More > JRiver Media Center 27 for Mac
Multichannel flac playback fails, outputs only stereo. Need help.
pscott:
I've tried changing the "Channels" to 5.1 and 7.1, as well as "same as source". I know to only change settings when sound is not playing. I can even quit and restart MC, and Output setting are saved UNTIL I start playback of the 6-channel flac. The output is converted to stereo when played, and when I reload the Output settings, "Channels" has reverted to 2 channels (stereo). The multichannel setting (source, 5.1, or 7.1) is saved until a sound plays, and then it reverts to stereo, after being played back converted to stereo. I if channels was set to "source", that change to setting only occur when I play the 6-channel file. Otherwise, setting is changed to stereo even when I play a stereo sound. The DSP Studio output setting just don't seen to matter or stick when I play a multichannel flac file.
Don't think my TV has any channel setting but I'll check. I've also examined setting in receive related to "hdmi control", which can allow for TV audio to be sent BACK via hdmi, but that's explicitly disabled in my Yahama setting, the hdmi output from TV is "off".
pscott:
There's no 5.1 setting for the TV -- it's just a TV. I CAN turn the TV's speaker "ON" and then allow for some kind of surround format for the TV (can't imagine what that means for a TV speaker), but that doesn't change anything for MC playback.
BTW -- My Yahama receiver has a "straight" setting that bypasses sound processing. (The receiver has a lot of build-in programs for processing synthesized surround.) The display on the front of the Yamaha shows the input channels of the receiver. Only the front 2 (stereo) speakers are active when I'm playing from MC. In contrast, the Yamaha displays 5 active speakers when VLC plays a video with surround sound.
pscott:
Guess MC can't do accurate playback of my 24-bit flac surround flac files, after all. :(.
I've run out of ideas, unless/until somebody can suggest another MC option to try.
RoderickGI:
--- Quote from: wer on October 14, 2020, 06:17:51 pm ---Hmmm. Ok, I think I have to admit you've got me.
--- End quote ---
You were on the correct track Wer. It is an HDMI issue.
--- Quote from: psychoscott on October 14, 2020, 08:10:39 pm ---Guess MC can't do accurate playback of my 24-bit flac surround flac files, after all. :(.
--- End quote ---
Of course it can, when set up correctly and playing to a device capable of playing surround.
Set "Options > Audio > Advanced > Auto configure output settings on playback error:" to "Ask".
Now when you try to play a surround flac file, MC will popup a message saying it can't play that and asking if you want to convert to stereo to play it. This will highlight the issue for you.
You are outputting via HDMI, your Samsung TV is the HDMI endpoint, and your TV is reporting that it is a stereo only device. Hence, when you try to play 6 channels to the TV, MC knows it can't do that. TV's that support "Surround" sound typically take a stereo signal and upmix it.
If you can't tell your TV it is a multichannel device, then maybe you can get the Yamaha receiver to act as the HDMI endpoint. I believe recent models have a setting for that, although it is a bit of an obscure setting. Your Yamaha RXV-685 AV receiver looks like it might have such a setting though. It might be the "Setting the output of HDMI audio from the TV speaker" setting shown on page 116 of the manual. Turn that off. If no audio is being output to the TV, then the receiver may correctly become the HDMI endpoint.
If you can't get the receiver to become the HDMI endpoint and report that it support multiple channels, you will need to use a HDMI EDID spoofing device, such as HDMI Doctor or similar, so that MC knows it can play surround to your receiver.
I assume that you actually have speakers connected to the Yamaha and play all audio out through those.
I believe VLC ignores the HDMI endpoint information, and just plays what you tell it to play. MC tries to do better.
wer:
Yes, I know all this (and Rod knows I know) but my unfamiliarity with mac and the VLC results make me suspicious.
The HDMI handshaking and EDID processing should be done by the a/v driver. If the OS thinks the output is 2 channel, which it is obviously reporting to MC, then I wonder why VLC is behaving differently. I'm suspicious of my own diagnosis.
That's why I was saying disconnect the tv and reboot everything. The TV is the HDMI sink. I am familiar with Yamaha gear. I have Yamaha myself. The Yamaha would be reporting 7.1 unless the sink is saying otherwise. Testing without the TV connected, and after rebooting the mac and the Yamaha to ensure fresh EDID would prove this.
If you get multichannel output in such a test, then you would either need to fix your TV, or get a dongle like Dr HDMI to lie about the EDID to the mac.
But I just want proof of the diagnosis.
Have you tried playing a dvd or bluray rip with multichannel audio? Just to prove there's nothing odd about your flac file...
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