Audio decoding confused

[fluffykeith]

Hi
I don't understand which decoders I should use for what or how to set my system up.

I have SD and HD channels which I assume have some sort of surround sound.
I also have some ripped DVDs (5.1 surround) and some video clips (2 ch).
So what maps to what decoder. UK freeview/sat TV.

Basically everything is coming across to the amp as 2ch PCM. I did have surround for a short time for the ripped DVD but thats gone back to 2ch.

I installed the SAF6 codecs so I can get HD TV, but I am not sure how the audio all fits together, audio settings for realtech, renderers, decoders, ffshow settings if I select those. Nothing I do seems to get anything other than 2ch.

When I installed SAF it said pass through to SPDIF, my audio is out of the HDMI. Have I lost it to SPDIF or will it go there and to the HDMI.

I have windows XP.

Any advice on what I should expect to get and how to get it would be really appreciated.

cheers

Keith

[Reddwarf]

The AC3 Filter has a passthrough (bitstreaming) option for HDMI as well, you could try that.