3538J AC3 Decode

Maddogg6 · Feb 9, 2006, 09:36 PM

Using COAX/OPTICAL input - AC3 decoding only renders output to FXBUSS 4 & 8

I confirmed this using 2 seperate sources - but because I have (sb350) LveDrive2 - its my only SPDIF input.

The COAX/OPTICAL works well otherwise.

edit: a 3rd device (set top dvd player) that decodes DTS (set to DTS ONLY) DOES work with 5.1 DD DVD.

But: set top player set to Dolby Digital out does not. (onle FXB 4&8) receive output.

So to summerize:

Digital Cable Box - set to Dolby Digital 5.1 output mode - KX outputs FX Buss 4 & 8 Only
- This unit ONLY has PCM or DD5.1 output modes to choose from.

External/set top DVD Player 1 - Dolby Digital OUT mode does same as cable box
- This unit also only has ONLY has PCM or DD5.1 output modes to choose from.

External/set top DVD Player 2: In Dolby Digital out mode: same as above (FXBuss 4& 8 only) - This unit also HAS 'enable DTS - DTS enabled - DOES give 5.1 (FX Buss 4/5/6/7/8/9 - R/L/SL/SR/C/LFE) With DD51 disc - No DTS disc to test - yet.

Russ · Feb 10, 2006, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

- This unit also HAS 'enable DTS - DTS enabled - DOES give 5.1 (FX Buss 4/5/6/7/8/9 - R/L/SL/SR/C/LFE) With DD51 disc - No DTS disc to test - yet.

I wonder what that is actually doing?

i.e.
If I play a disc that has a DD option, but I do not set it to use DD (i.e. set it to stereo only), it ouputs stereo, no matter what the DVD player setting is. So I wonder what setting the DVD player to use DTS does, when the disc itself is DD (BTW: What disc setting are you using when testing? Are you seeing any kX notifications (i.e. AC3 Decode)?)?

Maddogg6 · Feb 10, 2006, 07:57 PM

Im not sure - Its a samsung player -

There are 2 settings associated
1) PCM or BITSTREAM
2) DTS ON/OFF

Bitstream / DTS off - act exactly like other units set to DD out mode.
BUT if I set DTS ON - KX decodes like it should for DD.

My other units dont have DTS - or settings for DTS - Just PCM or DD
PCM stereo only is fine. DD renders only output to FXB4&8 only.

Not all discs allow a different setting - I tried one that did - but only had DD as the option.
I have netflix - so I dont see all the 'marketing' logos for the movies.
I just had 3 discs I tried this with - only (XXX-State of the Union) had the option for DD as a disc menu. The other 2 had ONLY subtitle settings on their disc menus.

The AC3 decode pops up in all cases NOT PCM - as long as 'decode AC3' is checked on KX mixer.

XXX I can only assume is DD and NOT dts - because of the Disc menu option.

But - I ruled out it as a player bug - because 2 other units (1 dvd player and Digital cable box) when set to DD mode - act the same.

Maddogg6 · Feb 10, 2006, 07:58 PM

Also - I looked at other FXBuss lines - to see if they are routed wrong... I seen no other signals on any other FX Buss (10-63 - for A2's)

Russ · Feb 10, 2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

The AC3 decode pops up in all cases NOT PCM - as long as 'decode AC3' is checked on KX mixer.

You have a 'decode AC3' checkbox? Must be an 10k2 thing as I do not have that option (it just auto decodes AC3, if AC3 passthru is not enabled).

In any case, I was just curious as to what it would do in that case (and why it only works with kX that way). I would guess that it would ouput DD (i.e. use the DISC setting), as I doubt it decodes DD and then re-encodes it to DTS. Of course your DVD player could act differently than mine does (and mine does not do DTS), so who know what it is doing...

Maddogg6 · Feb 10, 2006, 08:44 PM

You're right - My SB350 (A2ZS) has the checkbox - the CT4832 (Live Value) does not.

Also - all tests were using the SB350 only - I have no easy SPDIF ins to try with out making a custom cable - and the facts its onlt 4 channel analog out.. I didn't see too much point in taking the time to try it. - I would have also hacked up an otherwise good cable in that process too.. so...

And I havent played much with DTS discs - or at least wasnt looking for it before... I will from now on, now that I know what to look for.

Russ · Feb 13, 2006, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

You're right - My SB350 (A2ZS) has the checkbox - the CT4832 (Live Value) does not.

I wonder if that is because AC3 Passthru is not currently supported for 10k1 cards, or if it is because of some other reason (the Creative drivers (with my card anyway) did have that option).

Maddogg6 · Feb 13, 2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

I wonder if that is because AC3 Passthru is not currently supported for 10k1 cards, or if it is because of some other reason (the Creative drivers (with my card anyway) did have that option).

Im quite sure its because its not a 5.1 card - only 2 stereo outs on it.. its a old Live Value - I bought it before the 5.1 cards were out.

The mixer only shows 2 analog outs and only 2 spdif outs.

KX doent seem to show outputs based on if they are connected or not either.

Just in case others may be reading this - its the SB350 that I've been testing AC3 decode with and I seem to have uncovered *some kind* of bug.

Russ · Feb 13, 2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

Im quite sure its because its not a 5.1 card

I was referring to my card, which is 5.1, but I guess that setting AC3 Passthru to OFF (in the dropdown box) accomplishes the same thing, so I was wondering why it is different for 10k2 cards.

Maddogg6 · Feb 13, 2006, 06:55 PM

Ahh - I'm thinking because of the P16V device.??

Look at my new drawing I made here

Maddogg6 · Feb 13, 2006, 07:01 PM

This pic (its the KX 24/96 Router - a 'settings' screen only shown in the KX mixer popup if the SB350 is the selected device) may help explain to you also ??

Maddogg6 · Feb 13, 2006, 07:03 PM

theotetically - I can have AC3 decoded and sent to the SPDIFS
and at the same time play an MP3 to the analog outs .

Maddogg6 · Feb 13, 2006, 07:05 PM

Im also thinking that the Analog outs are sharing the the same 'output' port - thus, the need for a DOO switch for my Live.
But - it would seem on the A2 - the analog outs are using a different 'output' port, and can be used concurrently.

Maddogg6 · Feb 13, 2006, 08:17 PM

I see now - that switch is actually 'Toggle S/PDIF-In AC3 Decode' - Thus, Lives must not be able to do this.

Russ · Feb 13, 2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maddogg6

I see now - that switch is actually 'Toggle S/PDIF-In AC3 Decode' - Thus, Lives must not be able to do this.

That would make more sense...

Feb 9, 2006, 09:36 PM	#1
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	3538J AC3 Decode Using COAX/OPTICAL input - AC3 decoding only renders output to FXBUSS 4 & 8 I confirmed this using 2 seperate sources - but because I have (sb350) LveDrive2 - its my only SPDIF input. The COAX/OPTICAL works well otherwise. edit: a 3rd device (set top dvd player) that decodes DTS (set to DTS ONLY) DOES work with 5.1 DD DVD. But: set top player set to Dolby Digital out does not. (onle FXB 4&8) receive output. So to summerize: Digital Cable Box - set to Dolby Digital 5.1 output mode - KX outputs FX Buss 4 & 8 Only - This unit ONLY has PCM or DD5.1 output modes to choose from. External/set top DVD Player 1 - Dolby Digital OUT mode does same as cable box - This unit also only has ONLY has PCM or DD5.1 output modes to choose from. External/set top DVD Player 2: In Dolby Digital out mode: same as above (FXBuss 4& 8 only) - This unit also HAS 'enable DTS - DTS enabled - DOES give 5.1 (FX Buss 4/5/6/7/8/9 - R/L/SL/SR/C/LFE) With DD51 disc - No DTS disc to test - yet. Last edited by Maddogg6; Feb 9, 2006 at 11:37 PM. Reason: Added summary and fixed typos

Feb 10, 2006, 07:57 PM	Thread Starter #3
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Im not sure - Its a samsung player - There are 2 settings associated 1) PCM or BITSTREAM 2) DTS ON/OFF Bitstream / DTS off - act exactly like other units set to DD out mode. BUT if I set DTS ON - KX decodes like it should for DD. My other units dont have DTS - or settings for DTS - Just PCM or DD PCM stereo only is fine. DD renders only output to FXB4&8 only. Not all discs allow a different setting - I tried one that did - but only had DD as the option. I have netflix - so I dont see all the 'marketing' logos for the movies. I just had 3 discs I tried this with - only (XXX-State of the Union) had the option for DD as a disc menu. The other 2 had ONLY subtitle settings on their disc menus. The AC3 decode pops up in all cases NOT PCM - as long as 'decode AC3' is checked on KX mixer. XXX I can only assume is DD and NOT dts - because of the Disc menu option. But - I ruled out it as a player bug - because 2 other units (1 dvd player and Digital cable box) when set to DD mode - act the same.

Feb 10, 2006, 07:58 PM	Thread Starter #4
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Also - I looked at other FXBuss lines - to see if they are routed wrong... I seen no other signals on any other FX Buss (10-63 - for A2's)

Feb 10, 2006, 08:44 PM	Thread Starter #6
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	You're right - My SB350 (A2ZS) has the checkbox - the CT4832 (Live Value) does not. Also - all tests were using the SB350 only - I have no easy SPDIF ins to try with out making a custom cable - and the facts its onlt 4 channel analog out.. I didn't see too much point in taking the time to try it. - I would have also hacked up an otherwise good cable in that process too.. so... And I havent played much with DTS discs - or at least wasnt looking for it before... I will from now on, now that I know what to look for.

Feb 13, 2006, 06:55 PM	Thread Starter #10
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Ahh - I'm thinking because of the P16V device.?? Look at my new drawing I made here

Feb 13, 2006, 07:01 PM	Thread Starter #11
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	This pic (its the KX 24/96 Router - a 'settings' screen only shown in the KX mixer popup if the SB350 is the selected device) may help explain to you also ??

Feb 13, 2006, 07:03 PM	Thread Starter #12
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	theotetically - I can have AC3 decoded and sent to the SPDIFS and at the same time play an MP3 to the analog outs .

Feb 13, 2006, 07:05 PM	Thread Starter #13
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	Im also thinking that the Analog outs are sharing the the same 'output' port - thus, the need for a DOO switch for my Live. But - it would seem on the A2 - the analog outs are using a different 'output' port, and can be used concurrently.

Feb 13, 2006, 08:17 PM	Thread Starter #14
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 0	I see now - that switch is actually 'Toggle S/PDIF-In AC3 Decode' - Thus, Lives must not be able to do this.