected To - A Receiver
Via - An S/PDIF cable

The missing link in this thread, was that WaveOut was needed instead of DirectSound.

As for AC3Filter, "S/PDIF (disabled)" (sic) needs to be checked, as well as passthrough, for s/pdif passthrough.

[ripple]

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

Could you post your final config?

My final config that works for my SoundMAX MB:

HARDWARE/DECODER SETUP:

• SoundMAX digital audio (onboard Intel D865PERL motherboard),
• PureVideo (Platinum) decoders set as default
• SPDIF connector to JVC surround sound receiver

SAGE SETTINGS:

Video/Audio:

Video Renderer : Overlay
MPEG2 Video Decoder Filter: Default
Audio Renderer: Default WaveOut Device
MPEG2 Audio Decoder Filter: Default

DVD:

DVD Video Renderer : Overlay
DVD Video Decoder Filter: Default
DVD Audio Renderer: Default WaveOut Device
DVD Audio Decoder Filter: Default

PUREVIDEO AUDIO DECODER SETTINGS:

Audio:

Audio format: Dolby Digital
Listening mode: SPDIF

Speaker Setup:

connected to a receiver SELECTED
via a SPDIF cable CHECKED

Advanced Settings:

Method 1 (Data Mode SPDIF) SELECTED

Again, thanks for everyone's input!

[Jesse]

Hi,

Interesting. I use the same decoders, mobo and onboard audio out to my denon receiver and I get 5.1 with "SoundMax Digital Audio" selected. I do seem to remember there were some settings in the soundmax control panel to enable spdif. I can also tell you that when I had a couple of maudio sondcards in my sage box it really freaked out the onboard audio to the point I had to disable it. I also seem to recall that the drivers included in the mobo retail box were a problem and I had to get a later set from intel's site.

Just a little more info for anyone using this hardware.

Jesse