5.1 PC Audio

DrunkenMonkey · Dec 21, 2005, 11:44 PM

I just bought a new 5.1 speaker Logitech speaker set. I hooked it up, and I found that the only time that all 5 speakers worked simultaneously was in video games. 2.1 Audio takes over on desktop, and on DVDs. How can I enable all speakers to work at all times? Do I need a new soundcard?

Calinerti · Dec 22, 2005, 12:27 AM

What type of sound card do you have? Does it support 5.1 audio? I assume it does as you managed to get all your speakers plugged into it. You'll also have to change your speaker settings to 5.1 in the sounds and audio devices properties menu. Maybe also in your software dvd player.

Zelig · Dec 22, 2005, 02:13 AM

Yeah, what soundcard are you currently using? edit: oops, didn't look at the screenshot enough... the rest of my post is still applicable though.

Keep in mind that music (except DVD-audio and SACD) is only stereo, and requires some form of software upmixing to play through more speakers. CMSS does it for Creative cards, or there are plugins for most major media players for the same effect.

jiiteepee · Dec 22, 2005, 06:58 AM

Doesn't it say SB Live! 24 on Futuremark's SI Explorer?

Have you set Live! to output 5.1 (Speaker settings, decoder?).

If you have Creative Software installed, you can use it's functionality to make these changes (run Speaker Settings application or start it from Surround Mixer application).
You can also use CTPanel.exe (can be found on Creative driver packages) or Creative Audio Console applications if these works with Live! 24 cards.

If you use Windows own software --> Control Panel --> Sounds And Multimedia Settings (w2k, do not know the prog. name for XP) --> Audio -tab --> Advanced button --> Speaker setup.

jiitee

DrunkenMonkey · Dec 23, 2005, 04:00 AM

I have, but it doesnt completely work in all applications.

jiiteepee · Dec 23, 2005, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkenMonkey

I have, but it doesnt completely work in all applications.

Does these applications support multichannel output?

jiitee

Maddogg6 · Dec 23, 2005, 10:44 AM

Did you try using AC3 filter for DVD playback

Maybe that driver doesnt decode AC3 natively.. ??

Also not all dvd are 5.1 - I rented one recently that wasnt. (new release, but was boring drama nad not an action flick.)

Maddogg6 · Dec 23, 2005, 10:44 AM

Win desktop theme sounds are stereo only btw...

Zelig · Dec 23, 2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

Also not all dvd are 5.1 - I rented one recently that wasnt. (new release, but was boring drama nad not an action flick.)

I rented The Island last week, and found out that the English soundtrack was only 2.0 on the Canadian release... very disappointing.

DrunkenMonkey: The rest of the posts here are good, verify that the sources are multichannel.

mrsid · Feb 9, 2006, 08:26 PM

enable cmss 3d on the creative audigy playcenter control panel and all of your sounds will be played in 5.1 no matter what..

Dec 21, 2005, 11:44 PM	#1
DrunkenMonkey DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	5.1 PC Audio I just bought a new 5.1 speaker Logitech speaker set. I hooked it up, and I found that the only time that all 5 speakers worked simultaneously was in video games. 2.1 Audio takes over on desktop, and on DVDs. How can I enable all speakers to work at all times? Do I need a new soundcard? __________________ [color=red]ATI Sapphire x850XT PCI-E 16x (Omega 2.6.87) AMD 64 x2 4400+ @ 2453 Mhz OCZ 1 GB (2x 512MB) Dual Channel PC3200 (200Mhz) 2.5-3-3-7 MSI K8N Neo4 Sli Platinum Edition (MS-7100)[/color]

Dec 22, 2005, 02:13 AM	#3
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	Yeah, what soundcard are you currently using? edit: oops, didn't look at the screenshot enough... the rest of my post is still applicable though. Keep in mind that music (except DVD-audio and SACD) is only stereo, and requires some form of software upmixing to play through more speakers. CMSS does it for Creative cards, or there are plugins for most major media players for the same effect. __________________ -- Last edited by Zelig; Dec 22, 2005 at 01:55 PM.

Dec 22, 2005, 06:58 AM	#4
jiiteepee HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: FI Posts: 400 Rep Power: 0	Doesn't it say SB Live! 24 on Futuremark's SI Explorer? Have you set Live! to output 5.1 (Speaker settings, decoder?). If you have Creative Software installed, you can use it's functionality to make these changes (run Speaker Settings application or start it from Surround Mixer application). You can also use CTPanel.exe (can be found on Creative driver packages) or Creative Audio Console applications if these works with Live! 24 cards. If you use Windows own software --> Control Panel --> Sounds And Multimedia Settings (w2k, do not know the prog. name for XP) --> Audio -tab --> Advanced button --> Speaker setup. jiitee Last edited by jiiteepee; Dec 22, 2005 at 07:04 AM.

Dec 23, 2005, 04:00 AM	Thread Starter #5
DrunkenMonkey DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	I have, but it doesnt completely work in all applications. __________________ [color=red]ATI Sapphire x850XT PCI-E 16x (Omega 2.6.87) AMD 64 x2 4400+ @ 2453 Mhz OCZ 1 GB (2x 512MB) Dual Channel PC3200 (200Mhz) 2.5-3-3-7 MSI K8N Neo4 Sli Platinum Edition (MS-7100)[/color]

Dec 22, 2005, 12:27 AM	#2
Calinerti DriverHeaven Addict Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Elysium Posts: 330 Rep Power: 0	What type of sound card do you have? Does it support 5.1 audio? I assume it does as you managed to get all your speakers plugged into it. You'll also have to change your speaker settings to 5.1 in the sounds and audio devices properties menu. Maybe also in your software dvd player.

Dec 23, 2005, 10:44 AM	#7
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Did you try using AC3 filter for DVD playback Maybe that driver doesnt decode AC3 natively.. ?? Also not all dvd are 5.1 - I rented one recently that wasnt. (new release, but was boring drama nad not an action flick.)

Feb 9, 2006, 08:26 PM	#10
mrsid DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	enable cmss 3d on the creative audigy playcenter control panel and all of your sounds will be played in 5.1 no matter what..