Media Player 11 Suround sound probs

[camalbitboy]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a prob I've got.

I've got a XiFi Fatality soundcard and Creative 7.1 surround sound speakers, but I can't play dvds in surround sound. I've tried using media player 10, 11, powervideo 6? amongst others, but always the same problem.
Games are fine, but dvds default to 2.0
In dvds I can use the CMS 3d to fake surround sound from the 2.0 feed, but it obv isn't as good as proper 5.1.
I assumed from the packaging and documentation that the XiFi card would be able to do the decoding, even if the players couldn't, but I can't find a way to do this.
I even tried downloading Media Player Classic and a codec pack that claimed 5.1 in it, but am completly lost as to how to set it up due to the thousands of options, and my complete lack of knowledge of all things media related.

Can anyone advise me in pretty simple language how to get this to work?

Cheers
J

[directhex]

which dvd decoder do you use? you may need to buy a 5.1-enabled decoder

[camalbitboy]

Originally Posted by directhex

which dvd decoder do you use? you may need to buy a 5.1-enabled decoder

I want to use the XiFi's decoder as that way I don't have to shell out any more money. From Creative XiFi website;

"Enjoy the latest cinematic technologies for the ultimate PC movie experience!
Experience incredible audio with THX certified quality and unbeatable movie sound with DTS-ES™ and Dolby® Digital EX decoding!"

But i can't work out how to do it.

[Merlin4458]

i used to get that prob. i know it sounds illy but make sure uve set it to 5.1 in xfi, and if aloud in sound audio devices aswell, and anywhere else that lets u set it to 5.1. My sound audio devices options was set to headphones whilst my realtek was set to 5.1. But i still only got 2.1 , untill i changed it

[this_is_gav]

Originally Posted by camalbitboy

I want to use the XiFi's decoder as that way I don't have to shell out any more money. From Creative XiFi website;

No, no. You need a DVD decoder. One of the more expensive PowerDVDs for example. It's a sliding scale. The 2.1 version is dirt cheap, while the 5.1 is more expensive.

[camalbitboy]

Originally Posted by this_is_gav

No, no. You need a DVD decoder. One of the more expensive PowerDVDs for example. It's a sliding scale. The 2.1 version is dirt cheap, while the 5.1 is more expensive.

But the XiFi Is a decoder!! at least according to their website, and everything I can gather, apart from physical evidence.....

[this_is_gav]

1) It's an XFI
2) It's a Dolby Digital decoder
3) DVD (MPEG-2) decoders are software (all that I'm aware of anyway). It's a codec.

[camalbitboy]

From Creatives website;

"2) Decode the AC3/DTS with your Sound Blaster.

You should choose this option if you don't have an external decoder. In the DVD software, select 'SPDIF' as the audio output method and make sure that 'SPDIF Pass-through' in the souncard options is off. The DVD software will now pass the compressed audio to your soundcard, which will then decode the data. The soundcard will output the 6 channels using the analogue connections (or digital DIN, more on this later). If you try to use a digital optical/coax connection to your speakers, you will only hear faint sounds from the front left/right speakers."

So how do you get media player 11 to SPDIF output?

[camalbitboy]

Originally Posted by this_is_gav

1) It's an XFI
2) It's a Dolby Digital decoder
3) DVD (MPEG-2) decoders are software (all that I'm aware of anyway). It's a codec.

1) Heh whadya know, I've been getting that wrong for days and not noticed

2) Yeees I think thats what I'm trying to say. From what I can see I need to persuade the DVD drive and DVD player to not process the Dolby bitstream and to pass it to the the XFi for it to decode. The Dolby and DTS stream are held seperatly from the DVD (MPEG-2) files.

3) I agree, there are codecs you can buy to decode the DTS or Dolby within the DVD player that then passes the audio to the soundcard, but why pay money when the soundcard should be able to do it?


I can find the setting I need to change in PowerDVD, but its disabled so is it a) they've disablesd it so that you are forced to use a software decoder rather than soundcards, or b) I'm completly wrong and the card can't decode DTS and Dolby?

[camalbitboy]

Know what? I wish I'd paid attention to the guys that said that codec packs are the spawn of all evil.

I insatalled some out of desperation to play DVS like the system I bought claimed they could, and what ya know. I can't even play any DVDs now.

It may be cos I installed a new trial version of Power DVD7? but since i tried to upgrade my codecs and software, nothing works at all now.

At least my X-Fi used to be able to upmix 2.0 to 5.1, now i can't even play a DVD

So any ideas how to reset my media playing ability so i don't get all/any of my DVD playing software to lock up? Tried reinstalling Media player but no joy.

Cheers
J

[directhex]

Originally Posted by camalbitboy

Know what? I wish I'd paid attention to the guys that said that codec packs are the spawn of all evil.

I insatalled some out of desperation to play DVS like the system I bought claimed they could, and what ya know. I can't even play any DVDs now.

It may be cos I installed a new trial version of Power DVD7? but since i tried to upgrade my codecs and software, nothing works at all now.

At least my X-Fi used to be able to upmix 2.0 to 5.1, now i can't even play a DVD

So any ideas how to reset my media playing ability so i don't get all/any of my DVD playing software to lock up? Tried reinstalling Media player but no joy.

Cheers
J

removing codecs is incredibly tedious, manual work on windows

[Nemeliza]

what codec(s) did you install?

make sure you have set your systems to 5.1/7.1 in control panel and ensure your sound cards settings match this (they can be different).

for your sound card to decode the ac3 audio you need to tell it to do so in its settings "Use built in decoder" or something similar.

[camalbitboy]

Originally Posted by Nemeliza

what codec(s) did you install?

make sure you have set your systems to 5.1/7.1 in control panel and ensure your sound cards settings match this (they can be different).

for your sound card to decode the ac3 audio you need to tell it to do so in its settings "Use built in decoder" or something similar.

Yep did all that, but I need the DVD playing software to not decode the audio, but pass it to the soundcard. Unfortunatly all the cheap DVD software disables that option. On some of the programmes I tried I could find an option to use SPDIF? out, but it was greyed out to stop you doing that.

Looks like I'll have to get a programme that can play %.1 & DTS and then disable it from doing so and send it to the soundcard. But why would I want to spen £50 to do that?

Just need to find a free/cheap player that will pass the audio to the soundcard rather than decoding it. Oh and try to clean up the mess that installing and uninstalling the codec packs has made to my system

Oh forgot to say I installed Codec packs 'all in 1' and 'Klite'. Not a good idea as it stopped anything from working and I don't have the knowledge to clean it up