Is anyone getting Dolby Digital via DVB-T in Windows 7

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Nety

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#42746 9-Oct-2009 15:49

I have asked this before but did not get any replies. I would like to know if it is a limitation of Windows 7 or something with my setup.

Playing DVD's I get Dolby digital as expected but when I am watching shows on TV3 that are in 5.1 my amp remains on Dolby Surround rather then switching to Dolby digital.

So can anyone tell me if they have DD 5.1 from DVB-T via W7?

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Snowflake

#262810 9-Oct-2009 16:06

have you got any special codecs installed over and above the win7 default? might be worth removing them and doing a test just in case one of them is stealing and downmixing the audio.

perhaps make a recording and play back in media player and check the codec in use? (file/properties while media playing - look at audio codec)

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Basekid

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#262832 9-Oct-2009 16:53

My receiver states its getting DD 5.1 (3/2) from the computer when I watch Freeview, but my speakers only produce stereo sound....

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jeavons

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#262881 9-Oct-2009 19:26

It is not your problem. It is TV3's problem. look http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=42462

Nety

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#262967 10-Oct-2009 08:31

My issue is that the receiver is not even saying it is getting DD.

The only codec's I have installed are those that come with TMT. Interestingly I tried to see what codecs are being used when I pay a recording in Media player and I don't get any sound! Also no info on what codec it might be trying to use.

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#263004 10-Oct-2009 11:45

I have optical out from my Win7 based HTPC into my Marantz SR5002 set to 'auto' for any mixing and it switches between a 2.1 stereo source and a 5.1 surround as the channels/shows change.

For example if i'm watching a NZ based show in 2.1 and then an American HD5.1 show comes on the amp screen flashes to show it is now using 5.1 speakers instead of 2.1. If i then change channels to something in 2.1 the screen flashes again to show less speakers are being used and the audio coming out of the speakers reflects this.

Because i have told the amp not to do any silly virtual dolby mixing i have considered this to be working fine in my less than knowledgeable mind.

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#263167 10-Oct-2009 21:18

I had some mode turned on in windows media center that stopped it from outputting the dolby when I was first trying it. It was what they call the night mode thingie. Have to turn it off in WMC and use the one on the amp which wasnt as good.

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Snowflake

#263183 10-Oct-2009 22:03

richms: I had some mode turned on in windows media center that stopped it from outputting the dolby when I was first trying it. It was what they call the night mode thingie. Have to turn it off in WMC and use the one on the amp which wasnt as good.

If this was enabled then the 5.1 from the DVD's wouldnt be making it to the amp either. They really should put some explanatory notes with that option though - its not really obvious that its going to break stuff...

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#263187 10-Oct-2009 22:25

Good point, I dont actually even have a dvd drive in my PC at the moment, and dont really ever play dvds anyway to know. All I know is that option broke DD - seems to be a much better night mode then the one on my amp which is a shame

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#263231 11-Oct-2009 08:54

OK well good to know it should be playing in DD.. I wonder if it is something to do with the built in soundcard that I am using.

Only other thing is TMT...

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#263339 11-Oct-2009 21:17

In answer to the original question - yes I'm getting DD through Win7 (output via optical to my AMP). Also have never noticed the problem described in the other linked thread above, so maybe that was a regional thing.

No additional codecs/players installed, just using the 7MC.

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#263402 12-Oct-2009 08:49

What flavour Dolby is transmitted? I cant check now as I am at work but I had a feeling that the media centre displays a Dolby digital Plus symbol? If so are the any requirements that I might be missing?

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#263437 12-Oct-2009 10:32

TV3 is transmitting AC3 5.1 @384Kbps. For stereo content they are still transmitting in 5.1 with just audio on the FL & FR channels which is a bit of a pain. I would rather they switched to a proper AC3 2.1 stream for stereo content.

7MC will display the Dolby Digital Plus logo for any Dolby Digital content, so don't let that confuse you.

I would try using the onboard spdif with the Win7 inbox High Definition Audio Device drivers. I've seen a few people having issues with spdif from soundblaster cards.

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#263449 12-Oct-2009 11:29

rhysb: [snip]I would try using the onboard spdif with the Win7 inbox High Definition Audio Device drivers. I've seen a few people having issues with spdif from soundblaster cards.

I am using the on board already. I pulled the Audigy out a while ago as I was having quite a few issues with it. However the onboard is a Realtek ALC850, 8 -Channel which is not HD and has fairly limited capabilities.

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#263481 12-Oct-2009 13:02

Do you have the spdif samplerate set to 44.1KHz or 48KHz? Try setting it to 48KHz if it isn't already.

The ALC850 only supports a samplerate of 48KHz for the spdif output, so it may be doing some samplerate conversion that is messing up the AC3 stream.

http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=23&PFid=31&Level=5&Conn=4&ProdID=59

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#263530 12-Oct-2009 17:48

Ah huh... just had a look under TV audio options and the section for dolby decoding is greyed out. Bit of reading looks like it is a driver/hardware issue. Will do some more reading and see what I can find.

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