No AC3 through SPDIF with SageTV 6.3

[tcsubwoofer]

Hello,

I finally got SageTV 6.3 to play DVD video properly, but now I can't get more than 2 channel audio through my optical output (SPDIF). I can get 5.1 when playing through PowerDVD 7 or Vista Media Center, but can't seem to find the right settings for SageTV. I am using PowerDVD 7 as the video Decoder for SageTV, but using that option for audio decoding doesn't seem to help. Some older threads suggest that the AC3 decoder standard with SageTV is no good and I need to download the latest ac3filter (now version 1.46). What do you suggest I do?


Windows Vista Home Premium 32 Bit
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+ 2.1 GHz
2 GB Ram
Gigabyte Motherboard GA-MA69G-S3H With ATI Radeon x1200 Series Integrated Graphics

[qhplar]

I just had the same issue; see my thread a few posts down. Use ac3filter, check the Use spidf box, and set it for pass thru mode. Works great.

see this thread http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...ighlight=dolby

[paxtten]

I'm having the same issue as tcsubwoofer ... only stereo playback on DVD and MKV files.

qhplar ---> responded "see my thread a few posts down. Use ac3filter, check the Use spidf box, and set it for pass thru mode."

2 problems, the embedded link doesn't work and I've looked through all the menu's and can't find any option called ac3filter / use spidf

Any help would be appreciated

cheers
pax

[John@TunerUK]

AC3 Filter isn't an 'Option' as such, it's something you have to download and install onto your PC.
Once installed you can alter how AC3 Filter deals with audio. One of it's options is to passthrough straight to the spdif.

In Detailed setup you can then choose it as your audio decoder for DVD's and/or videos.

http://ac3filter.net/

Hope that helps

[steven017]

AC3filter should work fine. I use it too. Setup should be pretty easy. The app itself per se is actually a configuration panel.

You need to mark Use SPDIF on the first tab. You can also select the type of output if you like, but it's not necessary for just pass through.

Then, you may need to make some changes in the SPDIF tab. You need to select the type of pass through, if that's what you want, and other options as apply to you. A little trial and error usually does the trick.

Finally, you can make some adjustments on the System tab as you like. You can choose which types of audio to use AC3 filter for and the type of output.

In addition to this, you also should make sure you've got your OS set to use SPDIF out or the correct audio device or both. On my system, I've got quite a few options. Some people have reported trouble with audio when their audio is set to 5.1 audio using the software for their sound card in addition to ac3filter. So, in that case, they recommend not setting 5.1 output in that software--but do not disable SPDIF or digital output.

Finally, I am assuming you are using a decoder that does not have AC3 capability for your audio. If you've got more than one filter installed, you could try a different one. I think many should include AC3 decoding these days.

Good luck,

Steve

[technazz]

Originally Posted by John@TunerUK

AC3 Filter isn't an 'Option' as such, it's something you have to download and install onto your PC.
Once installed you can alter how AC3 Filter deals with audio. One of it's options is to passthrough straight to the spdif.

In Detailed setup you can then choose it as your audio decoder for DVD's and/or videos.

http://ac3filter.net/

Hope that helps

AC3Filter is included in the SageTV install now. Check your install directory

Technazz

[paxtten]

Originally Posted by technazz

AC3Filter is included in the SageTV install now. Check your install directory

Technazz

First ... thanks everyone ... however it still doesn't work ... dam
I found a sheetshot of ac3filter elsewhere in the forum and comfirmed my setup. I think the problem may be related to the ALC850 driver. Nvidia driver install can't see it, so I have to use RealTek ...
Hmmm, wonder why WinDVD can see the SPDIF ????

Technazz ... I don't want to sound stupid (newbie to Sage) , but where is the "install directory"?
A file search for *AC3* found only one file associated with Sage here: \Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\ac3filter.ax
So, what do you do with an .AX file ?


Cheers
pax

[steven017]

As far as I'm aware of, you need to install the ac3filter app. It may be included in the current release of Sage, but not in the one I'm using.

Have you checked which audio device you have set up as your Windows device? If you don't have the correct one set, the one that is set might not be sending audio to the SPDIF port. Check the settings.

In my old version of WinDVD, I can set SPDIF in the options. If you have yours set up like this, this might explain why WinDVD can still send audio to the SPDIF port.

Steve

[technazz]

Originally Posted by paxtten

First ... thanks everyone ... however it still doesn't work ... dam
I found a sheetshot of ac3filter elsewhere in the forum and comfirmed my setup. I think the problem may be related to the ALC850 driver. Nvidia driver install can't see it, so I have to use RealTek ...
Hmmm, wonder why WinDVD can see the SPDIF ????

Technazz ... I don't want to sound stupid (newbie to Sage) , but where is the "install directory"?
A file search for *AC3* found only one file associated with Sage here: \Program Files\SageTV\SageTV\ac3filter.ax
So, what do you do with an .AX file ?


Cheers
pax

I just installed Sage 6.3.10 on my laptop and Ac3filter is installed there is Ac3cong.exe in the same directory you should run and setup SPDIF.Then set AC3Filter as default in you SageTV config.

In the AC3config you can set the icon to be in the system tray. Do you see this when you play a sage video? (In windowed mode)

Technazz

[steven017]

In my version of AC3Filter, I had to check the option on the System tab to show the System Tray Icon if I wanted it, which I did not. I'm not sure about the version that comes with 6.3.10, but just in case it's not set by default, I thought you should know.

Steve

[technazz]

Yes I know. I just wanted to make sure that you were actually using AC3Filter when playing a video in Sage.

Technazz

[Polypro]

First, make sure Windows audio is set up correctly; speaker count, etc... Then if you want to use something other than AC3Filter, make sure that decoder is set up properly...with NVIDIA it's:

"Connected: To A Receiver Via:S/PDIF"

Cyberlink is set up though PDVD. WinDVD used to be a problem for audio outside itself, haven't played with a new version in a while.

P

[paxtten]

Well after some technical delays, my PVR has a fresh install of XP, WinDVD7, Media Classic Player (CCCP) and Sage V6.3.10 ...

And unfortunately, no AC3 via the SPDIF when media is played through Sage

However, when DVD's are played through WinDVD and MKV files play through Media Classic Player [with the SPDIF feastures enabled], AC3 DD is detected by the HT receiver.

Here are the details ...
Yes, AC3Config.exe is found in the Sage program folder. I set the configuration as found here: http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/atta...1&d=1193572024 minus the Nvidia screens. [Although I have an nForce 4 chipset, the audio portion is not supported by the Nvidia drivers. I have a Realtek ALC850 chip and the utility that installs with the package is very basic ... SPDIF Digital or SPDIF Digital & Analog]

As instructed, after Sage was install I went into Detailed Setup, Video/Audio, and set MPEG2 Audio Decoder Filter = AC3Filter
The "Other" setting that I also tried was Audio Renderer which has the following choices:
Default
Realtek AC97 Audio
Default DirectSound Device
Default Waveout Device
DirectSound: Realtek AC97 Audio

I tried each of these and no detection of AC3 at the receiver.

Interesting note, Although Media Classic Player does not require AC3Filter to be installed in order to send AC3 DD via the SPDIF, after installing Sage, then running an MKV file via Media Classic Player, AC3Filter showed up on the Task Bar ... so the AC3Filter configuration appears to be working.

So, what magic setting am I missing in Sage to enable AC3 out my SPDIF ?

UPDATE: I forgot to mention, playing DVD via Sage does send AC3 out the SPDIF even though AC3Filter is NOT set as the default under DVD audio properties. However ... AC3Filter shows up on the taskbar ...

Cheers
pax

[steven017]

The merit of AC3Filter is very high by default. That's probably why it's showing up in the task bar. If you look under the System tab, you can see some settings to this effect. One that you select AC3Filter as your preferred filter, the default output type, and which types of audio you wish AC3Filter to process.

Those setting might be worth a look.

I'm a bit confused about your update. Are you saying you have Sage outputting AC3 for DVDs? Is that what you wanted, or did you want it to output AC3 for other files as well? If so, you might also want to look at what other filters you have installed. If you've got something that has higher merit than AC3Filter or is, for some reason, being preferentially used for that media, it's settings could be the problem. Check the settings of other filters or uninstall other filter packs to see if that's the problem.

Steve

[paxtten]

Originally Posted by steven017

I'm a bit confused about your update. Are you saying you have Sage outputting AC3 for DVDs? Is that what you wanted, or did you want it to output AC3 for other files as well?

Yes and Yes ...

Some of my family have been collecting media recorded with MKV extension and I was happy to find that they can be played by the Sage media viewer.

Problem is, that these MKV files have AC3 or DTS audio encoded into the file ... but when played by Sage, there is only stereo passed out the SPDIF.
To prove they play properly ... I installed Media Classic Player, enabled the SPDIF pass through option (no AC3Filter required) and my HT receiver saw the AC3 or DTS signal when I played the MKV files.

Prior to the reload, DVD's played via Sage media would not pass AC3 through the SPDIF ... but thats been corrected after the reload.
.

[steven017]

Have you checked the AC3Filter forums. I just did a search for AC3 and ALC850 and came up with a forum thread there about what seems to be the same problem as you.

Here's the link:

http://ac3filter.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=377

I'm not sure if it will help, but if it does, could you post your steps and results here (for others)?

Thanks,

Steve

[ranageman]

I think I have a similar problem.

The SPDIF i/f works OK, and WinDVD sends a Dolby surround signal out to SPDIF when playing a DVD. But a DVD played in Sage only seems to send a stereo signal.

I have run the AC3config program as suggested above, and selected pass-through, and selected AC3filter as my DVD audio filter. Thought this would fix it, but no change.

My VIA EN13000 motherboard has a VIA VT1618 8-channel AC'97 Codec.

Any further things to try?

/RM

[Flips]

Anyone figure this one out? I found this thread while I was searching for this same problem. Looks like I found the problem, but no solution...

flips

[ranageman]

Hey flips,

sorry, should have posted the solution. I changed the Audio Renderer to a different one (WaveOut) - there are a whole list of them and the differences are not at all clear - and bingo! - surround sound.

This was not based on any thought process, more just fiddling - the exact relationship between audio renderers, filters and decoders is not clear to me!

Hope it works for you.

/RM

[Flips]

Thanks RM, but that didn't do it for me.

After messing with this pretty much all day, I finally took a shot and checked the sageclient.properties (instead of just the sage.properties file) file and changed the use dshow setting to true. boom. worked fine. ugh...

I remember this happening a while back. Still not sure why on a non-client system I need to update the client properties file.. oh well... at least it works now.

flips