Realtek Dolby Digital Live support on non-DDL chips

FreedomFighter

The Realtek chip ALC888S appears to have the exact same pin outs as the ALC888DD. This indicates that to enable DDL on non DDL chips would require a software mod of the audio drivers.


I was wondering if anyone was aware of any projects on this?

Judas

this would be very very cool

ACSlater

Interesting thing! I tried RedocneXk but didn't get it working. On my mainboard is a Realtek ALC888 but not with the DDL/DTS Connect functions. So if this driver thing is going to make DDL work for my simple onboard, it's just awesome. Saves me some money I would have to spend on a new soundcard with DDL like the Theatron Agrippa.

ACSlater

I did a load of googling on this subject and didn't find if anyone ever tried to hack the drivers to enable DDL & DTS Connect. It has to be possible but I don't have any hacking skills. Realtek only uses one driver for all their HD Audio codecs, so it has to be the device or motherboard ID that enables the DDL. I guess changing the drivers is illegal but nevertheless if Realtek offered a software add on to unlock DDL, I would buy it.

FreedomFighter

Yes, I would love to see it done too, but I also have minimal coding/hacking skills.

New realtek HD drivers are out today: v1.92

Realtek

dj_stick

the chips may have the same pinout, but if the DDL engine is hardware, then you're out of luck

Judas

but what is the actual hardware is present within the chip.. but is disabled by default..

it would be pretty amazing if a driver inf changeup were to activate such features..

perhaps some of the chips have a faulty ddl, and some other don't...

FreedomFighter

DDL and DTS connect are both listed under the "software features" section of the product info here:

Realtek

and here:

http://realtek.info/pdf/ALC888_1-0.pdf

FreedomFighter

Here is the datasheet we need:

ftp://218.210.127.132/pc/audio/ALC88...aSheet_1.2.pdf


page 15 shows the pin out from a regular ALC888S

page 16 shows the pin out from a ALC888DD

they are exactly the same.

FreedomFighter

Anyone notice the disclaimer that realtek put up on their site a few weeks back:

"Audio drivers available for download from the Realtek website are general drivers for our audio ICs, and may not offer the customizations made by your system/motherboard manufacturer. To be sure you obtain the full features/customizations provided in your original audio product, please download the latest drivers from your system/motherboard manufacturer's website."

With this in mind, I found a mobo that supports DTS connect and DDL with the realtek 888D chip:

GIGABYTE - Support - Motherboard - Driver - GA-M59SLI-S5 (rev. 1.0)

Interestingly, the drivers are nearly double the size of the drivers straight from realtek when extracted.

I tried installing them, (hoping for an easy solution), but I did not see any added features.

Perhaps someone else might take a look and see how to get these extra features to install from the above linked drivers (v1.87).

ACSlater

I tried the same thing as you Freedomfighter and with the same result. I gave up on this. I bought a Club3d Theatron Agrippa which has DTS Connect and DDLive. It's well worth the money. I have every sound in DTS on my home cinema. Soundquality on the analog outs are also way better than the Realtek HD or Audigy 4 that I used before. The soundcard is also sold as Auzentech X-plosion I believe.

dj_stick

pinouts mean nothing if the 888s chip has no dolby digital engine

FreedomFighter

bump for a worthy cause

FreedomFighter

has anyone looked further into this?

leimrod

signed up to these forums as I'm also interested in this. Is there anyway of getting an answer either way as to whether this is possible or not?

FreedomFighter

It would be a great development, alas, I know of no one thus far who has taken the reigns.