digital audio out

[ADigitalMan]

I have been using a standalone DVD player for years, running the S-Video into my TV and the digital audio out via "coax" (I always hated that they called it this when it looks like an RCA connector to me) into my receiver. I actually run these through a switcher as my digital cable service offers the same outputs on the cable box.

I would like to "TV-out" my computer, and have spent a good amount of time on this site tonight and elsewhere trying to figure out how to do it. Apparently there is not a combo card that offers S-Video out AND digital audio out, so I'm prepared to get both separately.

Lots of info on TV-out capabilities of different video cards is available, but I'm having trouble finding info about audio cards with the digital audio out. Lots of cards have all of the decoding features onboard, but I'm really interested in a card that just passes the digital audio signal to the input on my tuner. I'm sure this is out there, but my searches in this forum and elsewhere have so far been fruitless.

Can anybody illuminate me on how to get digital audio signals from my computer into my receiver in this manner, as opposed to hooking up the audio analog? Is there a card that simply passes the signal to a tuner? And would it pass both the computer's output signal and/or the signal read from a DVD?

[crazythunder]

get yourself a cheap soundblaster card and this http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=13&subcategory=58&product=10370

[anubis13]

there are Monster cables made to go stetreo out of your 1/8 " sound card to stereo RCA.
coupled with a s-video out on your video card it should work in sync most of the time
Alternately A canopus card (i use ADVC-100) will do it all in one and stay in sync.


BTW RCA is Coax. just a different type from the cable tv type I assume you were thinking of. coax is short for coaxial. they both have a central shaft with an outside sheath

[ADigitalMan]

Simple question, simple answer. Thanks! I didn't know that cards had digital out via a 1/8 plug like this. the link refers to it as digital coaxial, but if its a T/S plug, I guess that's a misnomer. Still, the point is, this sounds like the right thing. I need to find a compatible card as well.

On the video front, I have read a lot about TV-out video cards and read the "how to" article debating the merits of TV-out vs mpeg decoders. How up-to-date is that article? Is there a card yet with mpeg decoding AND TV-out capabilities that can smartly switch between the two? so if I'm watching something non-MPEG like a MOV file, it will send that signal out, but when a DVD is played, it will actually decode the MPEG?

Or is it adequate to just run PowerDVD in full screen mode and go with TV-out?