please help me get surround sound through my computer

[crj123082]

Hi all,

First off, here's my hardware:

Sound Blaster Audigy card
Sony STR-K750P Receiver

I have them connected from the digital out connection on the sound card (1/8") to the digital coax in connection on the receiver, but I have never been able to get actual surround sound out of the computer. In the creative audio console, I have it set to SPDIF passthrough.

What is the best way to test the surround capabilities, and is there anything else I should have to do to get 5.1 surround sound?

Thanks for any help you can give me, this has been a big frustration for a long time...

 

[jcPanny]

PC surround sound

Try playing a DD 5.1 source like a DVD played on the computer.
Make sure you are using a digital optical or coax connection from the sound card to the receiver.
Finally, check the sound card setting for the digital output. DVD players have 2 options (PCM or bitstream). The bitstream is necessary for surround sound.

 

[crj123082]

no luck

I have the receiver set to AFD auto, so it should detect when it is getting a surround vs. stereo signal...

Played Mission Impossible 2 in Intervideo WinDVD Platinum 8, and set the DVD audio to english 5.1...

In the program options, i have the following configuration:

Audio Output Configuration: Digital (S/PDIF) out to External Processor
Audio Renderer: Direct Sound
Audio Speaker Configuration: 6 Channel (5.1 Home Theater)

But the receiver never detects a surround sound signal...

Also, the cable I am using is a digital coax cable with an adapter to 1/8" mono so that it will go into the digital out port of my audigy card.

 

[Djizasse]

Check the creative console for the SPDIF passthrough and surround decode (or something like that).

 

[crj123082]

under the "Decoder" tab of the audio console, i have two options:

SPDIF Passthrough (Dolby Digital / DTS Digital Out)
Use Built-in Decoder

Currently I have it set to SPDIF Passthrough...

 

[Adam]

I haven't used that software program before, but it appears that you are using the correct settings. When I did this with my Audigy card, I set up the card to output the direct bitstream and the DVD software to do it - just like you have.

Two other things comes to mind. Check that the audio track being played is 5.1 and hasn't defaulted to a stereo track (recently screwed up one of my friends when he was trying to get 5.1 from "Top Gun"). Also, try setting the receiver to a surround mode - perhaps it is not correctly switching modes, even though it is supposed to do it automatically.

Just some thoughts.

 

[crj123082]

Well I have pretty much given up on the Audigy card - there must be a hardware problem or some magical incantation that I'm not aware of, because I decided to give my onboard sound a shot and the DVD played 5.1 audio immediately.

I do now have a new question though: my motherboard is a DFI LANPARTY UT nF3 250Gb, which comes with Realtek ALC850 audio. While the DVD gave me no problems, I still can't seem to get surround sound out of the games I play. I am trying to get World of Warcraft and Bioshock to give me surround sound, but they are not cooperating...any suggestions?

FYI, I have the windows sound configuration set to 5.1 speakers, and I am running the digital coax cable straight out of the motherboard's SPDIF output into the receiver's digital coax input.

 

[bandphan]

do you have ac3 unchecked in the audio hq? or you can try to let sb decode it?

 

[jcPanny]

Receiver setup.

Check and make sure your receiver is configured properly. If it thinks you only have 2 L/R speakers hooked up (Center = Off, Surrounds = Off, Sub = Off), it might prevent the surround sound mode from engaging.

 

[sparky77]

The soundblaster cards aren't capable of converting EAX surround used in gomes to ac3/dts. You would need a different soundcard. If you google EAX over pcm you might find one of the realtime enocoders but they sound to be rather buggy, or simply find a new card that can re-encode the information