Hauppauge HD PVR 2 1512 5.1 audio with gaming headset?

[OnlySublime]

I just bought the 1512 model. I currently own the original HD PVR which has served me well. The original HD PVR had optical in AND out so that I could send my Xbox 360 audio to the Hauppauge to be recorded but also allowed me to hear 5.1 audio through my headset or AVR when I was playing games.

Is there some way to do this with the new 1512? There's only an optical in on the back. So I'm trying to plan ahead of how to do this.

If I can record 5.1 audio over HDMI and then pipe the optical from the 360 to my headset, that would be great but has anyone done that?

This could be a dealbreaker, but I guess I don't have many options out there since I don't see optical in/out on any of the affordable HDMI recorders. I just don't want to go back to stereo gaming.

And does anyone know if there are going to be a next-gen group of recorders? Lots of 1080p60 games coming out for Xbox One but no 60 fps recorders around. I don't want to have to debate between recording in 720p60 or 1080p30. I know Youtube caps at 30 fps but I love 60 fps recordings (especially for personal archives). And maybe in the future, Youtube will allow 60 fps playback.

[usually_quiet]

I just bought the 1512 model. I currently own the original HD PVR which has served me well. The original HD PVR had optical in AND out so that I could send my Xbox 360 audio to the Hauppauge to be recorded but also allowed me to hear 5.1 audio through my headset or AVR when I was playing games.

Is there some way to do this with the new 1512? There's only an optical in on the back. So I'm trying to plan ahead of how to do this.

If I can record 5.1 audio over HDMI and then pipe the optical from the 360 to my headset, that would be great but has anyone done that?

This could be a dealbreaker, but I guess I don't have many options out there since I don't see optical in/out on any of the affordable HDMI recorders. I just don't want to go back to stereo gaming.

In case nobody with actual experience in this area gives you definitive answers, you could try using an optical audio splitter to split the audio output from the console to provide a 5.1 audio signal to both the HD-PVR 1512 and your headset or AVR. A powered splitter like the model in my link would be more likely to work well than a passive splitter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812270485

[OnlySublime]

thank you for the answer and tip on a product! have you used this device and does it work as intended?

if it turns out I can't both record 5.1 audio and use my 5.1 headset, I guess I'll end up having to buy this. Was hoping to not spend any more than I had to. I dread the idea of gaming in stereo (positional audio makes a huge difference).

[usually_quiet]

thank you for the answer and tip on a product! have you used this device and does it work as intended?

if it turns out I can't both record 5.1 audio and use my 5.1 headset, I guess I'll end up having to buy this. Was hoping to not spend any more than I had to. I dread the idea of gaming in stereo (positional audio makes a huge difference).

No, I have not used the device I linked to. It was merely an example of the type of product I though would work best for your purposes, since you may need to use optical cables that are longer than what might typically be used for connecting home theater equipment. Passive splitters are cheaper but output a weaker signal and only work OK with short cables.