5.1 Sound Cards

[scottrwn98]

Authoring AC3 while listening to it before burning:

Okay, I have a Creative Labs Sound Blaster Live! sound card and when I stick in a DVD and my ATI-DVD player loads, the Dolby 5.1 light comes on and I can enjoy the 5.1 on the DVD player.

This is my question: I already know how to author a DVD with AC3, but in order to do so, I have to compile the 6 channels, convert to AC3 and burn to DVD before I can listen to make sure it sounds ok. What sound card is out there that I can actually preview 5.1 without burning to a DVD+RW to listen to it to make sure my LFE or surrounds are at the correct volumes?

Is there a sound card out there that lets you play AC3 files like you would a MP3 or WAVE in 5.1?

Thanks,

[D_Knife]

not sure about the ATI DVD player - but most players allow playback of AC3 files from the harddisk
have you tried this???

[scottrwn98]

No no no ... I've played the AC3 file through programs like Media player and such, but it down mixes it to stereo/surround. I want to play the AC3 file as a "preview" ... I noticed in Soft Encode, you can preview the AC3 as 5.1 (It builds a preview, but I get no sound). I want to be able to listen to a section of the AC3 file as 5.1 with LFE and everything, not down mixing.

As far as ATI DVD, its just a DVD program that will switch on 5.1 once I put in a DVD. I was using that as an example of how it switches Dolby 5.1, but I want to play the file like a wave file IN 5.1. Make sense?

Like I said, I'm tired of burning a section of my AVI->MPEG->VOB with AC3 and burning it to a DVD+RW just to listen to the audio. I wanna hear before I burn it.

[D_Knife]

Yep - I get where your coming from
I use Powerdvd as my backup DVD player
Hollywood + is the main one
I can drop an AC3 file into powerDVD and it plays 5.1 channel no downmix

I wouldn't bother playing anything in Media player
IMO it's not a DVD player at all - just a video player

however if you are playing AC3 through media player - which doesn't natively support this format then you must be using a AC3 directshow filter - which is probably set to downmix to 2 channel
open up the file in mplayer2.exe (which is in the media player folder) and check your audio settings there.

[scottrwn98]

I downloaded it and I'm playing with the settings to use SPDIF and it plays back the AC3 file as nothing with the time scale going at 5 seconds per every one second. I'll have to mess with the settings to get the Dolby Digital light to come one.

Any suggestions?

[scottrwn98]

Ok, it won't evening play a DVD in 5.1. When I load my ATI-DVD player, it blasts the sound in every direction, but PowerDVD won't even do anything ... what am I doing wrong?

[D_Knife]

I'm not sure what the problem is
I'm using an OEM version 4 of PowerDVD ( came with my DVD drive)
and I'm not using the SPDIF output...

[scottrwn98]

I've got the news version ... 5, I think and waht settings do I set it on as far as speakers?

I just want to preview my AC3 files in 5.1. Not downmix like in Media Player.

When I do import them to PowerDVD, it will play the AC3 file but on one setting, its only through the front speakers ... its like it is decoding to 5.1 but no rear or LFE.

So confused ... :P

[JimJohnD]

In PowerDVD go to the "Configuration" menu. From there select the "Audio" tab. On that tab there should be something called "Speaker Enviroment". If you have a 5.1 setup for speakers you should have an option for "6-speakers" in the drop-down list. You most likely have "2-speaker" selected with the mixdown turned on. Check that setting and you should be in business. I got the upgrade for PowerDVD and it supports DTS as well as Digital Dolby (AC3). Works GREAT! I don't really use WMP for anything anymore

[scottrwn98]

I'm using PowerDVD 5 and I did the configuration settings ... only problem is when I select 6 speakers, nothing comes out. My speakers have a button on them that is labled with the double D's (Dolby) and it is yellow (Indicating that its Prologic) ... when I stick a DVD in my ATI_DVD player, and I select SPDIF or ATI Rage Theatre and the light turns green indicating that Dolby Digital is activated.

But in Power DVD, it doesn't do anything. it just plays as is with no transforming to Dolby Digital. I have extracted AC3 files from DVD's and I get no sound, 4 speakers select--I get just stereo with no rear sound (and it does not downmix, there is no rear sound and it sounds really wierd with just the front three channels)

LOL ... I don't know if my sound card is able to play AC3 files in 5.1 unless its in DVD format to switch the light on.

Does that make sense? I do have a digital output (yellow plug) on my sound card, but my sub is plugged into my green slot. Do I need digital speakers to output 5.1 just like playing an AC3 file in Soft Encode?

Another question, are my speakers analog or digital? I read in the readme that the phono plugs are analog...

Thanks everyone,

[Gazorgan]

Try Windows Media Player Classic. It litterally plays everything with no frills. It will support up to 9+1 speakers I believe. Standalone program with no installation. I use it at work to watch DVD's (it replaces MPLAYER.exe on my system, after I renamed it).

As I recall, PowerDVD OEM doesn't support 5.1 sound. You have to have the full version (licensing issue with $$$), not a bundled version.

No, you don't need 'digital' speakers. I get "great" 5.1 sound from a $49 set of speakers(on sale, marked down, scratch and dent).

[Suntan]

Try AC3filter it is a free AC3 Directshow filter that I use for all of my Divx with AC3 movies. It puts out 5.1 channels. With this you can just open the AC3 file in media player or Zoomplayer (which is MUCH better than media player)

You can find it at http://ac3filter.sourceforge.net/

[scottrwn98]

Okay, I installed AC3Filter and it still down mixes my audio into Prologic. I right click on the file and click properties and says (Audio Codec: AC3Filter) ... is there properties I need to find and set them up?

I'm new to this stuff ... I can mix a 5.1 into a DVD, but simply playing it on my desktop to listen to make sure my LFE channel isn't too loud I can't figure out.

Thanks,

[scottrwn98]

Ok ... I found the settings in Control Pannel, but its still doing what PowerDVD is doing ... it will decode the AC3 file and then only play the left center and right and the surround's and LFE are quiet...so it sounds funny.

My DD light will not switch on ... hmmm ...

Thanks again,

[Suntan]

Not sure, I have never had a problem getting full 5.1 from AC3Filter. I know it is full 5.1 and not some form of matrixed sound from the sound card because only an AC3 track (and some games) will output sound from the center channel.

The only other thing I could think of is if it is WMP screwing up. If so, you could try Zoomplayer as it has many setup controls. There is a setup panel that lets you select from 2.0 up to 7.1 (assuming you have the sound card for it.) Just guessing here though.

I also have the SB Live 5.1 soundcard so it is not that. You did check to make sure that 5.1 speaker setup was selected in the SoundBlaster control panel didn't you?

[scottrwn98]

Well, my sound card is SoundBlaster Live Value (Four speakers and a sub) and my video card is an ATI AIW Radeon 8500 DV ... which I plug my SPDIF cable from the sub into my port that plugs into my ATI card.

The DD (Dolby D's) button always stays yellow indicating surround sound, when I stick in a DVD, ATI DVD player loads and the light turns to Green for true 5.1 with the LFE and everything.

Now, I've tried playing AC3 fils from PowerDVD and WMP (using the AC3 Filter) and nothing will activate that green light. My speakers are configured as 5.1 speakers in Control Panel.

I am mixing my 5.1 in Sonic Foundry Soft Encode and there is an option for previewing the 6 channels in 5.1 (which when I do, I get no sound). That is what I want to do .. is preview an AC3 in the fullest without having to burn it to a DVD+RW and poping it in the drive to listen to it. My DVD+RW is going to ware out soon. Make sense?

thanks,

[oldsynthguy]

What you might want to do is investigate the M-Audio Firewire 4/10 or the TerraTec cards. I use the M-Audio and test through Logfic and Audition 2.1 and assign the analog outs to a 5.1 powered monitor system, also from M-Audio. I mix and evaluate in native 48k .wav. Once I like it the DD encode in SF (as you specified as well) will run SPDIF from the SB card you spec'd to a consumer grade 5.1 system.

It almost sounds like you are going for overkill with all the add-on software. If you'll render your project to MEPG2 with AC3 level 2 DD, you should then be able to preview it in the ATI file player in 5.1. If you don't like it, remix and re-render.

Just my .02