From the description of your problems I'd be inclined to think there was a problem with the receiver rather than your PC sound setup. Do you have any other digital source that you could hook up to the amp for a quick test? Even if it's just a CD/ DVD player with digital out and playing a music CD, the sound should come out of all 6 speakers.
How do I get 5.1 from onboard SP/DIF?
- Thread starter bobboberts
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Everything else works fine (Xbox, Blu-ray, PS3) - it is just the PC. It's very strange (and frustrating.) The Pro Logic signal comes up when sound is coming through, so it's picking it out, but just not outputting to the rear speakers for some reason.
Edit: Just to add, though, my other devices all do decode DD and DTS, so they aren't the same issue. But the rear speakers certainly work.
Edit: Just to add, though, my other devices all do decode DD and DTS, so they aren't the same issue. But the rear speakers certainly work.
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Hmm, I think I've got to the bottom of it, and basically I will need a new amp. I found the user manual online and it covers my model and the one above mine. Now the one above has Pro Logic II and the option to upmix it but mine it seems only has Pro Logic, which can't upmix. So whilst I get proper DD or DTS from those sources that provide it, I don't think I'll ever be able to upmix to 5.1 with this kit.
Ah well, I was thinking about getting something newer anyway, guess this has somewhat forced my hand.
Thanks for the help though guys, I understand more about the issue now because of your input.
Ah well, I was thinking about getting something newer anyway, guess this has somewhat forced my hand.
Thanks for the help though guys, I understand more about the issue now because of your input.
Soldato
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If everything else works its likely the pc, I swapped out my media pc tonight and spdif didnt work until I updated the drivers properly.
ALSO getting a posh soundcard for spdif is pointless, it won't use the on board sound hardware so just use on board and update drivers.
ALSO getting a posh soundcard for spdif is pointless, it won't use the on board sound hardware so just use on board and update drivers.
Soldato
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I honestly don't know what your trying to say,lol
If the game sends out a Dolby or DTS signal then its already in the compressed audio format - the sound card is irrelevant as its not using the audio processor, so on board and a Sound Blaster Z would be identical - its sending 1's and 0's not processed audio, just sending the correct binary data in the right order.
IF you connect your speakers via a normal speaker connection, composite etc then the sound card will use its audio processing ability and do all its tricks in processing the audio/audio positioning etc then send out the analogue signal to the speakers.
That simple really, what sends a spdif signal doesn't have any audio processing ability persay, its what the receiver does with the audio once it gets the signal and sends it to the speaker is what matters - in this way the receiver is essentially the sound card processing box, its just a fat external audio card. For music its prob good, but for games, mmmm meh, use a proper gaming card and directly connect the speakers.
Marsman is right.
SPDIF / Optical is natively stereo. In order to have 5.1 over optical you must have encoded content. A DVD is already encoded so all your sound device needs to do is pass through the signal. The vast majority of PC games do not generate a Dolby Digital or DTS output (I'm not aware of any). They do generate 5.1 sound usually (which is then passed to the sound device for output), but the conversion for optical needs to be done by the sound device.
For audio generated on the fly, like games, you need a sound device capable of encoding to 5.1 over optical. The main systems for doing so are Dolby Digital Live (also called Dolby Home Theatre) or DTS Connect (also goes by other DTS names). Without them, you just get stereo over optical.
I am surprised that a Recon3D branded motherboard wouldn't have either of the above.
Assuming the motherboard doesn't support it, I would look at getting either the cheapest Soundblaster Z available, or a Xonar DX or a Xonar D1.
SPDIF / Optical is natively stereo. In order to have 5.1 over optical you must have encoded content. A DVD is already encoded so all your sound device needs to do is pass through the signal. The vast majority of PC games do not generate a Dolby Digital or DTS output (I'm not aware of any). They do generate 5.1 sound usually (which is then passed to the sound device for output), but the conversion for optical needs to be done by the sound device.
For audio generated on the fly, like games, you need a sound device capable of encoding to 5.1 over optical. The main systems for doing so are Dolby Digital Live (also called Dolby Home Theatre) or DTS Connect (also goes by other DTS names). Without them, you just get stereo over optical.
I am surprised that a Recon3D branded motherboard wouldn't have either of the above.
Assuming the motherboard doesn't support it, I would look at getting either the cheapest Soundblaster Z available, or a Xonar DX or a Xonar D1.
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Soldato
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You need either a Sound card that supports Dolby Live or DTS Connect. Or a Motherboard Audio chip that also supports this.
Asus Xonar D2X supports Both - This about £90
Asus Xonar DS Supports DTS Connect - This about £40
They is other's out there, maybe cheaper.
As above when you have the Encoder it will Encode the Audio on the Fly and send to your Sound system where from there it will Decode the steam and give you the 5.1 you after.
Asus Xonar D2X supports Both - This about £90
Asus Xonar DS Supports DTS Connect - This about £40
They is other's out there, maybe cheaper.
As above when you have the Encoder it will Encode the Audio on the Fly and send to your Sound system where from there it will Decode the steam and give you the 5.1 you after.
No wonder you couldn't get it to work. I was under the impression that Pro Logic could upmix stereo to surround, just as Pro Logic II can; but it would seem that they are very different. Pro Logic was created to decode Dolby Surround long before Dolby Digital came into being.
Yes, ProLogic is basically 4 channel surround matrixed over analogue stereo. You get Front Left+Right, Centre and Rear.
Despite what I said about games not encoding surround, I do recall that Deus Ex (the original) would encode Dolby ProLogic over analogue stereo with any sound device. I think that was the first game I played where I can recall some sort of surround sound.
Despite what I said about games not encoding surround, I do recall that Deus Ex (the original) would encode Dolby ProLogic over analogue stereo with any sound device. I think that was the first game I played where I can recall some sort of surround sound.
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Yeah, I must admit I was surprised when I read that last night (plus the fact that I'd never had cause to see if my amp did Pro Logic II as nothing else I have needs it).
I'll have a think about getting a new soundcard, though I have been tempted to get a new surround sound kit anyway so I might just do that. Something to consider, at least.