HTPC sound output

[Swynol 375]

Not technically a Media Browser question but someone might know the answer.

 

I have my HTPC (running MBT) hooked up to my AVR (Onkyo TX NR626) via HDMI.

 

On the HTPC i can change my sound settings in control panel to output either 2.0, 5.1 or 7.1. My AVR is setup with 5.1 speakers so i set my sounds output to 5.1. However any content on my HTPC that is stereo only comes through my front left and right speakers. This is usually ok because i would set my AVR to add Dolby Pro Logic II to simulate 5.1 but because my AVR thinks its receiving a multichannel 5.1 then i cant add the Pro Logic II to it hence i only have stereo sound. 

 

The other option is i set my HTPC sound options to 2.0, then it sends 2.0 to my AVR which then uses Pro Logic II to simulate 5.1 - great...... until i play content that is native 5.1 or DTS True HD - it outputs this in 2.0 for my AVR which again uses Pro Logic II to simulate 5.1. grrrr

 

any ideas?

[psykix 97]

I just bitstream everything. I don't configure the HTPC sound options at all.

 

Since you are using HDMI I suggest you do the same. Configure the settings in the LAV Audio Decoder. I'm not sure if your version of MBT has the new audio bitstreaming checkbox, but you need to check that also if it does.

 

Also.. if you are using HD4000 or similar Intel then make sure you have the latest driver from the Intel website (not the Microsoft provided one) otherwise it doesn't show all sound formats as being supported.

Edited January 20, 2014 by psykix

[Swynol 375]

thanks for the reply. im using a ATI 6450 card with uptodate drivers. 

 

I'll re check my settings letter but i dont think it matters if i'm bitsreaming or not. if my sound settings are set to 5.1 and bitstreaming to my AVR, the AVR thinks its receiving a 5.1 input even if its only stereo - so i cant add pro logic II to it. 

 

I'll have a play when i get home

[Swynol 375]

reading around i have found some more info on it.

 

im linking to this site rather than copying the info (hope thats ok Mods)

 

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/351794-Cannot-get-DTS-MA-to-pass-through-to-AVR

 

basically windows sound has to be set to 2.0 to be able to use Pro logic II on the receiver. havent tried it but hoping i can still bitstream the HD formats.

[Deihmos 169]

My HTPC is set to 2.0. If you are getting a stereo output for 5.1 media then you have something setup incorrectly in LAV.

[BATTLE DONKEY 98]

Is that true about leaving windows set to 2.0 audio? I spent a while back searching for updated audio drivers and configuring them to 5.1/7.1 thru the HDMI and I still think it caused more problems than good lol

[Deihmos 169]

I remember reading that it is best to leave it at 2 channel.This way your receiver can mix stereo sound to dolby pro logic or whatever. If you set it to 5.1 all sound will be register as 5.1 on the receiver even though it is really stereo.

 

 

 

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Edited January 20, 2014 by Deihmos

[Swynol 375]

just to confirm i have now set my sound options to 2.0 in windows. anything that is outputted in stereo is now correctly picked up on my amp and pro logic II applied. 

 

I had to change settings in my LAV filter to get it to output DTS-HD MA and True HD which is bitstreamed to my amp and decoded correctly.

[psykix 97]

just to confirm i have now set my sound options to 2.0 in windows. anything that is outputted in stereo is now correctly picked up on my amp and pro logic II applied. 

 

I had to change settings in my LAV filter to get it to output DTS-HD MA and True HD which is bitstreamed to my amp and decoded correctly.

 

I did say that in my 1st reply to you :-p

[WarrenH 16]

Yes - you must leave windows set to 2.0 audio, plenty of discussion on this over at thegreenbutton.tv

[BATTLE DONKEY 98]

Yes - you must leave windows set to 2.0 audio, plenty of discussion on this over at thegreenbutton.tv

Can u provide a link to the discussion your talking about, I'd like to read through it and find out more info about this

[WarrenH 16]

Can u provide a link to the discussion your talking about, I'd like to read through it and find out more info about this

 

Best to search audio settings, audio output, avr over at http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/index.php

 

I've been a member there for years and this topic has arisen plenty though it's easy to resolve; set windows audio settings to basic 2.0 stereo, set WMC settings/audio to 2.0 stereo, set LAV or other encoders the same - regardless of what AVR equipment you're using. You therefore allow your AVR to do the audio decoding rather than windows, WMC or other encoders

 

Hope this helps

[psykix 97]

Best to search audio settings, audio output, avr over at http://www.thegreenbutton.tv/forums/index.php

 

I've been a member there for years and this topic has arisen plenty though it's easy to resolve; set windows audio settings to basic 2.0 stereo, set WMC settings/audio to 2.0 stereo, set LAV or other encoders the same - regardless of what AVR equipment you're using. You therefore allow your AVR to do the audio decoding rather than windows, WMC or other encoders

 

Hope this helps

 

I've never liked those settings - as I understand it, you lose the ability to bitstream doing that?

 

I prefer to have the option of DTS-HD MA and Dolby True HD.

[Joshua B 1]

I had spent months trying to get every multi-channel format to play correctly through my 5.1 receiver. I read pages and pages of forum topics from people struggling with the same. Then someone suggested using Media Player Classic Black Edition (BE). There's nothing else to configure but the internal audio filter - setting it to bitstream all audio formats. Multi-channel audio plays flawlessly for me, with all formats showing up correctly on my receiver. I set up Media Browser to use it as an external player. I no longer struggle with this, and you don't have to either.

[psykix 97]

Multi channel audio works fine for me too - I only ever install LAV codecs, nothing else. I've used Mediaportal, Plex, XBMC and now use MediaBrowser Theater. All work fine with the internal player :-)

Edited January 21, 2014 by psykix

[Lee 212]

Lav filters and bitstreaming ftw. Works a dream with my pioneer.

 

Sent by my HTC8X using Tapatalk

[Swynol 375]

thanks psykix you did indeed mention it in your first reply. the day i was trying it i must of been tired and overlooked something. its hard to do any work on my setup as its constantly in use by the wife or the kid.

[Swynol 375]

had another go with the sound options last night and found more problems.

 

content i have that is stereo working fine - 2.0 pcm input and amp outputs dolby pro logic II

DD True HD and DTS HDMA both working great.

however DD 5.1 is still only outputting 2.0 pcm to my amp. 

 

for example i ripped Shooter blu ray using makeMKV choosing the audio track DD 3/2+1. checking it afterwards with mediainfo and mkvmerge both show the correct audio track 5.1 AC3. however when playing it its only outputting 2.0 PCM. LAV Filter and MBT are both set to bitstream all formats.

this is also happening with law abiding citizen and casino royale (these are the only DD 5.1 blu rays ive ripped so far)

[psykix 97]

There appears to be an issue with MBT and DD 5.1 at the moment where it only plays as stereo. The team are aware. I thought it was only the dev build that suffered from the issue though. Just hang tight I guess :-)

 

 

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[Swynol 375]

ah thanks so much. im glad its something i havent done to screw it up. sorry for being a pain this has been driving me nuts. just wanted to thank you again and everyone who is working hard to put MB3 together - awesome job.