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[benn600]

I recently built two identical HTPCs.  I intentionally got very nice HTPC cases with a motherbord that has:

Video: VGA, DVI, HDMI, Component, S-Video, (& composite with converter)
Audio: Optical & analog

So these boxes have everything I could ever need onboard.  I wanted the price as low as possible because these are sort of like DVD players and essentially are the only set top box needed for our televisions.  They provide access to our media (through MC).

I'm finally spending some time in our theater trying to figure out multi channel audio.  Now our receiver shows the input channels so I know what it's getting.  Initially it was only ever getting 2 channel (with no settings adjustments).  (Using optical audio and VGA to projector)

So I look at the sound card settings and it has two DTS settings that I can turn on.  When I turn them on, I see a noticeable delay in the audio of perhaps up to 1/4 of a second but it is very noticeable.

Also, with previous optical sound cards, I notice what the receiver gets varies depending on what is playing.  So if nothing is playing, the receiver gets nothing (and it says that).  But this seems to always send 5.1.  It's frustrating because I've looked through all the settings and can't seem to figure it out.

Perhaps I need a better DVD decoder, too.  I'm using CCCP now and am completely at a loss for a satisfactory DVD decoder that just works and is fast and efficient.  PowerDVD always seemed to work quite well for my needs but it is bad for a lot of reasons.

Any help would be appreciated.

[raym]

So I look at the sound card settings and it has two DTS settings that I can turn on.  When I turn them on, I see a noticeable delay in the audio of perhaps up to 1/4 of a second but it is very noticeable.

Turn these settings off! If you're using optical out to your receiver you just want straight spdif passthru. Don't let the sound card drivers or associated software manipulate what is sent to your receiver in any way. This is why you're getting strange results.

I'm assuming your receiver does DD/DTS decoding? Otherwise, forget what I just said.

[benn600]

Well, it is a Yamaha 7.1 receiver and it has DTS, Dolby, and tons of other lights.  So yes, I'm sure it does.

But where would I look for a direct pass through?  That sounds perfect to me.  If I leave the two DTS options off, it only ever sends stereo.

I like nothing to be sent when nothing is playing...so the receiver shows no input.  That's how I know it's really working great.

[benn600]

I'm not sure where else to look.  It has the Realtek HD audio manager.  It is overly colored and round.  Am I alone in hating overly prettified interfaces?  I'd rather have checkboxes for most things instead of these colored buttons that get darker/lighter when enabled.  They should spend less time on the interface and more time on adding fundamental functionality and better hardware.

[raym]

But where would I look for a direct pass through?  That sounds perfect to me.  If I leave the two DTS options off, it only ever sends stereo.

What codecs/filters are you using? Play a DVD and make sure you've selected a DD or DTS soundtrack (otherwise yes, you will only get a PCM stereo stream). While the dvd is playing, right click and choose "Directshow filters..." to see what filters are loaded. In my case, I use Cyberlink decoders for dvd playback and I see one for the video stream and one for the audio stream. From the same context menu, if I click on the filter for audio, a settings dialog appears. In that, there is a checkbox for spdif passthrough. Most audio/video filters can be configured in this way. That's where you should look! 

[benn600]

It may be passing it through but I don't like how the receiver always shows getting input instead of no input when nothing is playing (which previous sound cards did).

[jmone]

I also have a Yami Receiver (V2700) and it can take my HTPC output (Shuttle SG33G5) one of three ways (pending on your Yami Model):
- HDMI: Great option as it can transfer all the know formats (if V1.3) and even if your Yami can not decode the newer HD codecs from Dolby / DTS you should be able to use your HTPC to decode them and transfer as Multichannel PCM.
- S/PDIF: Good option but it is limited to a max of 2chPCM / DD / DTS (no Multichannel PCM or any of the newer HD formats)
- Analoge: OK option where you use your card to do the decoding and output each channel from your sound card via 3 x 3.5mm to RCA leads.  Most Yami receivers only have one set of analoge in.  The coding should be as follows for computers ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_and_video_connector ) :

green TRS 3.5mm stereo output, front channels
black TRS 3.5mm stereo output, rear channels
grey TRS 3.5mm stereo output, side channels
gold TRS 3.5mm dual output, center and subwoofer
blue TRS 3.5mm stereo input, line level
pink TS 3.5mm mono microphone input


Nathan

[benn600]

So what are you saying about SPDIF vs. HDMI?  Our projector uses VGA so I have to use optical.  But you're saying it is only capable of 2 channel?  I know that is not true so what are you trying to say?

[jmone]

S/PDIF will do multi channel DD or DTS, but only 2ch PCM

[benn600]

And DVDs use PCM?  Isn't the HDMI cable just video with the digital audio onboard?  Of course I don't know if the motherboard is smart enough to send the audio down the HDMI cable.  Do motherboards usually do this?  Besides, like I said I don't have HDMI on our projector.

What's a guy to do?

[jmone]

If you don't have HDMI equipment then don't worry....stick with S/PDIF.  HDMI audio support becomes more of a topic as you add Blu-ray / HD-DVD at which point you get new formats that can not be transmitted over S/PDIF.