How to get computer connected to my home theatre speakers correctly.

[FearoftheNight]

What is the best way to connect my computer to my sound system so that I get surruond sound in game and my applications. Currently having a M-Audio Revolution sound card. Would setting it to a digital output via spdif give me surround sound in games?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

You're only going to get surround sound in games from digital if you soundcard can encode DD in real time (Like an X-Mystique or Montego).

With your M-audio rev, the only way to get surround sound in games would be to hook up to a 5.1 analog input on your receiver if it has that type of connection.

 

[alcoholbob]

Depends on the games.

Most FPSes (the ones you want surround sound in) will support Dolby Digital 5.1 output, particularly the cutting edge ones.

I'm not the one to tell you how it is, but personally I see no need for surround sound in non-FPS settings, so DDL in my opinion is generally a waste (unless for really old games).

For the best of both worlds, if surround sound in all games is really important for you, you will need to run games in analog and *should*--for the best effect--run music/movies in digital.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

The only game I played that claimed to have DD didn't work for me. What games support DD natively? So the game software encodes it? Do you know what kind of performance hit that is?

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
The only game I played that claimed to have DD didn't work for me. What games support DD natively? So the game software encodes it? Do you know what kind of performance hit that is?

Same here. I have SW:battlefront I and II and both claim DD yet my receiver does not kick in DD mode when I play these games. I use the digital out on my X-FI card.