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Author Topic: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files  (Read 2749 times)

soleil

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First of all, it is nice to give the 'audio path' info in MC17. Good Job !!!

I have a buch of 5.1ch DTS audio files with 16bit-44.1kHz in either DTS or WAV format.
When I playback these DTS files I found something strange.
The tag infomation (ch & bit) listed in the tag window is different from the input info shown in the audio-path.

The one I playback must be 6ch-16bit (I checked it with foobar).
The MC17 tag info, however, tells it is 2ch-16bit while the input info in audio path tells 6ch-32bit.
Furthermore, since the input is 32bit and the output is set to 24bit,
audio path gives a warning 'not using enough bits to output input directly.'
(I set up the bitdepth to 24bit in DPS because of my reciever (ONKYO TX608-SR) limit.)

There is nothing wrong with sound. MC17 delivers a nice 5.1ch surround sound to my 5.1ch-speaker system.
I just like to know what is going on regarding to MC17 tag info and audio path.

I do have some other multi-channel SACD audio files in flac format and they shows the correct and the same tag and audio path info.
This weird thing happens only in the case of 5.1ch 16bit-44.1kHz DTS audio files.

For your understanding, here is a screen capture of 5.1ch DTS audio playback image.


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Matt

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2011, 04:32:47 pm »

The issue is that the decoder for DTS outputs 32-bit.  There isn't really a bit-depth for lossy encoding.  For example, Media Center uses 64bit for MP3 decoding.

Lossy formats that use native input plugins (like MP3), tell the audio path they're lossy.  It looks like DTS needs a similar thing.
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Matt Ashland, JRiver Media Center

soleil

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2011, 09:49:27 pm »

The issue is that the decoder for DTS outputs 32-bit.  There isn't really a bit-depth for lossy encoding.  For example, Media Center uses 64bit for MP3 decoding.

Lossy formats that use native input plugins (like MP3), tell the audio path they're lossy.  It looks like DTS needs a similar thing.

Thanks for your clear explanation on bit-depth meaning in DTS decoding.
However, what about the wrong ch number issue in the MC17 tag info?
The MC17 tag info on ch does NOT match with the input info in the audio path.
Fortunately, the MC17 recognizes the right ch numbers for DTS decoding as shown in the audio path.
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Matt

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2011, 09:53:25 pm »

DTS is a hacky format.  It looks exactly like 44.1 kHz 2-channel WAV.

When decoded to PCM for playback, it's 6 channel.

So the channel count could be different depending on what you're describing.
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Matt Ashland, JRiver Media Center

soleil

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2011, 10:20:00 pm »

DTS is a hacky format.  It looks exactly like 44.1 kHz 2-channel WAV.

When decoded to PCM for playback, it's 6 channel.

So the channel count could be different depending on what you're describing.

OK. I understand what you mean.  :)
"Don't believe what you see... but believe what you hear". Right, Matt?

I did a simple test... converting 5.1ch DTS into WAV format without any DSP using foobar.
MC17, both tag and audio path input, tell the right(?) ch and bit info in 5.1ch WAV decoding.  ;D

Once again, thanks a lot, Matt.
Have a nice day.... from Korea.

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dmm

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2012, 10:29:56 pm »

The issue is that the decoder for DTS outputs 32-bit.  There isn't really a bit-depth for lossy encoding.  For example, Media Center uses 64bit for MP3 decoding.

Lossy formats that use native input plugins (like MP3), tell the audio path they're lossy.  It looks like DTS needs a similar thing.

I just started using MC17.  Previously I was using MC16 and dts files playing via BITSTREAMING worked fine (after a bit of config/troubleshooting). Now with MC17 when I try and play .dts files I get a pop up asking me to accept automatic config output format with DSP studio and then MC17 crashes with out allowing me to change anything.  The issue I believe is that my digital out does not support 32 bit, only 24max.

In the MC17 reconfig dialog box it says that it is trying to output 41khz 6 channels 32 bits.

dts inside wav and wma works fine.

What is the recommended setup to get .dts files to bitstream?
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Matt

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2012, 10:31:55 pm »

What is the recommended setup to get .dts files to bitstream?

Use Options > Video > Bitstreaming to configure the bitstreaming.

Normally you would pick S/PDIF or HDMI, depending the type of connection you're using.

Or use DSP Studio > Output Format > 2 channels to downmix the DTS (or anything else) to a format your stereo accepts.  Or mix to 5.1 and output as Dolby Digital (also on the Output Format page) if you have a 5.1 setup.
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Matt Ashland, JRiver Media Center

dmm

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2012, 05:43:33 am »

Use Options > Video > Bitstreaming to configure the bitstreaming.

Normally you would pick S/PDIF or HDMI, depending the type of connection you're using.

Or use DSP Studio > Output Format > 2 channels to downmix the DTS (or anything else) to a format your stereo accepts.  Or mix to 5.1 and output as Dolby Digital (also on the Output Format page) if you have a 5.1 setup.

I have extensively tried playing with the  Options > Video > Bitstreaming settings.  Still broken, I get static.

My goal is pure bitperfect bitstreaming.  I would rather not go thru a decode/recode step so I am prefer not to use DSP Studio > Output Format > 2 channels to downmix the DTS.

Any other ideas?
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dmm

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Re: Something strange in MC17 tag and audio path info on 5.1ch dts audio files
« Reply #8 on: February 10, 2012, 08:27:36 am »

Ok I got my dts issues fixed on my own.  I started a new thread since I did not want to bog down this thread with the details.

http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=69945.0
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