Changing STB channel Inputs of a Colossus card

[three6zerocool]

Hello,  just wondering if it is possible to change the channel inputs of my saved Colossus card configuration in the NextPVR web app?.

I currently use HDMI video input and HDMI audio input for my colossus card.
Have been using the Dolby Digital 5.1 audio from my STB, and it works really well with Kodi Matrix on my Windows PC, and also with my NVidia Shields running Kodi Matrix. For whatever reason, I don't require delays or anything when blasting on the above clients, and it works really well.

However, using Dolby Digital causes other clients such as native NextPVR client on the Windows PC, and AppleTV client MrMC to lose audio when channel changing.

Finally, I decided to change my STB's audio output to PCM/Mpeg and try things out.
It certainly fixes the audio issue for those affected clients, that is good.

Whilst messing around, I discovered my STB can have both HDMI and Toslink (Optical Digital) simultaneously, and has options to select type of audio for each output.
ie. Can select PCM/Mpeg for HDMI audio output, and Dolby Digital for Toslink audio output.
So, I wondered if I could have the best of both worlds?.

I wondered for the STB channels in my NextPVR HDPVR device channel list, if I could alter the inputs for the channels that support Dolby Digital, to use the optical digital input for audio, and the HDMI for video.

I changed some of the channels to use HDMI/SPDIF instead of HDMI/HDMI.
I had to re-enter the blast configs, as updating a channel forces this.

When I select a channel, the IR codes seem to flash, and can see my STB indicating it is receiving change channel command, but it is not sending the correct channel command, and my STB just changes to the last working channel.

I manually changed channels with my STB remote, and can confirm that it was indeed getting HDMI video, and Toslink Audio.
However, it messes up IR Blasting.

If I change the channel inputs back to HDMI/HDMI, then it changes channels properly again, and blasts normally.

I just wondered if there is some trick to overcome this?
I am editing an existing channel to change inputs, and wonder if nuking all the channels and configuring one at a time as new channels would make any difference?

I thought that was quite interesting, and wonder if the blasting weirdness was due to editing inputs as opposed to creating a brand new channel?

[mvallevand]

It is unclear what you are asking since SPDIF should still be AC3. Have to you tried setting up you STB to not pass through Dolby?

Martin

[BrettB]

I believe that the OP thinks the problem is with the audio between the STB and the Colossus. And they are trying to change how that works. However, I'm pretty sure that the problem is actually with the (non-working) clients. This is especially confirmed by the fact that the kodi clients work just fine with the audio format change.

Disclaimer: I'm not an expert here. Sub can provide more definitive answers.

Specifically for the NextPVR.exe client, when it begins to play a stream (either a recording or live TV), it looks at the audio format and builds a playback graph for that audio format. Essentially, it then expects that the audio format will remain the same for the full playback session. If the source audio format changes, the playback graph may not be able to decode the new audio format. As I recall there is a setting (may be only in config.xml) which tells NextPVR.exe to build the graph to include all audio formats supported. Turning that setting on may help--at least with the NextPVR.exe client.

[mvallevand]

Rereading that long first post I understand better what the OP wants, I just don't know anyone could manage this with two channels for one source as recording and selecting channels would be a nightmare, unless he wanted some channels not to be playable live on the Apple.

I am not sure it is client related as much a AC3 related, Kodi PVR doesn't permit AC3 pass through for this reason, I believe MrMC was forked before this change was in.

Martin

[three6zerocool]

>Rereading that long first post I understand better what the OP wants, I just don't know anyone could manage this with two channels for one source as recording and selecting channels >would be a nightmare, unless he wanted some channels not to be playable live on the Apple.

>I am not sure it is client related as much a AC3 related, Kodi PVR doesn't permit AC3 pass through for this reason, I believe MrMC was forked before this change was in.

>Martin


Very sorry for the long post. I was attempting to be very specific.

When Matrix 19 came along, things changed on my PC running NextPVR V5 server, and other clients running Kodi Matrix.
The channel changing between different audio types  became a non issue.

As you and others suggest, changing my STB's audio output to PCM resolves most issues for those other clients, but it seems a kind of step backwards to lose some content that contain
5.1 audio encoded as AC3.

Kodi treats SPDIF and Optical Digital as the same, so when I mentioned Toslink in my post, I am of course meaning SPDIF.
(the difference being an optical connection vs a copper wired connection)  The Colossus card has Optical Digital connections, and my STB does too.

I successfully managed to get NextPVR to accept  SPDIF audio instead of pulling it thru the same HDMI, however I encountered IR Blasting issues.

So, to clarify, I was asking if editing my channel source inputs from HDMI audio to SPDIF audio, could result in screwy IR blasting?
(and wondered if creating NEW channel lineup might resolve this?)

Sorry again for the confusion.

[mvallevand]

I think you are understandanbly confused  Kodi can output AC3 from PVR however the difference it is via PCM and not AC3 pass through.  I believe it is the AC3 pass through that it the problem as it needs a continuous signal.

PCM has no concept of channels or audio type. Think of it as a wav file

Martin

[three6zerocool]

 >I just don't know anyone could manage this with two channels for one source as recording and selecting channels >would be a nightmare, unless he wanted some channels not to be >playable live on the Apple.

I was wondering if I could edit STB channels that do contain AC3, to use SPDIF instead for audio input, with my STB audio output set to Dolby Digital over SPDIF.
Then every other STB channel would use PCM for audio input via the HDMI, with the STB set to output PCM over HDMI.

Was wondering if I created channels groups for the clients that do not handle the 5.1 channel change well, if I could define those channels to use HDMI audio (PCM)
And then on the Matrix clients, they would use 5.1 capable audio input. (SPDIF)

ie. AppleTV running MrMC would see STB channels containing HDMI audio input. (PCM) (avoiding audio switching issues)
Matrix clients would see STB channels containing SPDIF audio input. (5.1)
(Maintaining what I have now)

That is the crux of my enquiry.  Whether NextPVR supports this, or will make any difference when switching  STB channels is another question (grin)

[three6zerocool]

Oh,  ok...... thankyou for that clarification.

Was just a bit of a mad science experiment.

[three6zerocool]

I think I am indeed confused when it comes to Dolby Digital 5.1 vs PCM.

In my case, my AV Receiver lights up with a big blue light when it is receiving a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio signal, with scrolling text saying 'Dolby Digital 5.1' and also indicating '3:2:1' speaker assignments.

When changing my STB to 'PCM/Mpeg'  output, my AV receiver just says 'PCM'

Somehow, it's less... if you know what I mean.


All I notice is that when watching a recording from my STB when it was set to Dolby Digital,  I get 5.1 channel recording indicator in Kodi.
If I change the STB audio output to 'PCM/Mpeg', the result from recording a Dolby Digital 5.1 audio signal, is that Kodi reports '2 Channel AAC'

To be honest, apart from the visual indication of my AV Receiver, I still get audio from all my speakers.
But, am I getting true surround sound?

If I understand you correctly, instead of getting 2 channel Dolby Digital 5.1 encoded audio,  (which the receiver see's as DD 5.1 (AC3), I am instead getting 2 channels of PCM AAC audio, that my AV Receiver can matrix back into surround sound?.

Is that correct?.  (grin)     I think you can see my confusion?.

[mvallevand]

Toslink is always PCM whether it is 2:0 MPEG 2:0 AC3 or 5:1 AC3. The HDPVR is converting that to AAC or passing thru PCM as AC3. It can convert 2:0 MPEG to AC3. HDMI in North America can be MPEG or AC3 or even PCM depending on the STB. The HDPVR can convert that to AAC or potentially pass through AC3.

Kodi PVR is taking that signal and converting it to something TVs or stereos can understand. No receiver understands AAC so it is output is converted and then sent out using via your sound card or audio device in the Shield or Apple. Dolby AC3 signals can either be converted prior going to your audio device, output as raw PCM or passed through AC3. Kodi PVR doesn't send pass through AC3 because of the need for a continuous signal and lost sound you experience.

Martin