6channel WMA RAW from SPDIF?

NLS · 2006-05-18, 11:50

Well the topic says it all.

I manage to hear AC3 (more or less) on my logitech z-680 (from optical SPDIF), but there are a few WMV files I have that I can only hear stereo, where in fact they have 6 channel WMA RAW encoded audio. How can I pass those 6 channels through my SPDIF?

Thanks.

Callifo · 2006-05-18, 14:43

Unless you have a soundcard capable of encoding DD or DTS, you cant. SPDIF can only carry 2 formats, stereo pcm or DD/DTS encoded material. That format can only be decoded which is then only passed as 2 channel stereo (loose the rest of the channels).

NLS · 2006-05-18, 15:33

so it is a matter of my driver "telling" my card to encode multichannel to AC3/DTS right? (I doubt there is such capability)

you know which cards do it?

Callifo · 2006-05-18, 15:40

First card I know did it was the onboard SoundStorm on some Nforce2 motherboards. There are also a range of HDA sounds cards (X-Mystique encodes to DD and X-Plosion encodes to either DD or DTS) which do it. There are some cheaper brands also which use the same chip as the HDA range if you can find them.

NLS · 2006-05-18, 15:44

I guess those cards "upscale" everything to DTS or AC3 right?

Do you know if Audigy 2 does it? Or VIA Envy24?

Callifo · 2006-05-19, 04:22

No they cant.

kaigame · 2006-05-21, 16:18

I had a similar problem with MKV's with 6 channel audio, the wrong tracks were being heard, and i wasn't very impressed.

The solution i found is to install AC3 filter 'ac3filter_1_01a_rc5', not 0.70b which doesn't support the same functions.

With this install it will correct encode the 5.1 raw into an AC3 stream which now plays perfectly for me, under settings just make sure you select the 3+2 + LFE setting and ac3-encode. It won't re-encode AC3 tracks, and seems to do the job for me.

Good luck.

NLS · 2006-05-21, 16:58

why 1.01 and not 1.02?

kaigame · 2006-05-21, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLS

why 1.01 and not 1.02?

no specific reason, thats just the version i'm currently using, i'll try the later version, but with my HTPC i'm adopting the 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' approach instead of 'if it ain't broke, tweak it'.

wishywashy · 2006-05-21, 18:17

Last I saw 1.02 was pulled because it was a beta and the author didn't want to deal with the support.

http://www.click-now.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=850

EDIT-- Never mind, just realized that post is a year old. I just can't seem to leave 2005

2006-05-18, 11:50	#1 (permalink)
NLS Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 879 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	6channel WMA RAW from SPDIF? Well the topic says it all. I manage to hear AC3 (more or less) on my logitech z-680 (from optical SPDIF), but there are a few WMV files I have that I can only hear stereo, where in fact they have 6 channel WMA RAW encoded audio. How can I pass those 6 channels through my SPDIF? Thanks. __________________ NLS ...never thought I would advertise MP around that much, so soon... (and when some dev adds better menu handling, multiple calls to modules and plugins with different options and much better dbase handling, it will be love... ah and a nice 3D front end and inter-module messaging system and...) Don't argue with the founder of Greek Off-Topic Community about taking a thread off-topic. I cannot help it! My webshots album (contains the old version of my HTPC setup too)

2006-05-18, 15:33	#3 (permalink)
NLS Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 879 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	so it is a matter of my driver "telling" my card to encode multichannel to AC3/DTS right? (I doubt there is such capability) you know which cards do it? __________________ NLS ...never thought I would advertise MP around that much, so soon... (and when some dev adds better menu handling, multiple calls to modules and plugins with different options and much better dbase handling, it will be love... ah and a nice 3D front end and inter-module messaging system and...) Don't argue with the founder of Greek Off-Topic Community about taking a thread off-topic. I cannot help it! My webshots album (contains the old version of my HTPC setup too)

2006-05-18, 15:44	#5 (permalink)
NLS Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 879 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	I guess those cards "upscale" everything to DTS or AC3 right? Do you know if Audigy 2 does it? Or VIA Envy24? __________________ NLS ...never thought I would advertise MP around that much, so soon... (and when some dev adds better menu handling, multiple calls to modules and plugins with different options and much better dbase handling, it will be love... ah and a nice 3D front end and inter-module messaging system and...) Don't argue with the founder of Greek Off-Topic Community about taking a thread off-topic. I cannot help it! My webshots album (contains the old version of my HTPC setup too)

2006-05-21, 16:58	#8 (permalink)
NLS Portal Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Age: 34 Posts: 879 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Country: My System	why 1.01 and not 1.02? __________________ NLS ...never thought I would advertise MP around that much, so soon... (and when some dev adds better menu handling, multiple calls to modules and plugins with different options and much better dbase handling, it will be love... ah and a nice 3D front end and inter-module messaging system and...) Don't argue with the founder of Greek Off-Topic Community about taking a thread off-topic. I cannot help it! My webshots album (contains the old version of my HTPC setup too)

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2006-05-18, 14:43	#2 (permalink)
Callifo Retired Team Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 22 Posts: 1,444 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 1 Post Country: My System	Unless you have a soundcard capable of encoding DD or DTS, you cant. SPDIF can only carry 2 formats, stereo pcm or DD/DTS encoded material. That format can only be decoded which is then only passed as 2 channel stereo (loose the rest of the channels).

2006-05-18, 15:40	#4 (permalink)
Callifo Retired Team Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 22 Posts: 1,444 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 1 Post Country: My System	First card I know did it was the onboard SoundStorm on some Nforce2 motherboards. There are also a range of HDA sounds cards (X-Mystique encodes to DD and X-Plosion encodes to either DD or DTS) which do it. There are some cheaper brands also which use the same chip as the HDA range if you can find them.

2006-05-19, 04:22	#6 (permalink)
Callifo Retired Team Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Adelaide, Australia Age: 22 Posts: 1,444 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 1 Post Country: My System	No they cant.

2006-05-21, 16:18	#7 (permalink)
kaigame Portal Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I had a similar problem with MKV's with 6 channel audio, the wrong tracks were being heard, and i wasn't very impressed. The solution i found is to install AC3 filter 'ac3filter_1_01a_rc5', not 0.70b which doesn't support the same functions. With this install it will correct encode the 5.1 raw into an AC3 stream which now plays perfectly for me, under settings just make sure you select the 3+2 + LFE setting and ac3-encode. It won't re-encode AC3 tracks, and seems to do the job for me. Good luck.

2006-05-21, 18:17	#10 (permalink)
wishywashy Portal Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hill AFB, UT Age: 33 Posts: 458 Thanks: 15 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Country: My System	Last I saw 1.02 was pulled because it was a beta and the author didn't want to deal with the support. http://www.click-now.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=850 EDIT-- Never mind, just realized that post is a year old. I just can't seem to leave 2005

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