5.1 Audio in games over spdif

[trandy1001]

Looking for a way to get 5.1 channel audio from my computer to my a/v receiver.

I know I'll need some sort of encoder to be able to do this, but I'd rather not spend money on a new sound card (this is slickdeals, after all). Yes, I am using onboard audio right now, which is fine for me since I can get DTS, etc output from the spdif header. So far I haven't been able to get anything but stereo from my games, and I would really like to be able to fully utilize my system for all applications.

I don't need EAX or whatever, but is there something I can do to get 5.1 over spdif to my receiver?

[FlashX83]

I've never actually done it this way, but this is the cable I've seen:
http://www.frontx.com/pro/p1062_030.html

What is your computer model or motherboard model?

[trandy1001]

Quote from FlashX83 : I've never actually done it this way, but this is the cable I've seen: http://www.frontx.com/pro/p1062_030.html What is your computer model or motherboard model?

I have a Foxconn AMD 780V based motherboard, but I have already fashioned a motherboard header to coaxial line. Unfortunately, windows does not natively support 5.1 channels over this connection so it needs to be encoded into something like Dolby Digital or DTS and then my receiver can receive the data and decode it for the 5.1 surround channels.

I think 5.1 in applications are discrete analog channels, and there are some sound cards that have the ability to do this encoding, like the Auzentech HDA X-Plosion. There are a couple software encoders available but I have not been able to get them to work, or at least they weren't designed with my onboard audio in mind.

[jhurlock]

What kind of sound card is in your computer? Try updating your drivers.

Anyways, here is my experience with a soundblaster X-Fi Platinum (for the faceplate with the optical output) connected via optical cable to my logitect z-5450's.

If you are running in shared mode (both windows audio and the spdif data allowed). it will only output to 2 channels. Basically theres a box in your sound playback properties that says something along the lines of "Allow Applications to take exclusive control of this device"... If that is checked then it can "disable" the output of the windows audio and go strict DTS etc. If that box is NOT checked it can only output in 2 channel as it is forced to also output windows sounds at the same time.

Note i am using powerdvd 8 ultra as my reference in which i set the output to spdif DTS and pass the DTS audio straight through to my z5450's which do DTS Decoding in hardware (much like alot of speakers).

As far as in regular games... I get 5.1 surround sound just fine if the game supports it... IF the game does NOT it generally reverts to 2.0 mode. Note after i installed the X-Fi software and set the card in game mode it "expanded" the audio even in 2 channel mode to 5.1 but there werent actually that many distinct audio channels...

As far as relating to your problem.. Check to see if those Exclusive mode boxes are checked (my windows 7 actually has 2 boxes. A "Allow Applications to take exclusive control of this device" and "Give exclusive mode applications priority".

Also note.. although im using my optical spdif out..i dont have spdif set as my primary sound card (although on some cards it may matter) the soundblaster x-fi outputs to both simultaniously.

[Justmtnb44]

In order to get 5.1 surround sound in games over an SPDIF connection, your sound card needs to support on the fly digital encoding. This feature is typically known as Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect. I think the sound card has to support this feature, you cannot just add it to any sound card.

The other option is to use the multichannel analog connection if your A/V receiver has this type of input. This is what I do for games because my sound card does not have on the fly digital encoding.

[trandy1001]

Unfortunately I am not able to do this because my motherboard does not have multi-channel analog audio and my receiver does not support multi-channel analog input. so my options are limited.

I was hoping to be able to find a program that used my CPU to encode the 5.1 signal into DTS or Dolby Digital, and then pass it on through my spdif out. I know that it exists for soundcards that don't specifically support this feature (as long as they have ASIO support). So I might just end up getting that sound card after all, even though I'll have to re-think the cooling in my cramped case since it will get in the way of my videocard's fan. .

[MUCHO]

Quote from Justmtnb44 : In order to get 5.1 surround sound in games over an SPDIF connection, your sound card needs to support on the fly digital encoding. This feature is typically known as Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect. I think the sound card has to support this feature, you cannot just add it to any sound card. The other option is to use the multichannel analog connection if your A/V receiver has this type of input. This is what I do for games because my sound card does not have on the fly digital encoding.

This is exactly right. To my knowledge there is only one soundcard that does on the fly encoding with full 5.0 EAX support and that is the Auzentech Prelude.

I use a much less costly Diamond DDL card because I can live with 2.0 EAX support.

In fact if you want I will sell you one because have 2 and I only use one. PM me if u want it.

[faheyd]

Quote from MUCHO : This is exactly right. To my knowledge there is only one soundcard that does on the fly encoding with full 5.0 EAX support and that is the Auzentech Prelude. I use a much less costly Diamond DDL card because I can live with 2.0 EAX support. In fact if you want I will sell you one because have 2 and I only use one. PM me if u want it.

Yes, I have the Auzen Xplosion, it does the 5.1 over the coax line to my receiver. Set up CounterStrike Source audio to 5.1 and magic, got grenades going off behind me and my yamaha sub booming in 5.1 sound. Looks like you'll have to get a sound card to do the project.

[MUCHO]

Quote from faheyd : Yes, I have the Auzen Xplosion, it does the 5.1 over the coax line to my receiver. Set up CounterStrike Source audio to 5.1 and magic, got grenades going off behind me and my yamaha sub booming in 5.1 sound. Looks like you'll have to get a sound card to do the project.

I think you misunderstood my post. I am reffering to EAX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envi...extensions

There are several cards that do 5.1 encoding including the Auzen Xplosion, the Diamond Xtreme DDL and so forth but only the Prelude has EAX 5.0 because they have purchased the licensing rights from Creative.

If you know of a card that encodes 5.1 on the fly and has EAX 5.0 support and is not the Prelude please let me know because the price of a Prelude is too much for me!

[trandy1001]

hey, i did some research and the realtek alc889a audio chip is supposed to support dts connect, so would it be better for me to get a motherboard that has this rather than a discrete sound card?

[exlhpstudent]

If you want to go brand name, I think you can buy any x-fi model and buy this pak.
http://buy.soundblaster.com/_crea... H2ADDEZD

Supposedly all x-fi chip has dts connect and dblive capability. Created decided to turn that off to make extra on the software pak. With this route, you can have dts connect, db live, and EAX 5.0 at the same time. The trade off is that you have to spend extra 5 bux for something your card is already capable off. If you decide to go this route, I recommend the xtremegamer line, because it has optical out and front panel pin.

To Mucho: The only reason why Auzentech Prelude has that feature is because they use x-fi chip which has that feature built in.

[trandy1001]

So I ended up ordering a Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H Motherboard, which has the Realtek ALC889A chip, and Gigabyte specifically says that this motherboard supports DTS Connect.

And now I'll get Gigabit Lan and 4 Slots of ram too (for my total of 6gb)! So I'm going to consider it a decent upgrade suite.

I'll report back when I see how it goes.

[MUCHO]

Quote from exlhpstudent : If you want to go brand name, I think you can buy any x-fi model and buy this pak. http://buy.soundblaster.com/_crea... H2ADDEZD Supposedly all x-fi chip has dts connect and dblive capability. Created decided to turn that off to make extra on the software pak. With this route, you can have dts connect, db live, and EAX 5.0 at the same time. The trade off is that you have to spend extra 5 bux for something your card is already capable off. If you decide to go this route, I recommend the xtremegamer line, because it has optical out and front panel pin. To Mucho: The only reason why Auzentech Prelude has that feature is because they use x-fi chip which has that feature built in.

I'll check it out. Thanks.

[EDIT]- Yea checked it out and you are right. Pretty cool. Looks like this is a very recent event. Also looks like I'll be in the market for a slick deal on a X-Fi card now. Repped.

[MUCHO]

Crap. According to that page it only works with Vista, or XP64 or XP Media Center Edition. Wonder why it wouldn't work with XP Pro.

[Arnoldstrife]

http://www.razerzone.com/p-91-raz...-card.aspx

This card also supports DTS connect and DDlive. I think the Creative ones has the CPU do the encoding. Kinda like this http://www.driverheaven.net/gener...coder.html

I got this in a slickdeals for 50 bucks, and you can get it on ebay for 100 bucks. This is perhaps the most awesome card I have ever seen and just utterly obliterate even the highest end Creative card. It uses the same chipset as the Auzentech X-Meridian.

http://techgage.com/article/razer...und_card/3