What sound card for 5.1 DTS/DD encoding for games over optical

[agnes]

I need the above, optical out to my amp (5.1 setup), which will be DTS/DD encoded from the soundcard. As the optical from the mobo is only putting out 2.1 PCM for games.

Thus it's a bit saddening knowing my lovely sound system isn't being properly used unless I'm watching HD stuff from my PC (video has 5.1 DTS/DD encoded into it already, so the digital signal is just passing through, no encoding needed).

What do you suggest?

 

[agnes]

That card has no optical out

Thanks though.

 

[agnes]

Awesome! So this will give me live encoding of games to put out 5.1 DTS/DD for my AV? For games, I just want a 5.1 digital output signal. Obviously HD content (.mkv, mp4 etc) will have DTS/DD encoded into it already, so the card will just pass that through.

But, I just want to take my PC games to the next step using my home cinema system! As I have given up on the consoles now and use my PC to game on my plasma.

If so, I'm sold!

 

[agnes]

Games generally don't have DD/DTS support, but many will happily output 5.1 over analogue.

The Asus D1/D2 cards will allow 5.1 sound from games over optical. You simply need to set 5.1 analogue output in Windows Sound Control Panel and then MultiChannel Input (6 channel) in the Asus software. The Asus card will then encode 5.1 analogue into DD/DTS for you. This workaround is detailed over at Asus and I've used it myself when I once owned the D2X.

Was it picked up by the AV and decent sound quality?

I am going to order before lunch if so.

 

[agnes]

Sweet, the card should be here tomorrow. Will give it a shot and report back!

Can't wait to immerse my self in some 5.1 goodness