|
| Notices |
Welcome to the DriverHeaven.net forums. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us. |
 |
|
Jul 28, 2004, 06:15 PM
|
#1
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
5.1 and S/PDIF
A common misconception is that S/PDIF digital audio signals will provide a 5.1 channel sound.
This is not true.
S/PDIF is a 2 channel stereo format, regardless of the medium (optical or coaxial)
The exception to the rule is when a form of compression is used.
Dolby Digital (AC-3) compresses 6 channel signal into the 2 channel format used by S/PDIF, and can then be read by a decoder.
No soundcard apart from the nForce 2 Soundstorm chip so far can encode AC-3. Therefore if you do not have one of these motherboards, the only way to get 5.1 channel sound over S/PDIF is to play a source that is already encoded in the format, such as a DVD video.
|
|
|
Jul 28, 2004, 08:28 PM
|
#2
|
|
DH's Dormant Dragon
Join Date: May 2002
Location: IN Rem-Dormancy
Posts: 23,665
|
excellent information..... i've never really used s/pdif... is that the optical port?
|
|
|
Jul 28, 2004, 08:55 PM
|
#3
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
Quote:
Originally posted by Judas
excellent information..... i've never really used s/pdif... is that the optical port?
|
yes it can be in the opticle medium aswell as coaxial
|
|
|
Aug 10, 2004, 02:48 AM
|
#4
|
|
DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 28
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by dj_stick
No soundcard apart from the nForce 2 Soundstorm chip so far can encode AC-3. Therefore if you do not have one of these motherboards, the only way to get 5.1 channel sound over S/PDIF is to play a source that is already encoded in the format, such as a DVD video.
|
the latest version of AC3Filter can encode PCM, AC3, DTS, MPEG Audio and PES (a DVD format) on the fly
|
|
|
Aug 11, 2004, 09:39 PM
|
#5
|
|
DriverHeaven Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by DavoNogo
the latest version of AC3Filter can encode PCM, AC3, DTS, MPEG Audio and PES (a DVD format) on the fly
|
Is there anyway to use this technique for playing games in surround?
|
|
|
Aug 12, 2004, 06:36 AM
|
#6
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
the program should automatically do that… but will increase CPU load - possibly reducing performance in your game
|
|
|
Aug 13, 2004, 03:33 PM
|
#7
|
|
DriverHeaven Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by dj_stick
the program should automatically do that… but will increase CPU load - possibly reducing performance in your game
|
Isn't AC3Filter an acm codec/filter or something? As in, use it in windows media player? I don't see how I could use it for a game.
|
|
|
Aug 13, 2004, 05:38 PM
|
#8
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
afaik AC-3 filter attaches itself to the directsound outputs before it reaches the soundcard, and should work for any directsound application
|
|
|
Aug 15, 2004, 06:34 PM
|
#9
|
|
DriverHeaven Newbie
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 5
|
This doesn't work for games.
Sadly
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2004, 01:33 PM
|
#10
|
|
Xtreme
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can
Posts: 3,473
|
Thats why i love my Soundstorm 
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2004, 02:57 PM
|
#11
|
|
DriverHeaven Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wu Han, Hu Bei, P.R.China
Posts: 1,236
|
Yeah,excellent information! I think S/PDIF is now the best solution to 192KHz/24Bit DVD-AUDIO for PC.
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2004, 03:03 PM
|
#12
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
the S/PDIF medium can't support anything more than 24/96 afaik
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2004, 03:19 PM
|
#13
|
|
DriverHeaven Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wu Han, Hu Bei, P.R.China
Posts: 1,236
|
If I play 192/24 DVD-AUDIO via S/PDIF to stereo speakers of A2 platinum drive, what will happen? will the speakers hiss? Thanks.
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2004, 03:25 PM
|
#14
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
no - it will be limited to 24/96 - read the specs for your audigy 2, i'm pretty sure it only says s/pdif output is 24/96 at maximum
|
|
|
Oct 10, 2004, 03:28 PM
|
#15
|
|
DriverHeaven Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wu Han, Hu Bei, P.R.China
Posts: 1,236
|
I got it. Thank you!
Actually I haven't tred it before. I will go n try to play this using S/PDIF.
|
|
|
Oct 26, 2004, 04:49 PM
|
#16
|
|
DriverHeaven Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 1
|
So currently, the only way to play games in 5.1 and send the output digitally to a home stereo is with the now-discontinued nVidia SoundStorm?
Why doesn't Soundblaster just license an AC-3 encoder for their S/PDIF output?
|
|
|
Oct 27, 2004, 01:33 AM
|
#17
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
the hardware has to be powerful enough to support it, and dolby has to licence the technology
|
|
|
Dec 21, 2004, 11:51 PM
|
#19
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
yes ONLY if the original input signal/source file is 5.1, as this is its AC-3 passthrough mode
EDIT: the digital out jack on the audigy cards uses a 4 pole jack that gives 3 seperate stereo SPDIF connections plus a ground wire, for a total of 6 channels (5.1)
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 12:10 AM
|
#20
|
|
DriverHeaven Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8
|
ah.. ok.. thanks for the quick reply
so a special cable is needed ?
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 12:22 AM
|
#21
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
yes, most speaker systems that use that connection however would come with that cable (4 pole 3.5mm jack to 9pin mini-din connector)
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 12:25 AM
|
#22
|
|
DriverHeaven Newbie
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8
|
ahh.. so i guess i'll still need to get a soundstorm to hook up my PC to the home theatre set. thanks a lot 
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 12:29 AM
|
#23
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
yep, either that or use a software ac-3 encoder
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 12:31 AM
|
#24
|
|
Xtreme
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can
Posts: 3,473
|
how about this soundcard? since it does dolby digital live also.
C-Media CMI8768
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 12:40 AM
|
#25
|
|
DH's Latest Mac Convert
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Basement of the first floor
Posts: 15,633
|
i don't think it encodes ac-3
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 02:51 AM
|
#26
|
|
DriverHeaven Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 28
|
with regards to the digital out jack on the audigy, what it does is send out 3 ANALOG channels for ANALOG sources ie. games and music, and it will output digital ONLY if the source is AC3. so basically it saves having to plug in 4 cables, but remember, analog will still be analog using that cable...
there's hope with the soundstorm2 being a stand alone product... it's very unlikely they'll include it with the nforce4 (amd) or the nforce5 (intel), but don't quote me on that.. nvidia said to expect the unexpected
|
|
|
Dec 22, 2004, 02:53 AM
|
#27
|
|
Xtreme
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can
Posts: 3,473
| |