problems with sound volume

[dominique]

TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version:
MediaPortal Skin:
Windows Version: XP
CPU Type: Athlon 2800 +
HDD: segate 200Gb
Memory: 1 Gb
Motherboard: Abtit NF7
Motherboard Chipset: nforce
Motherboard Bios:
Video Card: Ati Radeon 9200
Video Card Driver:
Sound Card: soundstorm
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppage PVR150
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: MCE remote
TV: LG 32"
TV - HTPC Connection: D-sub


Hi!

I'm little frustrate with all this little problems what I have in Media Portal. Please help me to solve this problems.
I'm not sure which codec I must use. I now set ffdshow for video and audio. On this formum people use ffdshow, intervideo, purevideo.. etc.
1. For me ffdshow is ok, but when I watch movies, sometimes I can't modify volume in mediaportal.. ??? For example. I have 10 movies on HDD and i start first movie and I can modify volume. On another movie I can't modify volume. In this case I must modify volume on exsternal reciever. I think that is problem in codec.
2. All times when I start media portal i have message RADIO - All tuners are bussy . I try to disable radio and remove this plugin but problem stay. I don't use radio and I don't need them .

[mbuzina]

Hi dominique, Please post a mediaportal log when this issue occurs and tell us which version you are using. Otherwise finding a solution is very hard.

Re your issue with busy tuners: Do you have any tuned radio stations in the list? If yes, remove them using the config program (this could solve, but I am not sure).

[bermag]

about 1): Do you have your reciever connect by SPDIF?

Looks like sound is sent using SPDIF passthrough, i.e the sound is not decoded on your sound card (and then no control over volume from your computer) but is sent directly unaltered to the receiver which will decode and output sound. Maybe not a technical correct description but that is how I understand it.

Probably audio with 5.1 surround is sent as pass-through.

Not sure exactly what to do but I guess it might be possible to play around a bit with audio codecs (AC3 etc).

I had the same problem myself last time I played a video from PC to TV/reciever but didn't have time to test out what was wrong.

[dominique]

thank you for answer. I dont have time yet to post log files. I have htpc conneted to reciever via SPDIF (optical) and i can control sound volume on htpc for music, analog tv, and some video file. Some movies can control on htpc, and some of them not. ??? I will check this problem when i have time, but i thik that is somthing with codec. Only codec can be different in movies. ?? I think so.

[joboehl]

dominique,

If you have AC3 passtrough enabled in MediaPortal, that's normal. All AC3 soundtracks (probably most of your DVDs) are going to be passed directly to the receiver for processing. Thats done so you have the best possible quality.

If you disable passing trough in MP configuration you will be able to control volume, but might suffer in terms of audio quality.

[dominique]

Yes, i have AC3 passtrough. Hm. .. If I disable this option , can I have AC3 sound? Now I use yamaha reciever. Everithing is good, only this problem with volume. I have divx movies with AC3 sound and in this case i can't control volume in media centar. Another problem with sound is: Sometimes when I turn of my HTPC (stand by), and when I resume from standby i dont have sound in Media Centar. In this case I have sound in other aplication like winamp, bsplayer, etc.. I must restart computer to have sound again. How to solve this problem?

[joboehl]

MediaCenter or mediaportal?

You can have AC3 and sound control if you have analog outputs or something like DolbyDigital Live (that actually reencode the DD stream). In both cases you will propably loose quality.

The best think (in terms of quality) is to have passtrough and control the volume in the receiver. You could also look for plug-ins that would control your receiver so when you press volume UP in MP, it blasts volume up IR signals to your receiver, so you control with only one remote.

Also, some controls have the ability to learn from other remote controls. Some MS models can do that. They can learn your receivers volume up/down codes and with that you always control the volume on the receiver.

[patricon]

in latest SVN versions i'm having also that problem. I can't change volume when watching movies... pressing the right key i can see visual feedback in screen, but volume doesn't change... another bug for the collection

regards,