5.1 audio over built-in RealTek optical output (1 Viewer)

[HTPCSourcer]

OK, that's a different issue. Then you have not configurated your Windows correctly.

Talking from memory now: you need to configure the "Digital" device as output. Forget about anything with loudspeakers or similar. Check out the mixer and go to its properties where you can configure the play device. Watching TV now, but if you don't get it working I will have a look at my own setup tomorrow.[DOUBLEPOST=1416164848][/DOUBLEPOST]Ac3 filter should not be needed when using spdif. At worst you would get no sound at all. Not withstanding, playing for example a DVD with MediaPlayer and only getting PCM is a clear sign of audio device misconfiguration.

 

[Stéphane Lenclud]

My Teufel DecoderStation 7 is back in its box as I'm getting it swapped. I've plugged my 5.1 speakers directly to my SoundBlaster ZxR. The SoundBlaster ZxR daughter board is not installed that's why I was using optical out from the motherboard RealTek.
Now despite that sound card being supposedly top quality I can hear my hard drive in my center speaker but lets leave that one aside

Now PowerDVD playing a BD does work nicely with my 5.1 speakers I get the surround working eventually, analog rocks
MP playing an AC3 rip of that same BD only uses my front speakers however so surround is not working there, any tip to get that one working?
I'm using the default LAV filters.

 

[HTPCSourcer]

MP playing stero only is subject to codec settings. AC3 is a Dolby Digital format and you now have the reverse problem from above. LAV should be possible to be configured to decode AC3 to a 5.1 setup. Yovain's suggestion with AC3 filter should also give you what you want.

 

[Stéphane Lenclud]

Ok I found that 5.1 option in the 32bits Mixing settings for LAV filter and that did get my 5.1 analog setup working. I'm guessing my issue with optical could have been similar since I was trying to change the settings in the x64 LAV settings.

Why is it that I need to setup the filters for 5.1 when my Windows/Drivers are already setup for 5.1?

 

[HTPCSourcer]

Because MePo plays audio strictly according to codec definition and settings. Switch to MS-DTV and the correct sound device and no further setting will be necessary.

 

[Stéphane Lenclud]

What's MS-DTV? Another filter that uses system settings?

 

[HTPCSourcer]

Microsoft Digital TV filter. Since you are using Win 7, those should be selectable in the MePo codec page. I prefer them over lav because they use less CPU and the picture us better, IMHO.

 

[Stéphane Lenclud]

Thanks for the tip, I'll us them then. Do I need to switch all audio and video filters in MP config to us MS-DTV then?

 

[HTPCSourcer]

You don't need, yet I would suggest to do so in a first step. You can always make a different selection later if you get undesired results - wouldn't know what that could be though.

 

[Stéphane Lenclud]

If you want DoDolby Digital Live (5.1) like in many games, you will need to add some other sound solution to the PC

Would that work through HDMI from my GTX or do I have to use optical from SoundBlaster Z?