5.1 DD/DTS audio question

[pyrok]

Here's the setup I have:

I have a Sound blaster Live! 5.1, and a Hoontech DB 2 I/O addon card, so I have digital optical out from my comp to my reciever. My reciever is a Yamaha RX-V420. It supports 5.1 Channel DD and DTS, as well as 5.1 DD/ES. I wanted to know if there was any way to emulate at least 4 channel surround sound from my computer for use with normal applications or games so I can use that electromagnetic interference-free optical cable rather then analog 6 channel inputs. So, anyway, is there any programs which will emulate 5.1 DD/DTS or 5.1/ES audio for normal programs like it is when I play a DVD?

 

[Thor86]

For video games and music, no, only through a software emulator like PowerDVD would you ever get 5.1 signal out of your sound card to your receiver when watching DVDs. Trust me, I've done some serious research, and unless someone can prove me wrong, there is no way to get 5.1 signals. Only Dolby Prologic with the rear speakers using left/right channels.

 

[HendrixFan]

The nForce onboard audio has a DD encoder, so that anything on your computer can be encoded to DD and sent through the digital output. You have to get the motherboard though, I havent heard anything about them offering a stand-alone card.

 

[ScottMac]

I believe there's a setting in the device manager for each of your CD/DVD drives for "Use Digital Out Only." You'll have to make sure you have / have connected the SPDIF connectors from the drives to your sound card.....and I'm not remembering 100%, but there may be only one SPDIF connector on the card...if that's the case, hook up the DVD...that's where you're most likely to get the most use of it.

FWIW

Scott