Complex audio setup/control question (1 Viewer)

[mkjustuk]

Hi all, I have a question around audio config/control. My HTPC sits in my rack and needs to serve audio out to three locations, 5.1 amp in my cinema via optical out, 5.1 amp in my lounge via optical out and 2.0 analog into my multiroom amp.

My issue is when playing a DVD the 5.1 to the cinema and lounge amps is no problem, but I loose audio on my multiroom amp as the optical to analog converter can't do anything with a DD feed into it.

What I need to be able to do is 'switch' from 5.1 to a downmixed 2.0 when playing DVDs or HDTV and I'm not in either of the cinema or lounge so the optical converter can output it via analog. My thinking is perhaps having ffdshow setup to downmix and another codec not, then via the remote switch codecs as required? Most of the time the non-downmix codec will be fine, it's just on the occasion I want to watch a dvd in the kitchen or bedroom that are served via the multiroom system (2.0).

So, am I right in thinking that I can setup ffdshow to always output a 2.0 signal from the optical out regardless of the original source (even freeview HD)?

 

[Jay_UK]

Hi there,

Not knowing too much about how you are controlling these various feeds and how you actually have everything connected/split/switched...

ffdShow can have profiles... and you can switch between these automatically (depending on certain conditions) or manually (via keystrokes).

You would have one profile as you currently do for your 5.1, then create another profile which down converts to 2.0 stereo.

Then you could switch between these profiles either automatically or manually (via the remote)

J.

ps - Using a different codec is another way of doing it I suppose.

 

[rogerleifert]

AW: Complex audio setup/control question

Hi mkjustuk,

Most HDTV-channels and DVDs do have an MPEG2-audio channel additional to the AC3/DD.
You can simply switch with the "A" keyboard button between the different audio-channels.

Another solution could be the new ARC-plugin (audio renderer changer).

Kind regards

Roger

 

[mkjustuk]

Hi guys, thanks for the suggestions. I have decided that in the lounge (and multiroom) I will output via the 3.5mm jack and split it. The Cinema amp can then be connected directly to the SPDIF out on the PC.

So, I'll need to be able to switch audio output from the Optical out to the 3.5mm out easily and also downmix 5.1 to 2.0 if it's a DVD that's playing but only when outputting via Optical.

Sounds like ARC will do the first part and may even do the second part, but otherwise ffdshow profiles - how do you change those via the remote, is it all part of the profile setup?

 

[doveman]

I need to switch ffdshow profiles with the remote as well, but having looked into it I'm pretty sure it's not possible

 

[netexplorer]

AW: Complex audio setup/control question

You can export the registry settings for different configurations and then you can define it for the outputs in Audio Render Changer to import the settings.

 

[doveman]

I tried that but I couldn't get it to work if trying to switch only the ffdshow reg file and keep the same renderer (which is what I need to do as I'm only using my analog outputs).

Might work for the OP though, as he's trying to switch from optical to analog.

I might be able to do what I need by just using AHK to map a remote key to import a profile though, like ""reg import ffdshow_settings_x.reg"