May be a dumb question (home made pre-processor)

[Benni777]

Not sure if this is possible and or worth the time/money. But title says it all?

Can this be done? Has this been done?

I have a ton of PC parts and I got to thinking if I could slap together something to work as a home theater pre-pro then just get an amp for the power side. Perhaps dissecting an old mixer studio for its channels.... IDK just a thought.... Theres the programing side of it too that may prove difficult or maybe not.

 

[fmw]

Sounds like a Kluge. Why not just buy a reasonably priced A/V receiver and be done with it?

 

[Swerd]

I thought the software to decode all those HT audio formats (Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.) are proprietary. The manufacturers of AVRs have paid the license fees for them, and you can't get them other than on an AVR or pre-pro. Same goes for the HDMI software – required for both audio and video digital connections.

It's those large license fees that have driven all the smaller makers of AV receivers and processors out of the business.

I've never tried what you described, so I could be wrong.

 

[MaxInValrico]

Not sure if this is possible and or worth the time/money. But title says it all?

Can this be done? Has this been done?

I have a ton of PC parts and I got to thinking if I could slap together something to work as a home theater pre-pro then just get an amp for the power side. Perhaps dissecting an old mixer studio for its channels.... IDK just a thought.... Theres the programing side of it too that may prove difficult or maybe not.

PITA.

 

[Benni777]

Cool, thanks guys. It was just a thought I had and was curious is all.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I thought the software to decode all those HT audio formats (Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.) are proprietary. The manufacturers of AVRs have paid the license fees for them, and you can't get them other than on an AVR or pre-pro. Same goes for the HDMI software – required for both audio and video digital connections.

It's those large license fees that have driven all the smaller makers of AV receivers and processors out of the business.

I've never tried what you described, so I could be wrong.

A PC Sound Card (5.1 Analog output) can decode DD/TrueHD/DTS/DTS-HDMA.

Free PC Software like KODI and PLEX can also decode DD, TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HDMA.

 

[lovinthehd]

A PC Sound Card (5.1 Analog output) can decode DD/TrueHD/DTS/DTS-HDMA.

Free PC Software like KODI and PLEX can also decode DD, TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HDMA.

I didn't think it was that hard to access depending on hardware/software used with an htpc. Depends on how bare bones your approach is?

 

[TLS Guy]

Not sure if this is possible and or worth the time/money. But title says it all?

Can this be done? Has this been done?

I have a ton of PC parts and I got to thinking if I could slap together something to work as a home theater pre-pro then just get an amp for the power side. Perhaps dissecting an old mixer studio for its channels.... IDK just a thought.... Theres the programing side of it too that may prove difficult or maybe not.

A PC can make a state of the art streaming device and audio recorder and editing station. However it can not replace an AVP. JRiver attempted to launch software to do this some years ago. The attempt was not successful.

Building a state of the art HTPC or a DAW, would be a worthwhile endeavor for you. I have both, a really good HTPC and a DAW. Almost everything I stream or store is vai those devices. It is way better than ROKU and firesticks etc.

People think the time for HTPCs has passed. They could not be more wrong.

 

[Benni777]

A PC can make a state of the art streaming device and audio recorder and editing station. However it can not replace an AVP. JRiver attempted to launch software to do this some years ago. The attempt was not successful.

Building a state of the art HTPC or a DAW, would be a worthwhile endeavor for you. I have both, a really good HTPC and a DAW. Almost everything I stream or store is vai those devices. It is way better than ROKU and firesticks etc.

People think the time for HTPCs has passed. They could not be more wrong.

Interesting. Yeah I actually own Ableton suite 8 and was a DJ years ago so I have a ton of gear/programing and was just thinking of it were possible to build a prepro. As to an HTPC Im in the works on that as well. Doing a slimmed down copy of my brothers HTPC. It runs Cody on the front and plex on the back for his users and has a total of 18TB of storage. Dude has a ton of movies/shows/music. Thank you for your valuable input.

 

[Benni777]

A PC Sound Card (5.1 Analog output) can decode DD/TrueHD/DTS/DTS-HDMA.

Free PC Software like KODI and PLEX can also decode DD, TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HDMA.

Yup very true

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I didn't think it was that hard to access depending on hardware/software used with an htpc. Depends on how bare bones your approach is?

I think every software and hardware have the capability to decode DD/DTS.

I think It is much easier to bitstream to an AVP/AVR via HDMI.

But if you don’t have AVP/AVR, you would have to use the Analog outputs on the Sound Card to connect to the amp/preamp or powered speakers.