Surround sound audio on PC?

[bogan]

So, I've got the basics down, audio from PC (mobo) to decoder (Z906), but I find myself flicking between upmixing setting on the decoder often. This is to convert a stereo signal to surround sound so it comes out all speakers; but then that blanks the other channels so when I go to watch a 5.1 movie or whatever center channel (often where speech is from) is not played.

Another issue is the Optical does not play 5.1 in any setting, so I've had to go 3x 3.5mm plugs; which gets a smidge of ground loop through another 3.5mm stereo plug I've got connected to my iPod.

So, what I'm looking for, is a sound card which will output 5.1 through the optical port if the computer is playing in 5.1 (newer movies and games), or if the computer is only playing from a stereo source (most of my music) it will clone or upmix some channels so the sound is played through all channels.

It seems the Asus Xonar DSX (PCIE sound card) might be good for a go, but I'm not sure on if I should expect it to auto the upmixing or not?

[Akzle]

ahh winblows.
If you had nix, youd write your own driver...

Im picking theres a batch file to be had for it. Im picking its a winblows thing. The sound manager in 7 was arse.

[Big Dog]

Have a look for an exe app on asus website. I have had 2 good sound cards from asus. Both required smart jack enabled in windows and an application.

If when you unplug speakers and plug in head phones something changes graphically smart jack is enabled.
The app is quite cumbersome in spite of its user friendly interface with more development on graphics than simplicity but it will dynamically switch modes as your inputs change.
It will also simulate more channels when playing back stereo via your 5:1 speaker system. .


Stupid phone / Tapatalk, apologies in advance.

[Tazz]

ahh winblows.
If you had nix, youd write your own driver...

Im picking theres a batch file to be had for it. Im picking its a winblows thing. The sound manager in 7 was arse.

^^

:brick:
I lost surround completely with 7 and run it all through an amp now to reduce hair loss.

[Akzle]

^^

:brick:
I lost surround completely with 7 and run it all through an amp now to reduce hair loss.

you still have to get it out of the computenator.
3x3.5 makes me shudder.
Stp oi. Stp.
But sort out optical, cos thats dsp to nam.
Digital coax is pretty horny too.

[bogan]

How is a batch file going to help?

[Akzle]

How is a batch file going to help?

dunno. isnt that what fixes winblows? (can you tell i give no fucks about it)
ie

if input=5.1 then=output
if input=mono, stereo, 2.1 then=upscale.msc > output

[Akzle]

the fuck it isn't. i just googled the cunt and it's exactly what i thought it was
A batch file is a type of script file in DOS, OS/2 and Windows. It consists of a series of commands to be executed by the command line interpreter, stored in a plain text file. A batch file

fucken windows users. couldn't fucken make a computer work if fucken mutter mutter hurrumf

[Tazz]

you still have to get it out of the computenator.
3x3.5 makes me shudder.
Stp oi. Stp.
But sort out optical, cos thats dsp to nam.
Digital coax is pretty horny too.

True. I should have kept quiet.<_< I'm way behind in the times for that. My mobo is newish and has some of that shit standard, but I still lever in my 2009?-ish Genius sound card :laugh: with it's 3.5 x 1 to RCA x 1 to the amp. It works 'shrug'




fucken windows users. couldn't fucken make a computer work if fucken mutter mutter hurrumf


http://www.motivationals.org/demotivational-posters/demotivational-poster-17934.jpg

[bogan]

dunno. isnt that what fixes winblows? (can you tell i give no fucks about it)
ie

if input=5.1 then=output
if input=mono, stereo, 2.1 then=upscale.msc > output


the fuck it isn't. i just googled the cunt and it's exactly what i thought it was

fucken windows users. couldn't fucken make a computer work if fucken mutter mutter hurrumf

No shit dumbarse, I have one running atm. But you can't use it to access/adjust audio streams like that. If you had anything better than a tin can and some string you'd probably realise you can't do it that way in linux either.

[Akzle]

No shit dumbarse, I have one running atm. But you can't use it to access/adjust audio streams like that. If you had anything better than a tin can and some string you'd probably realise you can't do it that way in linux either.

are you running vlc? you're not catching streams nigga. you're catching all shit sent to an hardware.

[Big Dog]

Try checking this is the right beast and looking for your problem or similar in these updates or just grab the most recent one.
http://www.asus.com/us/Sound_Cards_and_DigitaltoAnalog_Converters/Xonar_DX/HelpDesk_Download/
ASUS suck at getting these updates out into the wild, so much so there is a good chance you are running the default driver for windows rather than the one that should have been bundled with your sound card.

[Big Dog]

are you running vlc? you're not catching streams nigga. you're catching all shit sent to an hardware.

Good to see all the technical jargon being used...

[Akzle]

True. I should have kept quiet.<_< I'm way behind in the times for that. My mobo is newish and has some of that shit standard, but I still lever in my 2009?-ish Genius sound card :laugh: with it's 3.5 x 1 to RCA x 1 to the amp. It works 'shrug'



[CENTER][IMG]

yes. but you're absolutely tasteless and heathen when it comes to any kind of quality.
hell your shits probably all 128k mp3.

my stereo was the most expensive thing owned.

[Akzle]

so much so there is a good chance you are running the default driver for windows rather than the one that should have been bundled with your sound card.

dont think he's that retarded

[Akzle]

Good to see all the technical jargon being used...

i cunt be bothered explaining this shit.

[Big Dog]

All comes down to the weakest link in the chain... if your hardware is only 128k capable there is little or no point in running higher... unless you like upgrading other hardware....
I spend more time listening to music while riding or over bluetooth headphones, 256k is the absolute bottleneck. Reality is less than lounge room quality speakers you wont hear the difference.
I aint gonna fit 10k worth of speakers to my bike.

[Big Dog]

i cunt be bothered explaining this shit.

Then why bother posting at all?
Step away from the keyboard...

[raziel1983]

You could use some media software that has WASAPI which bypasses all the windows sound setup BS, I use Kodi on my HTPC and it does what your asking (upmixing etc), If you can be bothered with the setup/GUI.

[Big Dog]

dont think he's that retarded

You would be surprised how many "professional setups" I have attended to after the fact to find the reason it had stopped working was that it was still running the default driver and some update killed it.
Hell more than one all I had to do was plug the speakers or amp in to the power.

[Akzle]

All comes down to the weakest link in the chain... if your hardware is only 128k capable there is little or no point in running higher... unless you like upgrading other hardware....
I spend more time listening to music while riding or over bluetooth headphones, 256k is the absolute bottleneck. Reality is less than lounge room quality speakers you wont hear the difference.


he has optical out on his mobo by the sounds of it. he hearts computers and gayming, i don't think he's skimped on gear.

you need better headphones :D

I aint gonna fit 10k worth of speakers to my bike.pussy.

[Akzle]

You would be surprised how many "professional setups" I have attended to after the fact to find the reason it had stopped working was that it was still running the default driver and some update killed it.
Hell more than one all I had to do was plug the speakers or amp in to the power.

no. no i really wouldn't. peoples are fucking retarded. many dont deserve air.

i have an excellent moustache, btw.

[Big Dog]

no. no i really wouldn't. peoples are fucking retarded. many dont deserve air.

i have an excellent moustache, btw.

I moustache you why you thought that is relevant?

Re: headphones - nah, I need an ear upgrade before there is benefit to going to betters speakers.
Mind you my free bt head phones have an odd crackle on silence I have never taken the time to sort.

[bogan]

Try checking this is the right beast and looking for your problem or similar in these updates or just grab the most recent one.
http://www.asus.com/us/Sound_Cards_and_DigitaltoAnalog_Converters/Xonar_DX/HelpDesk_Download/
ASUS suck at getting these updates out into the wild, so much so there is a good chance you are running the default driver for windows rather than the one that should have been bundled with your sound card.

I think I worded my first post poorly, I have no card atm, but am thinking the Asus DSX would be a good choice; I've tried updating the mobo sound drivers too, no joy.


You could use some media software that has WASAPI which bypasses all the windows sound setup BS, I use Kodi on my HTPC and it does what your asking (upmixing etc), If you can be bothered with the setup/GUI.

Was hoping for a more low level solution, but that could be a good option if I don't find one, cheers.


All comes down to the weakest link in the chain... if your hardware is only 128k capable there is little or no point in running higher... unless you like upgrading other hardware....
I spend more time listening to music while riding or over bluetooth headphones, 256k is the absolute bottleneck. Reality is less than lounge room quality speakers you wont hear the difference.
I aint gonna fit 10k worth of speakers to my bike.

Not a fan of headphones myself, and situations where I might use them like exercise doesn't benefit from super dooper quality anyway. Most of my music is just mp3, 256k stuff but I've been getting flac where possible.

Pay arkzle no mind, he is just trying to be some sort of tech hipster but falls a little short on ability and usefulness.

[Tazz]

yes. but you're absolutely tasteless and heathen when it comes to any kind of quality.
hell your shits probably all 128k mp3.

my stereo was the most expensive thing owned.

128k! Too rich for my blood!

[Scuba_Steve]

he has optical out on his mobo by the sounds of it. he hearts computers and gayming, i don't think he's skimped on gear.


Except as per OP he skimped on Sound Card... Ain't gonna get no good sound using onboard


Creative are still in the game & doing fine as far as sound cards go too, just FYI... I haven't heard much bout the Asus sound cards but people seem to like most shit they do so I'm sure they're alright also (unless it's just a brand loyalty brainwash going on which is also highly possible)

[bogan]

Except as per OP he skimped on Sound Card... Ain't gonna get no good sound using onboard


Creative are still in the game & doing fine as far as sound cards go too, just FYI... I haven't heard much bout the Asus sound cards but people seem to like most shit they do so I'm sure they're alright also (unless it's just a brand loyalty brainwash going on which is also highly possible)

The quality of sound is fine, it is the functionality of automatically swapping between stereo upmixed and 5.1 depending on the source I am missing; and I'm not sure sound cards do this anyway.

[bogan]

Managed to get it working now. Got a modified Realtek driver to give me more option with digital output, and turned on dolby home theatre in the sound options tab. Still a little quieter in the rear I think but pretty good overall.

[jonbuoy]

Surround Sound drives me nuts on modern movies - even with proper surround amps the talking is way too quiet and the special effects are way too loud. Even "Night Modes" don´t seem to help much. Constantly up and down on the volume control.

[Akzle]

Managed to get it working now. Got a modified Realtek driver

pretty sure i just won the thread. Post#2.

[Akzle]

Mind you my free bt head phones have an odd crackle on silence I have never taken the time to sort.

thats the sound of the universe coming through.

[bogan]

pretty sure i just won the thread. Post#2.

Pretty sure it was neither of the things you suggested, in that or any other post.

[Akzle]

i said write a driver/hardware cap .bat
You got one written for you.
Pretty sure it was all things i said in post 2.

[bogan]

i said write a driver/hardware cap .bat
You got one written for you.
Pretty sure it was all things i said in post 2.

If it was linux... which it isn't... and the driver wasn't written by or even for me, it was modified by some other dudes to increase functionality over the digital out. Nor was any batch file used because that is not even close to what batch files do.

But I guess when you're not very computer savvy you have to claim anything as a victory, right :facepalm:

[Big Dog]

If it was linux... which it isn't... and the driver wasn't written by or even for me, it was modified by some other dudes to increase functionality over the digital out. Nor was any batch file used because that is not even close to what batch files do.

But I guess when you're not very computer savvy you have to claim anything as a victory, right :facepalm:

It happened on planet earth... which makes him right...:doh:

[Big Dog]

thats the sound of the universe coming through.

Sure it's not the NSA trying to brainwash me with whitenoise?