No sound through SPDIF on AUS MB

[zzkazu]

I have an ASUS M2NPV-M mainboard which I’m using for integrated video and audio. I have been trying to get SPDIF-OUT working for the last 12 months on this board.

I’m at the stage that my receiver sees the stream but constantly flashes between Stereo and Dolby Digital when I’m playing a DVD. So it is detecting a digital stream but I get no sound.

Not sure why a digital stream isn't maintained?

Also no sound through digital connection when playing MP3’s

I have set AC3filter to enable SPDIF and in audio settings under MCE2005 “Intervideo” SPDIF is enabled.

In Control Panel the only setting for audio output is “SoundMax HD Audio O” via the Soundmax driver..

My next step was to replace onboard sound with a sound card that support SPDIF.

Any thoughts?

[MJW]

Have you tried unselecting the intervideo SPDIF check box? Could the Soundmax and Intervideo be conflicting? Change these around and see? When I tried to fiddle with my Intervideo audio settings things went silent. I leave it to the MOBO and it works fine

[zzkazu]

I think I've exhausted all software options. Just completed a total rebuild and got to the stage where mymy receiver 'pioneer VSX-1014TX' is again flashing between Stereo and Digital Dolby so a stream in present.

I'm not sure not if the stream is being corrupted or my Receiver is having problem with it; although other devices work through the optical connections. I've tried all settings within AC3filter and PowerDVD; I previoulsy tried WinDVD with the same result.

Plan of attack is:

Borrow a different amp to check interface
purchase a dedicated sound card (using onboard at moment)
Last resort is to replace mainboard.

I was hoping it was a sofwatre issue but I cant see how it would be..


thanks for the help..

[zzkazu]

I had a break through 3am this moring.. I connected my 'gaming machine' Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P to receiver and I got glorious Dolby Digital (no mucking around); so its not the receiver.

Along the way I tried spdifer and it reported "out of sync" in audio stream, this must be an indication that the stream isnt being formed properly.

Any ideas.. maybe a new mainboard will do ti so I can rid myself of the soundmax drivers.

[MJW]

A new soundcard might be a less involved option? I take it that you have tried all the latest bios and drivers for the MOBO?

[zzkazu]

I've tried all the latest BIOS and drivers. It just doesn't seem to want to play the game.. I think I'll try the sound card if its a cheaper option than mainboard .. but dont want to spend a lot on a video card for a pass through capability..

[MJW]

should be cheaper, and certainly less involved, hope you can nail the problem

[eepunk]

Pretty straight forward, the chipset you have is the ad1888 which has crap drivers that don't do spdif. I've been there.

Fortunately Realtek's AC97 codec drivers also work well with this chipset. Download and extract the resultant files then use manual install through Device Manager to change the driver. From memory you can't just install the software, it has to be done manually.

Get them here.

E.E.

[zzkazu]

Thanks E.E. for your response.

I tried that out, the file is exectuable as such self installing, however no errors where reported when installing but upon reboot it didnt seem to stick.

I dont have a sound applet in the taskbar and all reference to spdif is gone. Thanks anyway, back to the new soundcard.

BTW chip is ad1986A

[eepunk]

Yeah as I say the drivers have to be installed manually. The executable has to be uncompressed first.

E.E.