sound issues with windows media centre

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toonttm

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# 39434 13-Aug-2009 18:05

I'm back again...just set up a HVR-2200 card attached to the sky decoder. Getting all channels using the S-video input and the 3.5mm audio input jack.

I have a Logitech 5.1 speaker system. Initally it would only give me 2 speakers. I have since found the setup in media player and I changed it to 5.1. It tested all speakers and they all went with adequate volume. But, when I try and watch live-TV I have to turn the Logitech controller up to full volume to get any audio. There is also a lot of hissing.

I put the 3.5mm jack directly to the sound card and that gives me the audio level I expect which is fine if I am watching it live. But if I record I once again get very low audio volume. (This setup is also a pain as if I am doing anything else I get the Sky audio signal in the background).

So, how can I get media center to boost the sound input when the sound input is running through the HVR-2200 card?

Disrespective

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# 246197 13-Aug-2009 18:19

It might sound a little simple but what is the mediacenter volume set at? Are you sure that the PC volume is set nice and high?

toonttm

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# 246207 13-Aug-2009 18:34

windows media centre volume at 50 (max). When I run the speaker setup under through media centre it tests each speaker in turn and the volume is 'good as'. When I test the speakers from control panel once again the volume is fine. It is only when I go to live TV that I lose the volume.

I just made sure the Sky volume was up. It was on 1/2 so I maxed it and now have a way better volume but still have the Logitech on lvl 4 (youtube music videos, dvds, games are way to loud at this level!).

I guess there is some (probably) minor issue I am overlooking but just 'upping' the SKy volume has made it workable/bearable until somebody points out what I have overlooked.

toonttm

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# 246217 13-Aug-2009 18:50

Setup is:

RF from Sky running to TV via standard antenna input.
Sky scart plug to my DVD/HDD recorder. DVD/HDD recorder to TV video in and audio in RCA connectors.
Other Sky scart to converter block which has 3 RCA connectors (video, audio L & R) + S-video connector. S-video connector to HVR-2200 card on PC, RCA connectors hooked to video sender unit (so I get Sky in the bedroom with IR controller).
Audio line out from Sky decoder (3.5mm plug) to HVR-2200 audio in (3.5mm) socket.
Sound card on PC connected to Logitech G51, and Logitech G51 connected to the 5.1 speaker setup.
Yeah, i have cables ...everywhere..gotta get into more wireless transmitters! And yes, IR blaster from windows media centre set to Sky decoder.

So originally I was recording to the HDD recorder but..it was a pain to edit on the HDD recorder so I had to burn to DVD, take it to the PC, edit it and then re-burn the edited program. And, I had to preset the Sky channel as the HDD recorder wouldn't change the Sky channel (which media centre does)

toonttm

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# 246220 13-Aug-2009 18:56

*not trying to record in 5.1 as such, just want a viable volume level that means I don't have to turn the Logitech to full to get a barely audible volume...thanks for comments though, it is making me triple check everything

toonttm

28 posts

Geek

# 246234 13-Aug-2009 19:40

Just ran test # 2.3 x 10^99! edited a 4 min file into 2 x 2 min files and then copied them to my laptop via flash stick. Volume on laptop is on full and the files are audible (barely - but you can hear them). The quality of picture is extremely good with file size of 50Mb for 2 min file. So 40 min would be approx 1Gb. Would still like the recorded audio level up but have yet to connect the laptop to external speakers.
Kinda starting to feel happy :)

toonttm

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# 246239 13-Aug-2009 19:45

*also, it is recording 5.1..I'm impressed!

Nety

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# 246254 13-Aug-2009 20:14

Where are you doing the dolby decoding on your MC? You have to tell widows if the output is via spdif?

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

toonttm

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# 246275 13-Aug-2009 20:53

ohh, this sound like the thing I just don't know about...should I go google 'spdif' or could you just elaborate? I don't think things have gone to bad..24 hours and I nearly (some aspects better) have what I want...but I am getting tired of googling...I know - lazy me..lol, more info would be much appreciated, thanks :)

toonttm

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# 246276 13-Aug-2009 20:55

*gotta ask, what the hell do you do with all those tuners?
very interested, I am new to this tuner thing (obviously..lol)

Nety

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# 246878 15-Aug-2009 10:18

Sorry could not reply when I first read the thread and then lost it.

OK how is the sound card connected to the Logitech G51?

As for the tuners I brought the two 3000's first so that I could get Freeview DVB-S. I then brought the 2200 quite a bit later so that I could feed analogue TV from our Telstra STB. The extra DVB-T was a bonus. I now have the 2 3000's setup for both DVB-T and DVB-S for the couple of channels that are not on DVB-T. The 2200 is setup for DVB-T on both tuners and one tuner is also setup for the STB.

toonttm

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# 246922 15-Aug-2009 12:24

Sound card is attached to G51 directly...

Nety

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# 246964 15-Aug-2009 15:32

via? ie 3.5mm plugs, a single plug? Sorry trying to work out if it is a digital connection or analogue.

toonttm

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# 247085 15-Aug-2009 23:24

4 (3.5mm plug) cables from the sound card into the G51 base speaker box which then Has cables (RCA plugs) to the other 5 speakers and a d-pin plug to the desk top controller.

Nety

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# 247254 16-Aug-2009 17:14

OK thanks. Well it is not using SPDIF then as that is digital and only uses one plug.

It sounds like the Sky STB is only outputting the sound at a very low level. Have you tried turning up the sound on the STB to see if that improves things at all?