Sound Card Set-Up Question

[imported_blackcloud]

Hey guys, I have heard that once you set your digital out on the M-Audio 7.1 soundcard, the line out is automatically disabled. I'm new at this so help me out. I am sold on this card after all the research I've done. Looking for a good card for music and dvd's and I think this is the one. However, my tv only has one connection and I have rigged up a deal between my tv, dvd player, and computer that allows me to watch dvd's on my tv and get the 5.1 surround sound from my pc. Will this limitation on the M-Audio card kill my dvd watching or is there some way around it?? As far as how I'm set up now, I don't think I could tell you, probably couldn't do it again if you held a gun to my head, LOL.

 

[ribbon13]

What's connecting the DVD to the PC?

 

[imported_blackcloud]

Well, I have a little black box (Philips/Magnnavox) that has the #3 and #4 channel settings that is in the mix somewhere. Like I said, I couldn't do it again. I also have a cable box but I think I can bypass that. The main thing I think, and the reason it was such a bitch to get everything hooked up, is that the tv only has one connection. No RCA outs on the tv. Maybe that's what that little black box is, huh? I have to run, I'll try to see what everything is hooked up to tonight. Thanks!!

 

[imported_blackcloud]

OK, here's the deal. I have an RF Modulator that has a line going to my one tv connection and the other going to my tv out on my cable box. My line in on my sound card is going to the audio out on my dvd. My dvd also has a digital audio out that is not being used. So, I guess what I'm asking is will the revolution 7.1 work with this kind of set up? Also, I haven't tried this but is there a way to play the dvd on the computer and get it to the tv screen? All I'm looking for here is 5.1 surround sound when I watch dvd's on my tv. One more thing, if I got a tv with plenty of rca connections and "s" video connections, would that help? Sorry this is so long and complicated, a picture probably would have been better.

 

[ribbon13]

it's alright.

The best you could do is play the dvd on your computer, and use TV out to the TV. What video card do you have?

 

[ribbon13]

You could also do the line in thing with you computer, but its not True 5.1. But would play out your 5.1 system on your pc

 

[imported_blackcloud]

Right now I have the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz, but I want the Revolution to go with my Klipsch ultra 5.1 which will be on their way soon.

 

[tiap]

As ribbon13 said it is a lot easier to just play the dvds in your computer. Why create headaches. With the speakers you have chosen, you won't have to worry about digital out, because your speakers don't have a built in decoder so you will have to connect them analog. Most video cards these days have a tv out, hope yours does. Personally I prefer to add a ht amp to the mix using the digital out.
The card is a good choice and it will sound great.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Hook up the 5.1 speakers to your sound card's analog outputs (that's why you got a good sound card for, since digital out sounds the same on any sound card, even crappy onboard sound...). If you don't have an external Dolby Digital/DTS decoder, that's the only way you'll get true 5.1 sound.

Play the DVD on your computer (I suggest PowerDVD), and output to your TV with your video card's TV-out. Image probably won't be as good as with a stand-alone DVD player, but try to use at least S-Video and it should be alright.

 

[imported_blackcloud]

Thanks guys, it's just the difference of watching on a 17" screen and watching on a 36" screen. You know, the bigger the better, LOL. I think my problem is the only connection to my obviously antiquated tv is the cable connection, thus I have to jump through all these hoops to get where I'm going. It does work though, just didn't know if it would work with this new card.

 

[imported_blackcloud]

Spice, what would you recommend as a good Digital/DTS decoder and what is the
price range on those? That seems to be the easiest/best option for what I'm trying to
do.