Surround sound with Audigy SPDIF digital out

DanielSchaffer · 07-31-2004, 09:08 AM

I've got a Soundblaster Audigy 2 Platinum which I am trying to hook up to my DVD/Surround system. I'm using the SPDIF Digital output from the front panel included with the platinum model, as that is the only surround input my DVD/surround system has.

I've hooked everything up, but I can only get stereo (left and right channels only) output. There isn't really anything to configure on my DVD unit other than selecting which input to use, so I'm assuming this is a configuration problem with my soundcard settings.

I found this link on the soundblaster support website that says I need to disable the AC3 decoding on the card, but it seems that this page is a few years old and the menus refer to an older driver, as I can't follow the instructions it gives.

I haven't been able to find anything about disabling AC3 decoding in any of the help files included with the soundblaster software and driver, nor anything useful on the web... Anyone have a clue what I need to do?

Thanks!

Dan

cfirus · 08-03-2004, 05:55 AM

hi dan
my name i s cfir and i am having the same prrblem on my slix (creative)
i am trying to connect the spdif on the front pannel to my reciever but all i get is the L/R front speakers .
anyway if u wanna try maby it will work 4 u - go to the control pannel and select the sound blaster and there u can choose settings .
u can change on the decoder to select external decoder ... but i think it reffers to using a reciever ... don't know what about dvd .....
if u succeed and u get all channels please add a replay

bye

spikerules · 08-07-2004, 02:27 PM

Same problem here too!! Its a real annoying thing to have a good setuo and only get 2 channel sound from it!!!

I tried the external decoder setting and it didn't work for me! ANY HELP WOULD BE VERY WELCOME!

spikerules · 08-08-2004, 12:59 AM

When I get home from work today I'm going to try bypassing the SPDIF interface... that might work?

Are you guy's using DVD/AMP combo's like I am?

cfirus · 08-11-2004, 10:37 AM

finnaly i see i am not the only one complaining on this problem ...
i think i've tried everything but still only L\R channels work
i think that the only way would be to buy one of creative's speakers set and use their decoder .....
i've tried using all cabels and outputs .... and i can say that when connecting analog it works fine ...... the damm problem is the digital ........

if u get any thoughts or idias replay me asop ....

Dwango · 09-20-2004, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielSchaffer

I've got a Soundblaster Audigy 2 Platinum which I am trying to hook up to my DVD/Surround system. I'm using the SPDIF Digital output from the front panel included with the platinum model, as that is the only surround input my DVD/surround system has.

I've hooked everything up, but I can only get stereo (left and right channels only) output. There isn't really anything to configure on my DVD unit other than selecting which input to use, so I'm assuming this is a configuration problem with my soundcard settings.

I found this link on the soundblaster support website that says I need to disable the AC3 decoding on the card, but it seems that this page is a few years old and the menus refer to an older driver, as I can't follow the instructions it gives.

I haven't been able to find anything about disabling AC3 decoding in any of the help files included with the soundblaster software and driver, nor anything useful on the web... Anyone have a clue what I need to do?

Thanks!

Dan

Gee, and I was thinking of grabbing that card to hook it up to my dvd/5.1 reciever. Why do they build those things without an Optical in?

Only thing I can think of is you may not be using the proper cable. You need to use an RCA Co-Axial cable for SPDIF. If you are using a standard Analog cable, you probably will only pick up the stereo signal. See if that works.

Vikerex · 09-28-2004, 10:38 AM

Dan,

The first thing you need to do is to go into AudioHQ (usually found in Control Panel), then double click on Speaker. Click on settings, and another window should open, there you should see Bass Redirection, and underneath that should be AC3. Make sure the there is no red check mark in the box for AC3, if there is uncheck it. Also if using Digital speakers, make sure in the speaker settings that Digital Output Only is checked. If this does not work, not sure what you should try next.

Ted

Grymmegorm · 03-02-2009, 02:24 AM

Hi!
It's amazing that a high quality brand of soundcards like Creative are so totally hopeless to configure to let through a clean digital signal.

I have two Audigy sound cards with one configured to bypass most SPDIF signals. The one used in analogu mode isn't more difficult than mounting the card, installing the driver but the HTPC one gives me the shivers evereytime I'm about to reinstall.

To handle the SPDIF bypass Audigy needs a little program called SPDIFer. This program gives you better control of the signal but still not total control. When you want to watch movies with surround sound you also need codec's. This is where the trouble begins. In my case it's in the use of Media Player 11 and K-Lite codec pack together with SPDIFer. Last night I spent 4 hours to have my soundcard set up to handle MP3's, WAV's, AVI's, MKV's and DVD's properly.

With SPDIFer you tick in to bypass Dolby Digital, DTS and DVD. Then you should probably be home free...

Good luck!

07-31-2004, 09:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
DanielSchaffer Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1 OS: WinXP	Surround sound with Audigy SPDIF digital out I've got a Soundblaster Audigy 2 Platinum which I am trying to hook up to my DVD/Surround system. I'm using the SPDIF Digital output from the front panel included with the platinum model, as that is the only surround input my DVD/surround system has. I've hooked everything up, but I can only get stereo (left and right channels only) output. There isn't really anything to configure on my DVD unit other than selecting which input to use, so I'm assuming this is a configuration problem with my soundcard settings. I found this link on the soundblaster support website that says I need to disable the AC3 decoding on the card, but it seems that this page is a few years old and the menus refer to an older driver, as I can't follow the instructions it gives. I haven't been able to find anything about disabling AC3 decoding in any of the help files included with the soundblaster software and driver, nor anything useful on the web... Anyone have a clue what I need to do? Thanks! Dan

08-03-2004, 05:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
cfirus Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3 OS: xp	the same the same hi dan my name i s cfir and i am having the same prrblem on my slix (creative) i am trying to connect the spdif on the front pannel to my reciever but all i get is the L/R front speakers . anyway if u wanna try maby it will work 4 u - go to the control pannel and select the sound blaster and there u can choose settings . u can change on the decoder to select external decoder ... but i think it reffers to using a reciever ... don't know what about dvd ..... if u succeed and u get all channels please add a replay bye

08-11-2004, 10:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
cfirus Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 3 OS: xp	only 2 channels finnaly i see i am not the only one complaining on this problem ... i think i've tried everything but still only L\R channels work i think that the only way would be to buy one of creative's speakers set and use their decoder ..... i've tried using all cabels and outputs .... and i can say that when connecting analog it works fine ...... the damm problem is the digital ........ if u get any thoughts or idias replay me asop ....

09-28-2004, 10:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Vikerex Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 7 OS: XP	Disableing AC3 Dan, The first thing you need to do is to go into AudioHQ (usually found in Control Panel), then double click on Speaker. Click on settings, and another window should open, there you should see Bass Redirection, and underneath that should be AC3. Make sure the there is no red check mark in the box for AC3, if there is uncheck it. Also if using Digital speakers, make sure in the speaker settings that Digital Output Only is checked. If this does not work, not sure what you should try next. Ted

03-02-2009, 02:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
Grymmegorm Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1 OS: XP pro	Re: Surround sound with Audigy SPDIF digital out Hi! It's amazing that a high quality brand of soundcards like Creative are so totally hopeless to configure to let through a clean digital signal. I have two Audigy sound cards with one configured to bypass most SPDIF signals. The one used in analogu mode isn't more difficult than mounting the card, installing the driver but the HTPC one gives me the shivers evereytime I'm about to reinstall. To handle the SPDIF bypass Audigy needs a little program called SPDIFer. This program gives you better control of the signal but still not total control. When you want to watch movies with surround sound you also need codec's. This is where the trouble begins. In my case it's in the use of Media Player 11 and K-Lite codec pack together with SPDIFer. Last night I spent 4 hours to have my soundcard set up to handle MP3's, WAV's, AVI's, MKV's and DVD's properly. With SPDIFer you tick in to bypass Dolby Digital, DTS and DVD. Then you should probably be home free... Good luck!

08-07-2004, 02:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
spikerules Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11 OS: XP	Same problem here too!! Its a real annoying thing to have a good setuo and only get 2 channel sound from it!!! I tried the external decoder setting and it didn't work for me! ANY HELP WOULD BE VERY WELCOME!

08-08-2004, 12:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
spikerules Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11 OS: XP	When I get home from work today I'm going to try bypassing the SPDIF interface... that might work? Are you guy's using DVD/AMP combo's like I am?