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SPDIF Pass Through Does Not Work in MCE?

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robdes

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Dec 18, 2003, 1:00:44 AM12/18/03
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I connect my PC to an AV reciever via a digital coax cable.

I have the SPDIF pass through selected on the my audigy control panel
as well as in the audio setting in MCE and the audio setting in the
DVD player.

If I play a DVD via InterVideo WinDVD (this is what shipped on my
gateway) it passes the raw digital signal to the AC reciever for
decoding there (I know this becuase my Sony reciever has a blue light
that inidcates it is receiving and decoding a multi-channel signal).

However when I switch to MCE and play the same DVD is just sends a L/R
signal to the receiver.

This is the same DVD, the only difference is the app from which I play
it (Intervideo vs MCE).

HELP!!!!

Posted via http://www.xpMCE.com
Everything about Windows XP Media Center Edition

Venger

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Dec 18, 2003, 4:00:17 AM12/18/03
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I had similar issues when setting up my audigy2 NX to work with dolby
and DTS correctly. If you are using WinDVD 4 or above, and a SB
Audigy, here is what I did to get 5.1 sound to default in MCE.

1. Make sure your audigy is set to Digital Output Only.
2. Make sure you have 5.1 speakers selected in the XP speaker settings
AND the Creative speaker settings app (FYI, I had to disable AC3 in
the Creative software for this to work)
3. Open WinDVD and get into Audio mode to select Digital/SPDIF output
4. Run Regedit and navigate to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Intervideo\Common\Audiodec]
5. Create new DWORD value and name it "audio" (without the quotes)
6. Open the value, and set the HEX value to 6 (this will force 6
channel output)
7. Open MCE and make your way to the DVD audio settings... once you
select SPDIF now, it will remember it and output SPDIF every time you
put in a 5.1 or DTS DVD. I get the DD or DTS light every time on my
receiver now when the source plays.

Hope that helps.

Fiev

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Dec 18, 2003, 4:01:34 AM12/18/03
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hi

you have to go to settings - dvd - audio and let mce know that you are using
an external decoder, then it will work. this needs to be done even if you
have set windvd up correctly - the setting is separate for mce. the annoying
thing is it doesn't remember this and you have to set it each time you
restart mce - bummer. does this happen if you are using nvdvd - anyone?

fiev

"robdes" <rde...@comcast.NOSPAM.net> wrote in message
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boeskip

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Dec 18, 2003, 4:20:19 AM12/18/03
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I go to "settings" then "dvd" in mce. Then I click on Audio. This
brings me to the sound setting for nvdvd. There I can choose
"speaker" and the I select "reciever"
Now it works fine!!

robdes

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Dec 18, 2003, 8:20:17 AM12/18/03
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Venger,

I tried that but not luck...
Here is the strange thing....

I start MCE and go to settings/DVD and select SDPIF passthrough
Then I play the DVD (no pass through)
Then I go back to settings/DVD and the selection has switched to 2
channel and SDPIF is greyed out.

I rememer someone mentioning something about using the intervideo
audio codec in NIMO codec pack, but that does not seem to work
either

This is very very strange that you need to go through these gyrations
to get this to work!!

Any other thoughts.

Todd

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Dec 18, 2003, 10:11:29 AM12/18/03
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I had the same issue and this is how I fixed it...

Go to:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=66022

Download the latest ac3filter which is currently "ac3filter_0_70b.exe".

Install it on your MCE box and then launch the AC3 Filter configuration
application from the MCE box's Windows Control Panel.

On the "Main" tab go to "Output" on the drop-down box go all the way
down to the bottom and select "SPDIF".

Click on "OK" on the configuration app and everytime you launch MCE
and play a DVD, the default will be SPDIF pass-through.

This AC3 codec will replace the Windvd AC3 codec for MCE and you will
be able to launch the configuration applet by opening MCE and making
your way to the DVD audio settings... You can select SPDIF , it will


remember it and output SPDIF every time you put in a 5.1 or DTS DVD.

Hope this helps!

Venger

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Dec 18, 2003, 10:20:23 AM12/18/03
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@ Robdes - what version of windvd are you using and have you installed
any codec pack (in particular anything like ac3filter?)

@ Fiev - if you add the registry settings which I mention above, then
MCE will remember what setup you are using (i.e. 6-channel with
SPDIF)

Robert Desel

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Dec 18, 2003, 11:25:18 AM12/18/03
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I am using WinDVD 4 Pro
No I have not installed anything else
"Venger" <kosh...@hotmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
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Robert Desel

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Dec 18, 2003, 12:51:13 PM12/18/03
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I have done that but is still does not decode and what it more when I go
back to Settings/DVD/Audio the SPDIF pass through option is no longer
selected and it is greyed out.


"Fiev" <notac...@noisp.com> wrote in message
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Robert Desel

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Dec 18, 2003, 12:51:35 PM12/18/03
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This is a pretty major flaw I am surprise MSFT has not addressed it?


"Robert Desel" <rde...@comcast.net> wrote in message
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Jason Tsang

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Dec 18, 2003, 4:20:04 PM12/18/03
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The flaw seems to be more with Intervideo than MS (as you are adding the reg
entry into a branch that Intervideo creates for WinDVD)

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx

"Robert Desel" <rde...@comcast.net> wrote in message

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robdes

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Dec 18, 2003, 6:40:20 PM12/18/03
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This is all very strange now...
I removed WinDVD and all traces
and reinstalled from the gateway source disks
i can now select and get spdif pass through in windvd but in MCE
settings/dvd/audio the spdif passthrough is greyed out not even
selectable
i tried to reg changes no difference.

robdes

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Dec 18, 2003, 7:00:32 PM12/18/03
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much better and it works!!!!!

alalal

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Dec 21, 2003, 3:10:25 AM12/21/03
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Venger,

Does this work with WinDVD 5 Plat?

Has anyone tried this with an on board SPDIF?

Venger

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Dec 21, 2003, 6:30:29 AM12/21/03
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Yes, it works for me with the latest version (5.3 Plat). Don't know
about on-board SPDIF as I'm using a USB2 Audigy2 NX, which works
fine. I'm guessing as long as you can use pass-through of signal on
your on-board SPDIF, then it should work (i.e., your sound card
doesn't do the decoding and sends the signal to your external
decoder).

alalal

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Dec 21, 2003, 11:50:18 AM12/21/03
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Wow. That and the SPDIF volume fix are the two best fixes I've seen
for MCE!

Thanks

MichaelDowns

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Dec 24, 2003, 3:17:27 PM12/24/03
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Hi,

What SPDIF volume fix are you referring to?

--
Thanks,
++md++

Michael Downs

"alalal" <adel...@orbimed.NOSPAM.com> wrote in message news:%23gCHFK%23xDH...@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...

rudolpht

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Jan 1, 2004, 9:30:29 PM1/1/04
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I installed Cyberlink PowerDVD and even after removing it, I cannot
get that Settings/DVD/Audio panel to change. I reinstalled WinDVD
Plat 5.3, did the registry fix again, and still the PowerDVD audio
panel, which of course will not allow SPDIF (on board) to be
selected. It also has pretty poor 7 channel sound, losing the center
channel in the process).

Any help appreciated.

Edward Lee

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Jan 1, 2004, 11:24:58 PM1/1/04
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Someone in another thread mentioned that NVDVD handles SPDIF pass-thru much
better.

Ed Lee

"rudolpht" <rudo...@pti-usa.NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
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rudolpht

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Jan 3, 2004, 9:20:23 AM1/3/04
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I bought an MSI 5600 card & can't find a copy of NVDVD? Does anyone
know if this was included or available for GeForce users if not
bundled?

Incidentally I tried Sonic Cineplayer and same Cyberlink vcontrol
panel nonsense. Nexxt step (read in a different thread) is deinstall
all DVD apps & CODECs.

Tim

Jarvik7

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Feb 27, 2004, 6:20:23 AM2/27/04
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> robdes wrote:
much better and it works!!!!!

How did you fix it? I have the exact same problem. SPDIF selectable
just fine in MCE, until you start playing a dvd, then it's back to
stereo /w SPDIF greyed out. I tried the reghacks above but they did
nothing. The same behaviour is exhibited in WMPLAYER9. I have tried
using both the ATI decoder codec and Intervidio/WinDVD. Will try out
the Elecard trial version later on but I don't have high hopes.

This is most definetly a bug with Microsoft and not any particular
decoder provider. I get proper SPDIF just by using WinDVD by itself,
or ATI's MMC player.

Even on normal WinXP it's hard/impossible to get 5.1 digital out of
WMPLAYER9. I suspect DRM as it is even stated that spdif is disabled
on DVD-AUDIO discs. Maybe it's broken and just disables for all dvds.

David Shorthouse

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Apr 20, 2004, 10:07:40 PM4/20/04
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Glad you got yours to work. My onboard SoundMax AD1888 doesn't spit out
s/pdif with any DVD audio codec I have tried....PowerDVD 5 Deluxe, WinDVD 5,
nvDVD 2.55, AC3filter from sourceforge, etc.

Dave

--
______________________________
Remove "yourclothes" to reply directly.
"Kami" <anon...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4288B8B0-60E5-48EA...@microsoft.com...
> This thread is a god send! I've been fighting with the audio
configuration on MCE since I got my box set up, and it finally works!
>
> THANKS GUYS!


Message has been deleted
Message has been deleted

nobuhi...@gmail.com

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Jan 3, 2014, 11:49:52 AM1/3/14
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Hi! Thanks a lot !!!! It works also with another config. I'm using Windvd 8 oem and a Creative X-Fi Digital Music Premium Audio interface running under Windows 7 Ultimate edition and I could not get 5.1 sound through the SPDIF link. In fact in W7 the appropriate register key has to be entered under [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Intervideo\Common\Audiodec] with the same parameters you indicate.
This may help someone who has the same issue. Thx again
BR, N.
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