Capture audio on PC from Dish Network

[doscai]

I am trying to capture just audio onto my PC from a Dish Network receiver. The PC has a digital coax input (S/PDIF) which I am converting from toslink which the Dish receiver outputs. I know that the converter is working because I can plug the digital coax into a stereo receiver, and can hear the audio clearly. On the PC, the Realtek HD Audio manager recognizes that there is a connection, but I am not getting any audio though the connection, and am unable to record anything. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Dave

[Brad]

So what does the Realtek HD Audio Manager say?

I'm suspecting SCMS. From the manual 'Copyright protection: The input data can only be copied while “Copy Free” is shown; while “No Copy” indicates the data is read only.'

[jman98]

I know that this is not the answer you were looking for, but maybe you might have to buy something like the Hauppauge HD PVR or the Hauppauge Colossus to do this. As long as your satellite box outputs component video you really should be good to go with toslink output.

[doscai]

Thanks all for the feedback.

@vaporeon800 - The Realtek HD Audio Manager says
Status: Lock
Sampling Rate: AC3 48 kHz
Data Validation: Valid
Copyright Protection: Copy Free

Good tip on the copyright, but it seems to conform to your suggestion.

@jman98 - Good alternative. I have connected using analog output on the DVR to the mic in on the PC and am able to get signal. I can fall back to that, but digital is preferred.

Thanks
Dave

[Nelson37]

Ain't gonna work with that audio card. If you set output to PCM, that will get you digital stereo. Otherwise, you need a somewhat specialized audio card and some conversion software. Must be 24-bit, bit perfect.

What you are capturing is a DD-WAV, which can be easily converted to 5.1 audio. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL attempting playback with a DD-WAV file, standard volume controls are NON-functional, if wearing headphones permanent hearing loss is a possibility. It is VERY loud.

Done a bunch of these, search on "Capture SPDIF" or "Capture AC-3".

[Brad]

I've done it with 16-bit recordings before.

Try the attached program and see what happens. If you start seeing a bunch of errors listed, your setup isn't bit-perfect and in that case you'll have to go with Nelson37's post and set the Dish box to output PCM or start scouting sound cards.

Although, if you're not even getting loud noise through the SPDIF input it probably won't do anything either. You've tried playing around with changing to different Recording inputs?

[doscai]

@Nelson37 - Good tip. Switch to the PCM output did the trick. It's going to go on an ipod, so 2 channels are enough for me. Thanks all for the quick responses.

Dave