5.1 surround on dvd playback

[Bluethunder]

I'm running a Digimatrix HTPC, and have gotten just about everything working, except DVD Play back.

It plays the video ok, but only in stereo. This is hooked up to my SP/DIF optical port.

Now, if I play the same video in power dvd, I get full surround.

I've tried changing the dvd play back options, and still only get stereo.

My options
Video Decoder: Default, Intervideo decoder, and Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder
AudioDecoder: Default, AC3Filter, MPEG AUdio Decoder, Cyberlink, and Intervideo decoders,
Audio Renderer: Default, Soundmax Digital Audio, Default Direct sound device, Default Waveout device, and Directsound: Soundmax Digital Audio

I'm at a loss why I can't get surround working.

TIA, Joe

[psycik]

Use the cyberlink audio decoder - and video or it tends to get a bit snippy.

That's all I ended up having to do. Especially if you're getting the 5.1 out of power dvd.

Oh and it needs to be version 5+ of PowerDVD

[csy]

There are several points here.

1. If you are using the OEM version of PowerDVD, then this only has the Cyberlink stereo decoder and has surround sound effects enabled which spreads the stereo signal around all the surround speakers (emulating surround sound but actually only stereo). You need the full version of PowerDVD to get true DD5.1 decoding

2. When gbpvr uses video and audio decoders, it uses their default configuration parameters (independant to the player they originated from), therefore if you have the full-version of PowerDVD that has the DD5.1 decoding capability, gbpvr will still only output stereo on 2 speakers because that is the Cyberlink audio decoder default. You need to apply a registry patch which tells the decoder what configuration to use when being used within gbpvr. Search the forum for the correct registry settings for your requirements (I have seen a couple of previous posts regarding Cyberlink 5.1 SPDIF output).

3. Selecting a particular decoder in the gbpvr config only works if ALL the decoders have similiar DirectShow "merit" value (priority of use). Many decoders are by default installed with high or must use merit, then they will always be used irrespective of what you select in gbpvr config. i have found a good way to prove what decoders are actually being used is to use graphedit utility and use it to open lastgraph.grf within the gbpvr directory. This will show you what gbpvr is using. If you need to reduce the merit of unwanted decoders, then use something like Radlight Filter Manager to adjust the merit values.

4. Make sure your soundcard is outputing the full 6 or 8 channels on its SPDIF output (if applicable).

Hope this helps

[Bluethunder]

There are several points here.

1. If you are using the OEM version of PowerDVD, then this only has the Cyberlink stereo decoder and has surround sound effects enabled which spreads the stereo signal around all the surround speakers (emulating surround sound but actually only stereo). You need the full version of PowerDVD to get true DD5.1 decoding

2. When gbpvr uses video and audio decoders, it uses their default configuration parameters (independant to the player they originated from), therefore if you have the full-version of PowerDVD that has the DD5.1 decoding capability, gbpvr will still only output stereo on 2 speakers because that is the Cyberlink audio decoder default. You need to apply a registry patch which tells the decoder what configuration to use when being used within gbpvr. Search the forum for the correct registry settings for your requirements (I have seen a couple of previous posts regarding Cyberlink 5.1 SPDIF output).

3. Selecting a particular decoder in the gbpvr config only works if ALL the decoders have similiar DirectShow "merit" value (priority of use). Many decoders are by default installed with high or must use merit, then they will always be used irrespective of what you select in gbpvr config. i have found a good way to prove what decoders are actually being used is to use graphedit utility and use it to open lastgraph.grf within the gbpvr directory. This will show you what gbpvr is using. If you need to reduce the merit of unwanted decoders, then use something like Radlight Filter Manager to adjust the merit values.

4. Make sure your soundcard is outputing the full 6 or 8 channels on its SPDIF output (if applicable).

Hope this helps

Thanks very much for the info. I have given up on power dvd decoders thanks to what you said. I was using the OEM Powerdvd XP that came with my drive, it has been uninstalled

I tried the Nvidia Puredvd, and used its built in setup to activate SPDIF and 5.1. Worth the $, to save the hours are farting around.

Now I can move onto getting girder set up, and auto login/startup running.

Joe

[McBainUK]

This thread has given me a kick . I have been meaning to get 5.1 working on my machine (shuttle onboard 5.1 out to basic creative 5.1 speakers) for ages.

I'm also using PowerDVD OEM (can't remember the version off hand). Is there a way of making this 5.1, or is there an alternative version / program I could use? Maybe this?

If I go down the route of NVIDA pure DVD (as I have a gefocre mx and can also take advantage of the 30day trial to test) would this handle both the MPEG video and audio decoding? I also have artifacts at the bottom of live/recorded TV, do you think this would sort this too? It's only £16 so quite cheap if it fixes everything.

[csy]

With respect to upgrading PowerDVD, you either need the full-version, or alternatively if you only require the decoders (for gbpvr), then download the Cole2K codec pack which contains the full version decoders and search this forum for the gbpvr registry patch for the Cyberlink decoders. However please note that while the decoders work fully on gbpvr, PowerDVD OEM spits the dummy and will not work correctly with the full version decoders.

[McBainUK]

With respect to upgrading PowerDVD, you either need the full-version, or alternatively if you only require the decoders (for gbpvr), then download the Cole2K codec pack which contains the full version decoders and search this forum for the gbpvr registry patch for the Cyberlink decoders.

Ok I went for the codec2k option. All the reg patches I've found on the forums are about enabling spdif 5.1 out but I need 5.1 from the built-in soundcard to my PC speakers.

Any ideas?

[psycik]

Does your motherboard take a Spdif bracket??

My Gigabyte motherboard had an optional bracket that connected to the mobo and had a optical and digital coax plug on it for hooking up to the receiver.

[McBainUK]

Its got built in Spdif out, but I have no reciever. Its got a 5.1 sound integrated sound card which does 5.1 in games, just need to enable it by default when using gbpvr. But how :confused:

[psycik]

Oh, and you plug into a 5.1 speaker system??

For my one I had to tell windows, and the audio decoder to just pass through to the SPDIF port. My Decoder was cyberlink so I went into power dvd and changed it there, that carried over. And for windows it was somewhere in the control panel, sound etc.

I can't remember if I had to do any of the reg hacks that are discussed in some of the forums for the cyberlink. I probably tried those as well.

Certainly was much easier getting this going on windows than when I had to try and do it on the MythTv (linux) based system