Vista x64, no Surround Sound over SPDIF (1 Viewer)

[pbmsol]

I am having trouble getting surround sound through Media Portal. Not only on AC3, but on DVD also. Cyberlink PowerDVD9 Ultra works fine. Plays surround in Blu-Ray, AVI and DVD. Using Cyberlink codecs within Mediaportal does not produce the same results. I have Tried AC3filter with the same settings as my old XP HTPC with no luck. Tried FFDshow and no luck. I have the HTPC connected to my amp via SPDIF.

I have a test AVI with AC3 encoded surround sound. It only produces Stereo sound.

Is this a codec issue? or an issue with Mediaportal on Vista 64.

Any feedback would be appreciated.


TV-Server Version:
MediaPortal Version: 1.1.0
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo Wide
Windows Version: Vista Ultimate x64 SP2
CPU Type: Intel Core2Quad Q9550
HDD: 1 x 500Gb SATAII 1 x 1Tb SATAII
Memory: 4Gb DDR2-800
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-UDP3
Video Card: Gigabyte GV-R455D30512 (ATI HD4550)
Video Card Driver: Latest ATI Driver
Sound Card: Realtek ALC899A
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR-2200
1. TV Card Type: DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR-2200
2. TV Card Type: DVB-T
2. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec:
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Silverstone
Cooling: Stock
Power Supply: Enhance 500W
Remote: iMon Pad
TV: Samsung 53" Plasma
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

 

[Vimes]

I'm using AC3Filter and I do know for sure that MP is using that when suitable file is selected to play. This will output via my SPDIF optical digital to my amp / speaker setup. However I have made sure that AC3Filter is set to allow DTS and DD to pass through the SPDIF (if you don't then it will be downmxed to stereo IIRC). This is set in the AC3Filter config. Also when you right click on the orange speaker icon in your system tray (after installing the 2.27 Realtek drivers) you must make sure that under the Audio Devices that the Realtek digital output is selected and that in the properties for it that both the DTS and DD are ticked under the supported format tab.

Also in MP config ensure that AC3Filter is selected as your encoder (if you make MP run in a Window you should then see a AC3Filter icon appear in the system tray when a file is being played that has been encoded in DTS etc). Make sure also that the output in MP for audio is the Realtek Digital Output and again that the settings for DTS and DD are set to SPDIF.

I am assuming that the SPDIF optical digital out which you are using is from the motherboard directly to your amp.

If all the above is correct then you should, providing your amp accepts the signal, get the correct encoding. Sometimes you might need to play about with inserting an audio delay in ms for lip sync to be correct when playing a DTS / DD file. This can be done in AC3Filter.

 

[mjalstad]

Having a similar problem here. My setup is exactly as described here in last post to get it to work. Nonetheless ac3filter outputs DTS\DD in all other players except Mediaportal.

Any other suggestions ?

Mediaportal Config -> Videos -> Video Player -> Enable Automatic Decoder Settings.


Now it works fine

 

[pbmsol]

Vimes, thanks for the feedback. I have checked all the settings as you suggested, but this is what I already had configured. MP playback is not bringing up the AC3filter taskbar icon, therefor it is not using it as specified in the Audio Codec settings. Windows Media player etc is displaying the taskbar icon as expected.

Any suggestions.

Thanks

 

[Vimes]

pbmsol - then you need to make sure that MP is configured to use the AC3 filter. Do that as follows...

MP Config <> Videos <> Video Player <> MPEG/AC3 audio decoder <> select ac3filter
Then on same page select <> Video Post Processing and look at available filters and double click on the ac3 filter to enable and activate it. It will then go in the top window with a tick next to it.

When you have applied the above MP should then use the Ac3Filter. test this by running MP in a window and watch for the AC3 icon in the system tray.

 

[pbmsol]

Vimes, Thanks for that. I didn't have expert view enabled in MP Configuration. All fixed. Thanks for your help.