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Author Topic: How to setup HTPC for both 2 channel audio with WASAPI and BluRay with DirectSound?  (Read 6095 times)

sounerfan

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I realize I'm weird and want the best of both worlds.  The computer audiophile guys recommend setting JRiver up with WASAPI event style for bit perfect 2 channel audio.  Problem is when you through a BD in there, your audio is not bit streamed for HD audio.  Is there an easy to do this with a HTPC next to physically changing the output in JRiver every time I want to do something different?  Thanks.

John
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Matt

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What type of hardware do you have?

If you have an HTPC, it's probably best to decode on the PC (not bitstream) and send uncompressed PCM over the HDMI to your receiver.  This works well for audio and video.
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Matt Ashland, JRiver Media Center

hillsrhere

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Hi,

Apologies if this isn't the correct thread to hop onto; my first time using this forum, and I've thoroughly searched around the forums first.

I'm trying (before buying) JRiver. Love the SACD ISO playback...the primary reason for using this on my Media PC, Win7. Got a Marantz receiver connected via HDMI.

My problem is getting multi-channel audio into my surround receiver. No matter what audio setting I've tried (and I've tried them all I think!) WASAPI should work, as the prior post points out not for 5.1?)
The JRiver error message of "2-Ch only supported" playback appears every time when set to Source default or 5.1 (playback of 5.1 SACD material) my HDMI card supports 192kHz/24-bit multi-channel. It works when playing 96/24 5.1 DVD-A's with VLC. Sounds glorious.  Control Panel - Sound setup is configured for 5.1 and test signals are ok from the Win7 settings.....what am I doing wrong?  Cheers guys, Sean.
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Matt

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Welcome hillsrhere.

Just to be sure, is two channel audio (like a simple CD rip) playing nicely?

If so, what happens when you pick "5.1 channels" or "7.1 channels" in DSP Studio > Output Format > Channels and play the same simple CD?
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Matt Ashland, JRiver Media Center

sounerfan

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Matt,

How do I accomplish this in JRiver?  I'm currently using Media player classic for Blu-ray.  JRiver does not want to play .m2ts files.  I understand the need for decoding with DirectSound for the HD audio.  Do I have to manually go into JRiver options to change something everytime I want to listen to 2 channel audio?

Thanks,

John
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Vocalpoint

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If you have an HTPC, it's probably best to decode on the PC (not bitstream) and send uncompressed PCM over the HDMI to your receiver.  This works well for audio and video.

I am soon to be in the same boat. I finally have a shopping list together for the HTPC. But...

1. I want MC to playback full multichannel HD video (MKV) using the HTPC HDMI connection to my Pioneer Elite receiver
2. I want MC to playback 2 channel analog using the HTPC optical connection to send digital to my DAC via my Creek integrated.

Looks like I will need to switch audio outputs back and forth in this case? Can output be switched via remote like Gizmo or JRemote or will I need to use RDP to switch inputs on the PC each time. My HTPC will not have any keyboard or mouse attached.

VP
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mojave

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I am soon to be in the same boat. I finally have a shopping list together for the HTPC. But...

1. I want MC to playback full multichannel HD video (MKV) using the HTPC HDMI connection to my Pioneer Elite receiver
2. I want MC to playback 2 channel analog using the HTPC optical connection to send digital to my DAC via my Creek integrated.

Looks like I will need to switch audio outputs back and forth in this case? Can output be switched via remote like Gizmo or JRemote or will I need to use RDP to switch inputs on the PC each time. My HTPC will not have any keyboard or mouse attached.

VP
You need to setup two zones and use the new ZoneSwitch feature for automatic playback to the correct zone.

Setup a second zone by right clicking Playing Now and clicking Add Zone. Name one zone Music and one zone Movies. Select the Music zone and in Options > Audio select your optical audio device. Select the Movie zone and in Options > Audio select your HDMI audio device. Set the correct settings in Output Format and make sure Output Format is checked. For HDMI you usually want 5.1 or 7.1 and 24 bit. You can also setup the Room Correction DSP for each.

Now go to Player > Zones > ZoneSwitch. Click the checkbox "enable ZoneSwitch." Click add and then create two rules:  one for Music and one for Movies. I use the media type tag and send TV and Video to the Movies zone and Audio to the Music zone. I also make sure to stop playback in the other zone.

Once setup, whether you select music or movies, they will always play in the correct zone with the output you have designated.
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mojave

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Matt,

How do I accomplish this in JRiver?  I'm currently using Media player classic for Blu-ray.  JRiver does not want to play .m2ts files.  I understand the need for decoding with DirectSound for the HD audio.  Do I have to manually go into JRiver options to change something everytime I want to listen to 2 channel audio?

Thanks,

John
You don't need DirectSound for HD Audio. You can still output however you want. You may need to go to Tools > Options > File Types and make sure JRiver is associated with m2ts files. This is listed under Video as AVCHD Video. Post back if you need more help.
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Vocalpoint

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You need to setup two zones and use the new ZoneSwitch feature for automatic playback to the correct zone.

Setup a second zone by right clicking Playing Now and clicking Add Zone. Name one zone Music and one zone Movies. Select the Music zone and in Options > Audio select your optical audio device. Select the Movie zone and in Options > Audio select your HDMI audio device. Set the correct settings in Output Format and make sure Output Format is checked. For HDMI you usually want 5.1 or 7.1 and 24 bit. You can also setup the Room Correction DSP for each.

Now go to Player > Zones > ZoneSwitch. Click the checkbox "enable ZoneSwitch." Click add and then create two rules:  one for Music and one for Movies. I use the media type tag and send TV and Video to the Movies zone and Audio to the Music zone. I also make sure to stop playback in the other zone.

Once setup, whether you select music or movies, they will always play in the correct zone with the output you have designated.

Awesome!

Is this a v17 feature or v18 only?

VP
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mojave

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ZoneSwitch is only in V18.
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Vocalpoint

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ZoneSwitch is only in V18.

I have moved my first machine to v18 and I am testing for the next few days.

Next Q: Can I set up Zone Switch on a specific machine (a client within a Media Server layout?)

Now that I have my HTPC parts on their way - I want to be able to use Zoneswitch on this new PC (and only this PC) since it will be the only one of 5 that will need to switch zones between multichannel video (movies) and 2 channel audio. All other machines here just do basic stereo audio.

Here's hoping...

Cheers,

VP
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