Audio decoder options

[KarylFStein]

I have been using AC3Filter to decode DVD and HDTV audio to 5.1 surround sound and send it over analog lines to my receiver. I have been using analog for two reasons:

1) I could increase the gain on the "lower volume" DVD and HDTV so it matched the regular TV volume and you didn't wake up the kids, etc. when switching between the different signals, and

2) I could use the volume control within SageTV to manage everything from my RF remote.

Recently, I have started to have a lot of headaches with audio being out of sync with the video. I'm not sure what started it, but I have been unable to consistantly fix it using the audio delay settings in AC3Filter or SageTV. The audio on regular TV going through my Hauppauge 500 card always works fine. However, I have had sync problems with:

* The VCR hooked up to a composite input port on the Hauppauge 500 card, and
* HDTV using an AverMedia A180 card.

I do not recall if DVD playback was a problem or not. We started noticing it because of HDTV viewing and when renting a VCR tape for the kids.

Anyway, I switched to SPDIF output to my receiver and changed my audio settings to use nVidia. I then configured nVidia in pass-through mode to send everything to the receiver over SPDIF. I also configured my AC'97 audio to push analog and digital over SPDIF.

Right now, all my audio sync issues are solved. I have no problems with HDTV, DVD, SDTV, or the VCR going through the capture card. However, this gives me a new set of problems. The main issue is that I lose the ability to control the volume with the RF remote. Now, my remote has an IR transmitter and I can configure it to send IR signals to the receiver when I press the volume buttons. However, that means I have to have a line of sight with the receiver, which is difficult with how we use the media center. I'm also back to square 1 with the audio level problems.

So, my question is how do I solve all my problems? I figure I can get an IR Blaster and something like Girder to translate my RF volume controls to IR and feed them to my receiver. However, that seems a little complex and then I have to figure out how to mount the new hardware so it blends in nicely. That also doesn't solve the volume level issue. From what I've read, the nVidia audio decoders don't work in SageTV. I have been unable to determine if that is the case with Cyberlink, but I wasn't able to get them to work on the trial version I installed. (The video was fine, but I had to force AC3Filter as the preferred decoder or else I got rendering errors playing a DVD.)

Are there any other options commercial or otherwise?

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

I have been using AC3Filter to decode DVD and HDTV audio to 5.1 surround sound and send it over analog lines to my receiver. I have been using analog for two reasons:

1) I could increase the gain on the "lower volume" DVD and HDTV so it matched the regular TV volume and you didn't wake up the kids, etc. when switching between the different signals, and

2) I could use the volume control within SageTV to manage everything from my RF remote.

Recently, I have started to have a lot of headaches with audio being out of sync with the video. I'm not sure what started it, but I have been unable to consistantly fix it using the audio delay settings in AC3Filter or SageTV. The audio on regular TV going through my Hauppauge 500 card always works fine. However, I have had sync problems with:

* The VCR hooked up to a composite input port on the Hauppauge 500 card, and
* HDTV using an AverMedia A180 card.

I do not recall if DVD playback was a problem or not. We started noticing it because of HDTV viewing and when renting a VCR tape for the kids.

Anyway, I switched to SPDIF output to my receiver and changed my audio settings to use nVidia. I then configured nVidia in pass-through mode to send everything to the receiver over SPDIF. I also configured my AC'97 audio to push analog and digital over SPDIF.

Right now, all my audio sync issues are solved. I have no problems with HDTV, DVD, SDTV, or the VCR going through the capture card. However, this gives me a new set of problems. The main issue is that I lose the ability to control the volume with the RF remote. Now, my remote has an IR transmitter and I can configure it to send IR signals to the receiver when I press the volume buttons. However, that means I have to have a line of sight with the receiver, which is difficult with how we use the media center. I'm also back to square 1 with the audio level problems.

So, my question is how do I solve all my problems? I figure I can get an IR Blaster and something like Girder to translate my RF volume controls to IR and feed them to my receiver. However, that seems a little complex and then I have to figure out how to mount the new hardware so it blends in nicely. That also doesn't solve the volume level issue. From what I've read, the nVidia audio decoders don't work in SageTV. I have been unable to determine if that is the case with Cyberlink, but I wasn't able to get them to work on the trial version I installed. (The video was fine, but I had to force AC3Filter as the preferred decoder or else I got rendering errors playing a DVD.)

Are there any other options commercial or otherwise?

Get this:
Volume Tracker

This will map your main system volume to also adjust the wave volume which will do what you are looking for.

Gerry

[KarylFStein]

I'll try that, but my understanding is it won't affect the volume of DVD / HDTV audio since I'm passing that bitstream directly to the receiver. I could decode it, but that brings up my original query on decoder options...

[jkoutrouba]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

I'll try that, but my understanding is it won't affect the volume of DVD / HDTV audio since I'm passing that bitstream directly to the receiver. I could decode it, but that brings up my original query on decoder options...

Did you ever try it? I'm in the same situation...

[KarylFStein]

No, I didn't try it. I just reinstalled AC3Filter for now because the family was grumbling about me messing with the system.

I bought a Creative Audigy 2 ZS that is scheduled to arrive today. It is supposed to have hardware decoding of DD and DTS on it. However, the first one I bought was an OEM model made for Gateway and it did not have the hardware decoding. Grrr... We'll see this weekend how that works out.