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When my mates said that putting the hardware together was the easy part of building a Media center pc, they weren't wrong !!
My Audio. - getting closer I think. I am using the onboard Digital Optical Out connected to a 5.1 Sony Amplifier which allows digital component hookups.
Firstly. DVD's play OK. Volume control under windows correctly adjust the volume in the room - and - the blue LED on the Amplifier suggests that Multi-Channel decoding is taking place.
However:
(1) When I'm using Live TV: and using these channels TEN HD, NINE HD, 7 HD, ABC HD - volume adjustments under windows does not adjust through to the amplifier. Other channels, (including SBS HD - so I'm not sure it's an "HD" thing) work as you expect (and I would like !!)
(2) as a secondary question, if I may, live TV reception from any channel doesn't enable the amplifier Multi-Channel decoding, so - can I assume that all broadcasts are not in multi-channel format (so what's that then - just stereo ??)
Re: Audio levels not adjustable for some TV Channels
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pisassi
Hi.
When my mates said that putting the hardware together was the easy part of building a Media center pc, they weren't wrong !!
Absolutely. It's the months of tweaking to get it working perfectly. Remember - Acronis is your friend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pisassi
My Audio. - getting closer I think. I am using the onboard Digital Optical Out connected to a 5.1 Sony Amplifier which allows digital component hookups.
Firstly. DVD's play OK. Volume control under windows correctly adjust the volume in the room - and - the blue LED on the Amplifier suggests that Multi-Channel decoding is taking place.
However:
(1) When I'm using Live TV: and using these channels TEN HD, NINE HD, 7 HD, ABC HD - volume adjustments under windows does not adjust through to the amplifier. Other channels, (including SBS HD - so I'm not sure it's an "HD" thing) work as you expect (and I would like !!)
(2) as a secondary question, if I may, live TV reception from any channel doesn't enable the amplifier Multi-Channel decoding, so - can I assume that all broadcasts are not in multi-channel format (so what's that then - just stereo ??)
What codecs do you have installed in your system? AC3Filter? FFDShow? Vista codec pack? I assume you've got some combination and have set it for SPDIF pass thru?
If you have - you'll have the exact symptom you are describing - I.E. Can't control volume using the volume key. Why? Because the HD stations largely broadcast a digital audio stream. (Some SD stations are in DD 2.0 as well). If you are passing all that audio straight to your amp for decoding - your PC won't get involved in looking at any of that data, and hence won't be able to change the volume of it. Essentially you've offloaded your PC from looking at any audio data, so forget about trying to control volume, becuse your CP isn't looking at the audio data.
Some stations broadcast straight stereo - and your volume control will work for that.
Solution - a universal remote control is your friend.
(It would sound like your DVD's are getting decoded and reencoded by your PC )
On (2) - yep - it all comes down to what the stations are broadcasting. Even a lot of DD broadcasts tend to be DD 2.0, rather then DD5.1. My amp cooks this into PLII, but it's all artificial and dependent on your amp. Only a few of the HD broadcasts are DD 5.1.
Re: Audio levels not adjustable for some TV Channels
Hi -
Quote:
What codecs do you have installed in your system? AC3Filter? FFDShow? Vista codec pack? I assume you've got some combination and have set it for SPDIF pass thru?
I have installed Vista Codec Pack - but I've not made any configurations after the install. (together with whatever Vista comes with, or my TV tuner.). So yes, I have some combination..
What do you mean by "have set it for SPDIF pass thru". I really just connected the optical cable between pc and amp. The Realteck Audio control panel realises that this is the default audio device to use, and uses it. Should I be doing something else on a per-codec basis ?
By a Universal RC you mean on that will LEARN the IR signal and broadcast the right signal to the corresponding unit (PC or amp) ?
If I go down that path, where do I configure all audio (including DVD) to just go to the amplifier without getting a look in to the audio stream ?
Re: Audio levels not adjustable for some TV Channels
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pisassi
I have installed Vista Codec Pack - but I've not made any configurations after the install. (together with whatever Vista comes with, or my TV tuner.). So yes, I have some combination..
What do you mean by "have set it for SPDIF pass thru". I really just connected the optical cable between pc and amp. The Realteck Audio control panel realises that this is the default audio device to use, and uses it. Should I be doing something else on a per-codec basis ?
OK - this is exactly what I did. Someone really should post a hint when installing the the codec pack that you probably need to run configure it - especially if using SPDIF to your receiver and not wanting the PC to touch the audio.
What you'll need to do is configure both FFDSHOW and AC3Filter. I'm away from my PC at the moment, but my memory says if you type config into the windows start menu you'll get 3 FFDShow configure programs come up, as well as AC3Filter config.
Run the FFDShow audio config, and (from memory) turn off all the options, and set it to send the data straight to SPDIF.
Run the Ac3filter config, and set it to send the DD/DTS output straight to the SPDIF port, bypassing AC3filter.
Reboot - and you should be set so that neither codec gets involved when you have a DD or DTS audio stream. (It also means that you won't be able to control the volume with your Microsoft remote when you have a digital audio stream).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pisassi
By a Universal RC you mean on that will LEARN the IR signal and broadcast the right signal to the corresponding unit (PC or amp) ?
If I go down that path, where do I configure all audio (including DVD) to just go to the amplifier without getting a look in to the audio stream ?
Yep - although the preferred beast of choice is a Logitech Harmony. You tell the software what unit is contorlling what button (so the volume control will be the amps volume control), while the ffd/rew buttonw ill make sense to the VMC, etc.). Great beasts and stop the remote control proliferation.
You don't need to tell the media centre anything - the remote just sends the right code for each piece of kit.
I am not personally a fan of the Universal RC option for volume management, largely because I don't like having to change the volume every time I change between channel types, or switch to a DVD etc. The levels presented to the amp vary too greatly, so you are forever turning up the volume to hear one thing, and then getting blasted when you switch to another. However, as ajdisse points out, they are great for consolidating all your RC's into one - which is what I use mine for.
Re: Audio levels not adjustable for some TV Channels
ajdisse -
Darn - I thought we where onto something .
I tried what you said (located al the config apps) but to no avail. (yes I rebooted). The think is - there are a lot of settings in both applications that refer to SPDIF...
I currently un-installed and re-installed Vista Codec Pack purely to get the default settings back.
So. Taking FFDSHOW first, the only checked option on the left is Volume and Mixer. Under the Codecs - next to file formats in the 2nd column, there are options of 'disabled/<somelibrary>/SPDID'. Should these be modified too ?
Taking AC3Filter, the combo in the 'Output' frame on the main tab I've left at "As-Is", but checked the checkbox underneat which says ?Use SPDIF. Again - many other references to SPDIF on other screens - which I've failed to interpret.
And there is no help (apart from in this forum that is ...) which is fustrating.
to Sutty: Thanks - I get your point, and may even consider going down that path, still I want to get this working and understand AC3Filter and ffdshow further.
Re: Audio levels not adjustable for some TV Channels
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pisassi
Now to get a Universal control
Be sure to checkout the Harmony range - those things are fantastic, and will do everything you want with ease.
I have an 880 and it's great, but there are cheaper options like the 525 & better designed like the 785. And then there's the new Harmony One (that's the one I'd be getting if I didn't already have the 880).
Don't let the RRP on Logitech's site scare you - you can usually find then for around $100 less.
.
...) which is fustrating.
