SPDIF not outputting correctly from PC

[bear2616]

Hi,

Any help would be appreciated as I've almost pulled out most of my hair trying to fix this

Hi,

XP Home SP2
2Ghz
2GB RAM
P5B MB Realtek HD sound

I have an optical spdif connection on the back of the computer, which I have connected to my receivers input.

I use to play movies in VLC and the audio would change to show a52 over spdif but now only stereo plays.

I tried installing ac3 filter to help with the problem, but Im not sure how to configure it. I set the options to use spdif, etc, but nothing appears to have changed.

Also, the option in AC3 filter to test connection, says the spdif connection fails.

I d/l the latest drivers for the Realtek from Asus but again I still only have sound being sent via 2channel it appears.

Any info?

Thanks for your help

[yoda313]

The windows sound environment can be very finicky.

Go to playback devices on the speaker icon. Select your spdif device and check the properties. Make sure it is setup for 5.1 playback. Usually it will have a speaker diagram showing 2, 4, or 5.1 and higher configurations. This seems to have a mind of its own sometimes. Manually change it to 5.1 if it is not 5.1 now.

Also verify the playback program you are using is configured to use spdif out.

Hopefully that helps. (also is there a chance the 5.1 source is not a default choice? A lot of older dvds will have the stereo pro logic track as default and not the 5.1 - the first release Star Trek dvds are like this - the non 2 disc releases of TNG movies Generations, First Contact, and Insurrection - the newer 2 disc special editions have 5.1 as the main track. Other companies may have these configured like this on older discs as well. just an fyi).

[bear2616]

thanks for the reply....I have checked and the "soundmaxHDaudio" is being set as my device. Nothing specifically says "use spdif" in that section, but I assume it's set.

I uninstalled and reinstalled the audio driver using my MB cd.

In the SoundMax setup, there is an option for 5.1 setup..but it shows as using the 5 other inputs in the back of my computer, green, black, etc...instead of the one spdif....maybe that is an issue??

I still haven't been able to setup ac3filter...not sure what to do really...I've set it to use spdif...and the test now shows as 48khz being able to receive.

Any other ideas or thoughts?

Also, is the best way to see if it will transmit over spdif correctly to just pop in a DVD that is dolby digital??

Thanks

[yoda313]

In the SoundMax setup, there is an option for 5.1 setup..but it shows as using the 5 other inputs in the back of my computer, green, black, etc...instead of the one spdif....maybe that is an issue??

I believe that will be the "5.1 speaker" option instead of spdif or fiber optic option. It is tricky but that will make all the difference. The individual plugs are for the physical speakers that need indiviual outputs from the computer and not an amplifier. Make sure there is somewhere set for 5.1 spdif. I don't mean to be picky about it but there is a difference. Through the speakers is really analog and through spdif is digital.

Also make sure you are outputting at 48khz. Anything else isn't dvd audio and might screw it up.

But the main thing is to verify the spdif selection. Perhaps if SPDIF is not an option the current program you are using is not capable of that ability.

Try media player classic as well. It might be set better. I'm sure there is a spdif option for vlc. HERE IT IS:



Go to Settings - Preferences - Audio - and select USE SPDIF.

Make sure that is ticked on the preference page and you should be good to go. Good luck.

[bear2616]

Thanks for the replies.

I think I have it working again.

I uninstalled any realtek update from add/remove programs.

Then uninstalled the sound card drivers from device manager, then used the motherboard cd, right from the menu to install the soundmax audio drivers

This seems to of worked

Thanks again