More > JRiver Media Center 23 for Windows
Request change in handling of multi-channel
RD James:
--- Quote from: BillT on February 11, 2018, 12:42:53 pm ---The 861 doesn't have HDMI inputs so can't be directly connected. That's what the HD621 is for.
--- End quote ---
Ah, I didn't realize that.
I would try playing a track with 5.1 channels selected, and make note of the output in Audio Path; e.g. 24-bit (Padded).
Then use those settings manually in Tools > Options > Audio > Device Settings and see if that gets "Source Number of Channels" working.
If it still isn't working, try disabling WASAPI Event Style.
I wouldn't expect that to be the problem, since it works when a 5.1 output is selected, but it's already strange that selecting 5.1 works, when playing a 5.1 track and selecting "Source Number of Channels" does not.
kr4:
--- Quote from: BillT on February 11, 2018, 12:42:53 pm ---The 861 doesn't have HDMI inputs so can't be directly connected. That's what the HD621 is for.
--- End quote ---
That is true but the connections between the 861 and the 621 are software-based and their nature is determined by the Meridian set-up program. In effect, then, the HD621 "knows" the features of the 861 connections.
RoderickGI:
The Meridian 861V8 does have a USB input though, so the Meridian HD621 could be eliminated from the audio chain for testing by using that, direct connecting the MC PC to the Meridian 861V8. I have to assume that there is a USB driver for the Meridian 861V8 if it has a USB input, or more likely that it would be detected as a USB Audio device if connected. It might need some configuration using MConfig though.
Of course, the issue could be with the Meridian 861V8 itself, selecting an input profile and sticking to it, or telling MC it is a Stereo device even though it could change to a Mch device.
Or if you are not willing to try a USB connection and you have another device connected to the Meridian HD621 via a second HDMI port:
1. Set MC to use "Source number of channels".
2. Play a stereo file and check that the Meridian 861V8 recognises the input and switches on its DSP. Stop playback or wait until it finishes.
3. With the other HDMI turned on, switch the HD621 to the input for that device.
4. Wait one minute to ensure that the HDMI connection completes its handshake correctly.
5. Switch the HD621 back to the MC PC HDMI input.
6. Wait one minute to ensure that the HDMI connection completes its handshake correctly.
7. Play a Mch file from MC to the HD621 and check if the Meridian 861V8 recognises the input and plays the file without trying to activate its DSP.
Did that work? Or did you see the MC message about selecting stereo output?
kr4:
--- Quote from: RoderickGI on February 12, 2018, 07:56:40 pm ---The Meridian 861V8 does have a USB input though, so the Meridian HD621 could be eliminated from the audio chain for testing by using that, direct connecting the MC PC to the Meridian 861V8. I have to assume that there is a USB driver for the Meridian 861V8 if it has a USB input, or more likely that it would be detected as a USB Audio device if connected. It might need some configuration using MConfig though.
--- End quote ---
The USB input will not support multichannel. If it had, I would probably have kept it.
--- Quote ---Of course, the issue could be with the Meridian 861V8 itself, selecting an input profile and sticking to it, or telling MC it is a Stereo device even though it could change to a Mch device.
--- End quote ---
Not if all is working as it should. I used the 861v8/HD621 (HDMI) for years with my PC-based server running MC. It distinguished stereo from MCH all the time without any change in connection or configuration.
RoderickGI:
If it worked for you with Mch files, and without MC asking to switch 5.1 audio to stereo, then maybe there is a problem with the setup of tbng's Meridian 861V8. There does seem to be a lot of options and settings in MConfig.
MC doesn't ask to switch to stereo unless it thinks the output device is a stereo only device.
In fact I tried to create the error tbng has reported, which I'm sure I have seen before and specifically asks a user if MC can switch to stereo output, and I couldn't on my stereo system. Windows kept taking my 5.1 output and downmixing it to stereo, or just playing the first two channels only, without any message from MC. Even though I had Exclusive Access turned on for my motherboard soundcard connected to stereo speakers and set as stereo in Windows Playback Devices configuration.
The best I could do was to get the "Something went wrong with playback" message, which only occurred with;
In Media Center:
Source Number of channels (No upmixing or downmixing).
No output encoding.
Open Device for Exclusive Access turned on.
EDIT: "Options > Audio > Advanced > Auto configure output settings on playback error" set to: Ask. (Maybe that function isn't working at the moment? I should be prompted to changed settings on the error below.)
In the Windows Playback device:
Configured as a Stereo device.
Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device off. (So MC tries to take control and can't.)
I then get the error below. Note that I was using a 5.1 Movie file to test, as I don't have a 5.1 audio file on my stereo workstation here.
So tbng, could you produce the error message you get when you try to play a Mch file to the Meridian HD621 and post an image of it here? Ta.
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