Results 1 to 14 of 14

Thread: Confused about AC3 content.

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Merseyside
    Posts
    359
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    • chavo's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabertooth x79
      • CPU:
      • i7 3820
      • Memory:
      • 16gb corsair vengeance red. 1866
      • Storage:
      • Corsair force 3 240gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Matrix 5770 2Gb
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster M2 850w modular
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Acer 27 inch led
      • Internet:
      • virgin 100 down 10 up

    Confused about AC3 content.

    Hi.

    Ok. i have an onkyo 606 amp with 5.1 speakers. it is plugged in to my satellite via optical and it is plugged in to my PC via optical cable.
    the PC has a C-Media CMI8768 sound card. I know it is low end but it is the best i could find with optical.

    No when i play a sky premiere channel with the amp switched to TV logic the DTS and DD lightrs on the front of the amp come on and the sound is simply amazing! however when i grab something online that says it has AC3 or when i grab a HD preview for a movie etc the lights do not light up.

    In VLC when i goto audio i have the option to choose 5.1 and this engages all the speakers but still no DTS or DD. I can use the amp to switch to Neo 6 channel or 5.1 and it works and sounds quite good but not as good as native 5.1 DTS.

    Anyone know how to remedy this? thinking about getting a BR player for the HTPC but if i cant get it in to DTS then there is no point.

    Ta
    I am the gadget man!

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Posts
    655
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    22 times in 22 posts

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    You need to set your player to S/PDIF, the 5.1 etc settings are for the analogue outputs. Using S/PDIF (the digital out - optical or coax) it'll pass on the AC3 or DTS track to your receiver to decode. Oh and don't worry about the onboard sound being low-end, it doesn't matter with digital outputs.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Bristol
    Posts
    455
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    14 times in 14 posts
    • k0nigen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3
      • CPU:
      • 2500k @ 4.0Ghz
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 4GB GSkill DDR3 1600
      • Storage:
      • 2 x SSDs + 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX 7950
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX520
      • Case:
      • Antec P182
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8
      • Monitor(s):
      • 40" Sony TV

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    AC3Filter
    SPDIF passthrough
    k0nigen

  4. #4
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Merseyside
    Posts
    359
    Thanks
    22
    Thanked
    3 times in 3 posts
    • chavo's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Sabertooth x79
      • CPU:
      • i7 3820
      • Memory:
      • 16gb corsair vengeance red. 1866
      • Storage:
      • Corsair force 3 240gb
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Asus Matrix 5770 2Gb
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster M2 850w modular
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Cosmos S
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 x64 ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • 2x Acer 27 inch led
      • Internet:
      • virgin 100 down 10 up

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    ok on the soundrack in my tool tray i set it to spdiff no problems and i get audio. I have downloaded a TV show and the title says .720p.hdtv.x264 when i right click and go to audio ( inVLC) it has the 5.1 option but is this just analogue? the DTS lights dont come on.

    Another exaple, probably better one. i have one with .720p.hdtv.x264 in the title now when i play that on the front of the amp the PL2, PCM, DSP and Audigy lights come on. but when i watch my dreambox and click on ac3 mode i get Dolby lights and the sound is much better
    Last edited by chavo; 28-09-2009 at 09:30 PM.
    I am the gadget man!

  5. #5
    Va Va Voom Lowe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Newcastle Under Lyme
    Posts
    6,748
    Thanks
    323
    Thanked
    359 times in 267 posts
    • Lowe's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Z97MX Gaming 5
      • CPU:
      • Intel i5 4690K
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical
      • Storage:
      • Crucial M550 256GB and 1TB spindle drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Palit Geforce GTX1080 Jetstream
      • PSU:
      • EVGA 600w
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Silencio 352 m-ATX
      • Operating System:
      • Win 7/Mac OSX
      • Monitor(s):
      • 27" 1080p AOC, Oculus Rift CV1
      • Internet:
      • 200mb Virgin VIVID

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    Ac3 is a codec - it does not mean that it will always be 5.1

    Not everything will be surround (unless you use your reciever to 'force' it)

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    London
    Posts
    350
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    48 times in 42 posts
    • sadbuttrue's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte P55 UD5
      • CPU:
      • i5 750 @ 3.8ghz + Megahalems + GT1450 @ 5v
      • Memory:
      • G.Skill ECO 4GB 1.4v
      • Storage:
      • Intel 320 120gb + Samsung F4 2tb in Scythe Quiet Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 6950 @ 940/1350/1.175v + Shaman @ 20%
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX750
      • Case:
      • Raven RV02 with 3xPhobya G-Silent Fans @ 210rpm + Scythe S-Flex 1200 @ 5v
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung 2233rz, Dell 2209wa, Panasonic AX200 Projector
      • Internet:
      • BeThere 24mb

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    VLC doesn't output 5.1 over spdif.

    Download CCCP and use media player classic. Configure ffdshow Audio by going to output and selecting AC3 (S/PDIF encode mode).

  7. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    530
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    • Neo_VR's system
      • Motherboard:
      • DFI X48L2R
      • CPU:
      • QX9450@3.2gig
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Corsair
      • Storage:
      • 2x36gb raptors striped 640gb AAKS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gainward 8800gt
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Liberty 600
      • Case:
      • Antec P182
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 22" wfp
      • Internet:
      • BT 8meg

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    AC3 audio will send channels to the amp as PCM streams as the computer/sound card will have already decoded it.

    if you hit display on your amp (guessing its similar to my 507) it should say 5.1ch pcm or something along those lines.. PC sound cards generally dont have the ability to send bitstream audio (so that the amp does the decoding)

  8. #8
    HEXUS.social member Agent's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Internet
    Posts
    19,168
    Thanks
    735
    Thanked
    1,607 times in 1,045 posts

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    Quote Originally Posted by Neo_VR View Post
    PC sound cards generally dont have the ability to send bitstream audio (so that the amp does the decoding)
    Creative have had this since at least the Audigy 2, I thought even the standard on-board Realtek stuff would offer this as an option now if the board had digital out?
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    530
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    • Neo_VR's system
      • Motherboard:
      • DFI X48L2R
      • CPU:
      • QX9450@3.2gig
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Corsair
      • Storage:
      • 2x36gb raptors striped 640gb AAKS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gainward 8800gt
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Liberty 600
      • Case:
      • Antec P182
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 22" wfp
      • Internet:
      • BT 8meg

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    Creative have had this since at least the Audigy 2, I thought even the standard on-board Realtek stuff would offer this as an option now if the board had digital out?
    /me looks at realtek HD console...

    Ahh, it has a s/pdif passthru mode... but when was the last time anyone actually connected the spdif from a dvd drive to their sound card lol.

    Any audio that is generated by the sound card (everything except playing a dvd) will be PCM, *unless* it has specific tech to re-encode into dd/dts - only thing ive seen it on was the creative extigy.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Bristol
    Posts
    455
    Thanks
    5
    Thanked
    14 times in 14 posts
    • k0nigen's system
      • Motherboard:
      • GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3
      • CPU:
      • 2500k @ 4.0Ghz
      • Memory:
      • 2 x 4GB GSkill DDR3 1600
      • Storage:
      • 2 x SSDs + 2TB
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX 7950
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX520
      • Case:
      • Antec P182
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8
      • Monitor(s):
      • 40" Sony TV

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    I use Realtek HD onboard sound + a DVD (in the DVD drive) with no "spdif from a dvd drive to [my] sound card"
    Media Plater Classic (removing the AC3 & DTS transform filters) with AC3Filter and set it to passthrough AC3 and DTS streams without decoding

    This pushes the encoded streams straight to my 5.1 amp, and the little light on the front appears, stating either "Dolby Digital" or "DTS"

    I'd imagine that this works with any soundcard that has a digital-out port
    k0nigen

  11. Received thanks from:

    Neo_VR (04-10-2009)

  12. #11
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    530
    Thanks
    23
    Thanked
    5 times in 5 posts
    • Neo_VR's system
      • Motherboard:
      • DFI X48L2R
      • CPU:
      • QX9450@3.2gig
      • Memory:
      • 4gb Corsair
      • Storage:
      • 2x36gb raptors striped 640gb AAKS
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gainward 8800gt
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Liberty 600
      • Case:
      • Antec P182
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 22" wfp
      • Internet:
      • BT 8meg

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    Quote Originally Posted by k0nigen View Post
    I use Realtek HD onboard sound + a DVD (in the DVD drive) with no "spdif from a dvd drive to [my] sound card"
    Media Plater Classic (removing the AC3 & DTS transform filters) with AC3Filter and set it to passthrough AC3 and DTS streams without decoding

    This pushes the encoded streams straight to my 5.1 amp, and the little light on the front appears, stating either "Dolby Digital" or "DTS"

    I'd imagine that this works with any soundcard that has a digital-out port
    I stand corrected!

  13. #12
    HEXUS.social member Agent's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Internet
    Posts
    19,168
    Thanks
    735
    Thanked
    1,607 times in 1,045 posts

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    The SPDIF on DVD drives is only for audio data from a CD. It is not possible to get DVD audio from it at all (mainly because the disk has to be decrypted within the OS).
    Quote Originally Posted by Saracen View Post
    And by trying to force me to like small pants, they've alienated me.

  14. #13
    Theoretical Element Spud1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    North West
    Posts
    7,494
    Thanks
    335
    Thanked
    313 times in 249 posts
    • Spud1's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte Aorus Master
      • CPU:
      • 9900k
      • Memory:
      • 16GB GSkill Trident Z
      • Storage:
      • Lots.
      • Graphics card(s):
      • RTX3090
      • PSU:
      • 750w
      • Case:
      • BeQuiet Dark Base Pro rev.2
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus PG35VQ
      • Internet:
      • 910/100mb Fibre

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    Quote Originally Posted by sadbuttrue View Post
    VLC doesn't output 5.1 over spdif.
    Rubbish, it supports it fine.

    When playing content in VLC you have to set it to output over S/PDIF also - this can be done in the audio menu (audio->audio-device->s/pdif) and configured as a default in the audio options. You also need to set the default audio output type to "Win32 waveOut extension output" to fix an issue with vista/7 and the s/pdif passthrough, and also choose "use s/pdif when available" from the audio preferences screen.

    Installing CCCP is still a good idea however After enabling the above features in VLC I can get proper DTS audio from my (Correctly encoded) mkvs

  15. Received thanks from:

    sadbuttrue (16-10-2009)

  16. #14
    Headless Chicken Terbinator's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Posts
    7,642
    Thanks
    1,190
    Thanked
    719 times in 587 posts
    • Terbinator's system
      • Motherboard:
      • ASRock H61M
      • CPU:
      • Intel Xeon 1230-V3
      • Memory:
      • Geil Evo Corsa 2133/8GB
      • Storage:
      • M4 128GB, 2TB WD Red
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Gigabyte GTX Titan
      • PSU:
      • Corsair AX760i
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster 130
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 8.1 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell Ultrasharp U2711H
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 60Mb.

    Re: Confused about AC3 content.

    Why not just try a standard DVD film to get your set up sorted, and as mentioned it has to be recorded or encoded in 5.1 for it to have the true 6 channels of audio.

    Side note, those extensions of files you've put up .720p.hdtv.x264 scream illegitimate to me - you do understand that unless its films your downloading then the audio is most probably stereo only anyway, as this results in smaller file sizes and faster upload/download.
    Kalniel: "Nice review Tarinder - would it be possible to get a picture of the case when the components are installed (with the side off obviously)?"
    CAT-THE-FIFTH: "The Antec 300 is a case which has an understated and clean appearance which many people like. Not everyone is into e-peen looking computers which look like a cross between the imagination of a hyperactive 10 year old and a Frog."
    TKPeters: "Off to AVForum better Deal - £20+Vat for Free Shipping @ Scan"
    for all intents it seems to be the same card minus some gays name on it and a shielded cover ? with OEM added to it - GoNz0.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Team fortress 2 free weekend may 2nd-4th
    By Aez in forum Retail Therapy and Bargains
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 01-05-2008, 02:50 PM
  2. Help please! javascript :/ evil ! embeded content
    By SilentDeath in forum General Discussion
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 30-01-2007, 01:13 AM
  3. Replies: 3
    Last Post: 20-01-2006, 02:44 PM
  4. Abit AV8-3rd Eye and SPDIF-IN with AC3
    By SpawnofSonic in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 20-10-2005, 11:09 AM
  5. Abit AV8-3rd Eye and SPDIF-IN with AC3
    By SpawnofSonic in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 20-10-2005, 10:53 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •