Not sure if this is the right forum

[XMan]

Apparently such a thing was possible in XP/MCE05 but the functionality didn't exist at Vista's release from the Googling I've done.

Is there any new information on a way to do this? Reason is, I'd like to have a Dolby Digital Live signal going over S/PDIF for videos and recorded shows, then switch to analog sound for HD/Blu Ray playback. Doing so goes around the stereo downmix that PowerDVD forces on HD audio sorces over S/PDIF.

Sound card is an Auzentech X-Mystique, BTW.

 

[erwos]

I'm confused - why do you want/need optical if you've already got surround analog?

 

[XMan]

Good question, I should have posted the answer in my OP.

When you're watching a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, S/PDIF doesn't have the bandwidth to handle HD Audio. Power DVD will downmix most high-def movies to DD2.0 or DD5.1 depending on the original source. It really sucks sometimes, because movies like National Treasure 2 end up being sent out as stereo because there's no fallback DD5.1 that PowerDVD can use.

However, if you use analog, multi-channel out, PowerDVD decodes the high-def audio into an analog format and reproduces true, multi-channel surround. Even though it's analog, it sounds much, much better than the the downmixed digital.

So basically, my goal is to use optical for Media Center, then push a button on my remote to switch to multi-channel analog when watching high-def movies.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: XMan
Good question, I should have posted the answer in my OP.

When you're watching a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD, S/PDIF doesn't have the bandwidth to handle HD Audio. Power DVD will downmix most high-def movies to DD2.0 or DD5.1 depending on the original source. It really sucks sometimes, because movies like National Treasure 2 end up being sent out as stereo because there's no fallback DD5.1 that PowerDVD can use.

However, if you use analog, multi-channel out, PowerDVD decodes the high-def audio into an analog format and reproduces true, multi-channel surround. Even though it's analog, it sounds much, much better than the the downmixed digital.

So basically, my goal is to use optical for Media Center, then push a button on my remote to switch to multi-channel analog when watching high-def movies.

That's what he was saying...why do you want to use digital when analog would work for everything?

And the way it worked in XP there was no way to do DDL and analog at the same time. Only PCM and analog would work. You could also do a passthrough and still have analog output.

I haven't used my X-plosion enough on my current computer to know if this is still true in vista as I mainly use my E-mu 1212m.

 

[XMan]

I do like the DDL for shows that are mixed in stereo.

That plus my receiver for some reason doesn't like to go to multi-in when it's turned on; it defaults to optical for some reason, even though it's programmed otherwise in my Harmony Setup. Then the sound doesn't work unless you hit the "multi-in" button and WAF is impacted.

 

[PurdueRy]

Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

It's set to switch to multi-in on power-on. The receiver stays there for a second, then flicks to optical. It's weird. I think it's the receiver rather than the remote, and it works otherwise, so moot point. I mapped a command to the side buttons to switch it back.

 

[Shawn]

What the heck is DDL? Prologic?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

That may be true....but it was also the case in XP with Auzentech cards. Enabling DDL disables the analog connection.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: XMan

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

It's set to switch to multi-in on power-on. The receiver stays there for a second, then flicks to optical. It's weird. I think it's the receiver rather than the remote, and it works otherwise, so moot point. I mapped a command to the side buttons to switch it back.

Perhaps you have the commands out of order and the multi-in is given and then the remote sends the command to switch back to optical? Or perhaps if you push multi-in twice it goes back to optical? Your remote could be sending the command twice.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: Shawn
What the heck is DDL? Prologic?

Dolby Digital Live

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

That may be true....but it was also the case in XP with Auzentech cards. Enabling DDL disables the analog connection.

are you sure? i've been using vista for a while, but i thought i could output both simultaneously in xp

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

That may be true....but it was also the case in XP with Auzentech cards. Enabling DDL disables the analog connection.

are you sure? i've been using vista for a while, but i thought i could output both simultaneously in xp

Again: this is something new with Vista.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

That may be true....but it was also the case in XP with Auzentech cards. Enabling DDL disables the analog connection.

are you sure? i've been using vista for a while, but i thought i could output both simultaneously in xp

Again: this is something new with Vista.

Since we appear to be insistent here is a direct quote from the Auzentech manual:

"Using Dolby® Digital Live Real-Time Content Encoder (DDL)

Step 1: Connect the SPDIF-Out to the external Dolby Digital decoder / AV receiver with DD Decoder using Optical
fiber or RCA coaxial cable like the interface indicates. (If you have hi-fi home theater high-quality 5.1 speakers at
home, this function lets you use both your PC and consumer electronics. Your Dolby PC can be a multi-media
platform in the living room, which is often called Media Center.)

Step 2: Select Dolby® Digital Live 5.1 Encoding and you will get high-quality Dolby Digital audio stream output. When
Dolby® Digital Live? is enabled, analog output will be turned off to prevent interference."

Again, it MAY be true that vista always keeps the two separate. However, the way this works on Auzentech cards has ALWAYS been the same. When you enable DDL the analog output disables.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: erwos

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
Well I can tell you that DDL and analog will not work at the same time...at least not on Auzentech Cards.

This is a limitation of Vista... still. I think it has to do with the protected audio path support. *shrugs*

The OP would be better served to spend more time figuring out why his remote isn't switching his receiver to analog multi-in.

That may be true....but it was also the case in XP with Auzentech cards. Enabling DDL disables the analog connection.

are you sure? i've been using vista for a while, but i thought i could output both simultaneously in xp

The only thing you could do in XP was PCM and analog...that would work. DDL and analog and DTS connect and analog would not.

 

[PurdueRy]

I just went and tested my Auzentech X-Plosion. I can most definitely output analog and digital at the same time. Provided that I don't enable DDL as I said before.

I am using Vista 64 bit.

OP, go into the Auzentech driver control panel and make sure "Speakers" is enabled(button is pushed in) and that they are turned up.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I just went and tested my Auzentech X-Plosion. I can most definitely output analog and digital at the same time. Provided that I don't enable DDL as I said before.

I am using Vista 64 bit.

OP, go into the Auzentech driver control panel and make sure "Speakers" is enabled(button is pushed in) and that they are turned up.

On mine it only enables stereo analog, though. If you try to use 6 channel or even four channel it disables the digital out.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: XMan

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I just went and tested my Auzentech X-Plosion. I can most definitely output analog and digital at the same time. Provided that I don't enable DDL as I said before.

I am using Vista 64 bit.

OP, go into the Auzentech driver control panel and make sure "Speakers" is enabled(button is pushed in) and that they are turned up.

On mine it only enables stereo analog, though. If you try to use 6 channel or even four channel it disables the digital out.

Yes, that also has always been true for Auzentech cards. Again, nothing to do with Vista.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: XMan

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
I just went and tested my Auzentech X-Plosion. I can most definitely output analog and digital at the same time. Provided that I don't enable DDL as I said before.

I am using Vista 64 bit.

OP, go into the Auzentech driver control panel and make sure "Speakers" is enabled(button is pushed in) and that they are turned up.

On mine it only enables stereo analog, though. If you try to use 6 channel or even four channel it disables the digital out.

Yes, that also has always been true for Auzentech cards. Again, nothing to do with Vista.

Ah well. That problem will go away when I get my new receiver and start using LPCM over HDMI.