Procedure for switching between sound systems on a PC?

[BonzaiDuck]

This may seem a repetitive post, since I'd started a lengthy journal on -- really -- the same topic.

I have analog 5.1 sound on a Logitech Z640, and just added my HT receiver/speakers through the graphics card sound and drivers with HDMI. I'm running Media Center with HDMI to the receiver.

I had a bad experience trying to switch between the nVidia-driven "Onkyo" sound and the [Z640] REalTek "speaker" output -- fouled up my HT configuration, requiring a lot of poking around in Media Center and Windows Sound. to fix it. I want to be able to do this, because the OnKYO has "standby-passthrough" and I want to occasionally turn the receiver off and run the Media Center sound through the analog Z640 speakers.

Anyone have a surefire "Procedure" for doing this without fouling up my configuration for the Onkyo/HT system? I was thinking (1) shut down media center, (2) change "default" sound output to "RealTek speakers", (3) reboot, (4) go into Media Center->Tasks->General-> Media Center setup->Configure Speakers and select the analog with 3.5mm phone-plug option, test and finish.

I'd think I'd only need to reverse the procedure for getting back to the "ONKYO ON" situation. I just don't want to foul this up again . . . it was a b**** last night, trying to eliminate the constant "Video error . . . missing files . . . restart media center or reboot computer" messages.

 

[MrWizzard]

I pretty much have the same setup except I have a different amp.

I ended up using the inputs in the back of my amp with this cable.

http://www.amazon.com/40236-3-5mm-Au.../dp/B002TVUGMA

So the signal is just getting split into two so both amps could be on and play the same thing, not sure why I would do that but you get the idea.. Due to how close your jacks in the back of your computer are you may need small 6 inch extender cables. I was careful to make sure everything was hooked up tight so there is no signal degradation.

Did this to two systems and have not had a problem. I only do 5.1 though.

This way there is no switching it is always set up for both for me.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

I pretty much have the same setup except I have a different amp.

I ended up using the inputs in the back of my amp with this cable.

http://www.amazon.com/40236-3-5mm-Au.../dp/B002TVUGMA

So the signal is just getting split into two so both amps could be on and play the same thing, not sure why I would do that but you get the idea.. Due to how close your jacks in the back of your computer are you may need small 6 inch extender cables. I was careful to make sure everything was hooked up tight so there is no signal degradation.

Did this to two systems and have not had a problem. I only do 5.1 though.

This way there is no switching it is always set up for both for me.

Your "handle" sounds familiar, Mr. Wizzard. Especially appreciate your response, but I don't think this does it for me. Or -- Maybe I'll have to consider it, anyway. Point being, to do it that way, I'd have to disable "nVidia" audio on my graphics card while continuinig to feed HDMI video to the Receiver. And then . . . yeah . . . . I could turn off the receiver and still get the pass-through video to the HDTV.

But . . . shouldn't I strive to keep a digital audio connection through the HDMI to the receiver?

I'd looked at some forum posts from web-searches on similar topics. There has to be a set of steps that won't foul up the HDMI settings when I switch back to analog audio for the Z640 Logitech 5.1's.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Darn. Ok. Another post.

System running two days with the aV/Receiver turned on. Stunning THX surround.

Then I made one mistake on the Control Panel->Sound configuration. Lost it. Media Center error: "Video error . . . files missing . . . . restart MC or reboot . . . "

As I was rebooting, the Onkyo -- recently connected to the LAN -- wants to do an update, download and firmware update. So . . . I let it do that . .

And I find that all my old settings from the previous "initial setup" and adjustment of speakers . . . . gone. Gotta start all over.

But I set the standby feature to "on," reconfigured Media Center for the RealTek analog 5.1 system. HDTV is back with sound coming through the Logitech Z640 speakers.

I'll work on it later. But . . . this is getting to be a Pain in the A**e.

Wondering if I might be better to disable HDMI sound connection to the ONKYO, and then run a digital sound cable from the REalTek port to the ONkyo. But simple-as-best would seem to be the optimal approach . . . teh HDMI connection. Darn it, though . . .

 

[BonzaiDuck]

OK . . . Here's a solution I think may work.

Here -- I'm speaking about my own hardware, but this may be useful to someone else who posted this problem. I'm adding post to his thread and mine as well.

Assume that "simple is best" and that RealTek analog 5.1 and digital audio output (RealTek) driven by same or compatible drivers. Therefore -- eliminate the nVidia audio thru HDMI, and use SP/DIF cable to connect onboard sound to the AV/Receiver. I cannot see why this will not work -- but it's just an extra $40 cable. Inputs to the AV/Receiver can be reassigned.

I cannot confirm this yet, but I contacted a Cables-to-Go rep (now called C2G), who was only concerned about ability to disable computer's HDMI audio. But like Dylan says in "highway 61" -- This can be very easily done . . . out there on Hi-way . . . sixty-one! . . "

Comment? encouragement? Whatever?

 

[MrWizzard]

OK . . . Here's a solution I think may work.

Here -- I'm speaking about my own hardware, but this may be useful to someone else who posted this problem. I'm adding post to his thread and mine as well.

Assume that "simple is best" and that RealTek analog 5.1 and digital audio output (RealTek) driven by same or compatible drivers. Therefore -- eliminate the nVidia audio thru HDMI, and use SP/DIF cable to connect onboard sound to the AV/Receiver. I cannot see why this will not work -- but it's just an extra $40 cable. Inputs to the AV/Receiver can be reassigned.

I cannot confirm this yet, but I contacted a Cables-to-Go rep (now called C2G), who was only concerned about ability to disable computer's HDMI audio. But like Dylan says in "highway 61" -- This can be very easily done . . . out there on Hi-way . . . sixty-one! . . "

Comment? encouragement? Whatever?

It will be interesting to see how it works out for you. I think each person has to find out what works best for them depending on their hardware.... let us know how it ends up working out.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

It will be interesting to see how it works out for you. I think each person has to find out what works best for them depending on their hardware.... let us know how it ends up working out.

Another $50 cable, and only the assurances that it will work with the AV Receiver "On." But Media Center . . . only allows for a single sound configuration, regardless of whether anything more is still "RealTek" or separate nVidia graphics/audio drivers . . .

Nother thing -- after all this . . . mixing around . . . I find that my X-Plane 9 fright stimulator isn't outputing sound to either analog or the receiver. My Lockheed FA-22 flies fine -- I'm just a deaf pilot. I keep looking for an "ini" file or some way to reassign the audio, but I can't find it. The program doesnt install to "program files" and only appears in a shortcut on the start menu -- which one creates I think. One is advised to simply install it to a root directory folder.

There has to be a way to reassign a sound device to an application. My TrackMania United is fine -- playing through the analog speakers while the TV plays uninterrupted through the AV/REceiver and my JBLs.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

It will be interesting to see how it works out for you. I think each person has to find out what works best for them depending on their hardware.... let us know how it ends up working out.

Umm . .. found a thread on an "ask and answer" web-site concerning "RealTek analog and dgital audio". Similar sort of thing: "Can I reassign applications to particular audio devices?" More specifically "Why do I get sound through my analog speakers, but no sound through my digital connection?" Answer: Select the default sound output in RealTek audio Manager."

I'll have to wait and see. Lot of uncertainties mixing things up again to try some new hardware configuration. Figure 5 days or a week to get the SP/DIF cable . . . .

Really didn't want to leave the Onkyo switched on day and night with the current heat-wave . . . .

 

[vshah]

maybe you could try xbmc instead of media center? you can specify a specific output device for xbmc (nvidia/hdmi) while the rest of windows uses something else (realtek/logitech)

 

[BonzaiDuck]

maybe you could try xbmc instead of media center? you can specify a specific output device for xbmc (nvidia/hdmi) while the rest of windows uses something else (realtek/logitech)

I've heard of XBMC, maybe even visited the web-site. Over the years, I have more and more followed a rule of "simple is best." Some four/five years ago, I'd worked with SageTV for a while, then BeyondTV -- finally got back to Media Center.

The reason I balk at trying something new is that I might foul up something that works. But I will -- deliberately and carefully -- take a look at this and maybe give it a try.

LATEST PROGRESS: [you may have seen that I posted two threads on this same topic, and I posted at "vid cards and graphics" and even "motherboards." ]

I turned off and disabled the analog "speakers" 5.1 output, and got my AV Receiver configured again. Discovered that the Media Center volume control again works, after unchecking "Let applications take exclusive control" in the Control-Panel->Sound->Configure dialog sequence for my AV/Receiver connection (or nVidia HD, which drives the HDMI output to the receiver).

I'm still waiting to receive the digital-coax cable for exploring the option of turning off nVidia sound while allowing video HDMI throughput to the receiver. The receiver allows me to "re-map" the digital coax input to the "PC" input from the HDMI.

There are a few possibilities that would allow me to say "project success -- no more fiddling around." First -- If I can assure myself of a reliable routine procedure to allow sound to pass through the receiver to the HDTV (stereo) speakers. Point being -- I want to be able to turn the Receiver off, and still get Media Center on the HDTV without going through some . . . . reconfiguration misery. Second -- if I instead disable HDMI audio through the nVidia Graphics card, then enable digital coax from my RealTek onboard audio to the receiver. I would then want some sort of switch-box that would accept digi-coax audio input, and output to either of two devices (like a digital PC speaker system or the AV/REceiver.)

I will look into XBMC, but some simple hardware option such as the one I describe here would eliminate the need to "let go" of Media Center for something I'm not sure of. Let me know if you have any ideas in this regard -- you're the only one answering this thread so far and I really, really appreciate it.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Like Slim Pickens says, riding the H-bomb from the plane to the ground in "Dr. Strangelove" -- YEEEEEEEEEEE!!!. . . . HAAAAA-AHHHH!! YEEEEEEEEEE!!! . . . . HAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

I have FINALLY got this sorted out. I dropped the RealTek analog "speaker" output to Logitech Z640 5.1 system, leaving only nVidia -driven "Onkyo receiver device" and RealTek digital coax and digital optical "not connected" devices.

Had the ONKYO running for two days with marvelous sound and HD TV. But . . . there's the heat. There's the power bill. There's the desire to switch back and forth between low-power speakers and the 600W Onkyo powered speakers.

I leave the LG TV "on" almost all the time, and use the energy-saving feature to shut off the picture while still listening to the broadcast or cable station selected from Media Center.

The ONKYO has a "standby passthrough" feature, which I THOUGHT . . . I'd tested . . . with unsatisfactory results. ALL . . I had . . . to DO . . . was reboot the computer when I did that.

So the procedure is this simple:

1) go into ONKYO onscreen setup menu
2) Change "Output audio to TV" from "OFF" to "ON"
3) Reboot the computer
4) Start Media Center

NO changes required in the 5.1 setup under either Windows or Media Center.

NO MORE "Video error . . . . files missing . . . restart Media Center or Re-boot computer" message.

NOW -- THE TV speakers become my computer speakers (stereo) with the ONKYO negotiating the HDMI sound channels into stereo (or maybe that's what the LG HDTV does).

THIS . . . . IS IT!!! THIS-IS-IT!!!

Meanwhile -- "Internet Radio" from the ONKYO . . . Russian hard-rock and heavy metal music from Moscow and St. Petersburg in SURROUND SOUND!!!

I LOVE IT!!! YEEEEEEEE-- HAAAAAAAAHHHH!! I'm the Bomb!