5.1 audio

[filburt1]

I have an Asus motherboard with a 5.1 codec built in. When I plugged its S/PDIF out into the coax input on my amp, I only get a 2.1 source (and I'm pretty sure the .1 is just being derived in real-time from a stereo signal).

How can I find out if it supports true 5.1 so gaming and such would be much better?

Screenshot of the mixer and prefs attached.

[ManagerJosh]

i think there is a bios setting that controls whether you want 5.1 sound or 2.1

[filburt1]

I couldn't find one. I also just installed the latest drivers from Asus for the P4P800 and no change.

I was searching around and it seems others have this problem, too, and that it might work in Windows 2000 but not XP, but I need XP for, among other things, official hyperthreading support.

[filburt1]

After fighting with WinDVD a bit, I got true 5.1 playing on the Matrix Reloaded DVD. Now to see if games work, although I still can't find a way to have music and such play though 5.1 without using ProLogic II on my receiver.

[filburt1]

The UT2k3 demo is only using the normal stereo, even with hardware 3D audio selected. While I doubt it would be true Dolby Digital because it would probably lack the LFE aspect, it's ridiculous how much work this is just to properly send the right signal...

[JAWilliams]

The Matrix Reloaded works because this is designed in 5.1

For normal CD's Mp3's etc to work, you need to upmix the sound to 5.1 - this is a feature of creative using CMSS, im not sure what the asus version is, or even if they have one

[filburt1]

But what about for games? Surely they are designed to take advantage of 5.1 (or at least 5.0) audio through computer 5.1 speakers (which are a cheap hack compared to pure digital 5.1--just three stereo analog connectors). I'm told Quake 3 should support 5.1 but it doesn't when I run it...neither does UT2k3.

I would consider getting an Audigy card to upgrade the sound, but it isn't exactly a high priority, I'm poor now with having to replace the parts of the computer that burnt up and whatnot, and I bought the motherboard that supports 5.1 and I want to use it.

[Joe Gronlund]

I have an Asus motherboard with a 5.1 codec built in. When I plugged its S/PDIF out into the coax input on my amp, I only get a 2.1 source (and I'm pretty sure the .1 is just being derived in real-time from a stereo signal).

How can I find out if it supports true 5.1 so gaming and such would be much better?

Screenshot of the mixer and prefs attached.

In a way your board does,, but you wont get the full affect of 5.1 or 7.1 without getting a soundcard like an Audigy 2 ZS platinum.
I got one and disabled my onboard sound,, and got a great deal on a pair of Altec 5100 Series 5 piece Speaker System with Dual Sub

Then today, i went down to Costco and grabbed a Plextor DVD-R, DVD-RW, 8 in 1 burner , PX-708A..

I gotta stop spending money,, need some to go to seattle in april

[Martz]

If you want a 2.0 source to be output into through your 5.1 system, use Dolby Prologic I or II. This is uses a matrix to guesstimate what should be sent to the the center and rear speakers - and it's okish.

Dolby Digital (5.1) provides 6 streams of audio instead of 2 streams like stereo, which means it can output directly to each of the respective channels, usually with a 10-20ms delay on the rear channels depending on your speaker placement. This gives far greater control over the sound and is a noticeable step up from Pro Logic.

I listen to CD's, MP3, mpeg, DivX and Play Station 2 in stereo, and DVD in DD5.1 and DTS. Pro Logic is awfull in comparisson

[IDN]

What is so great about the Creative sound cards? Personally i think they are crap, i tried getting my speakers to work on 3 different computers, on 3 different OS's with two different sound cards (SoundBlaster 5.1)

It worked fine when i used the normal Windows drivers, once i got 5.1 and installed their drivers, i never had my 5.1 sound for more then 10 minutes, the drivers always became corrupted and tech support couldn't help me, we tried everything.

I bought the Turtle Beach "Santa Cruz" and never looked back, use it with my Z-680 speakers and the sound is pure beauty. I turn my speakers on 6 Chanel and my sound software on "Virtual 5.1". I love it. Now i use my SB 5.1 card on my spare linux pc with $5 speakers and they work fine for that.

[JAWilliams]

I agree with that about Creative Sound Cards.

Although I have a Audigy 2 Platinum, and raved about it with all my friends - its not that great really..

At high volumes the sound becomes distorted, the sampling rate with all creative cards is 44k not 48k which everyone else in the world uses and there mediasource program is crap really and crashes 99% of the time.

However I will say I have better experiences with it than ppl I know who have the 5.1 card