WAV-DTS playback on HPTC

[The Choker]

Hi, first time poster to this discussion group (or any other google
discussions group) for that matter.

I found this forum from a "readme" file that was included with a wav-
dts that a work associate recently gave me. Hopefully this is the
correct audience for my question:

I have a HTPC (Windows 7 Premium 64bit). I have the following media
players: WMC, WMP, VLC, Foobar2000 and MediaMonkey. All sound is
connected via s/pdif to my receiver.

I have no trougle getting surround sound (DTS, Dolby, AC3, etc) on my
HTPC/receiver combination with regards to playing video (mostly mkv)
via WMC, WMP or VLC. However, I cannot for the life of me get this
WAV-DTS to play in 5.1.

I've tried Foobar2000...wasted several days trying to get a plugin
working (foo_dsp_pl2.dll and PL2XDLL.dll) and after several days of
static finally got a 2 channel only playback.

I've tried WMP...nothing but static for days.

I've tried VLC...got a 2 channel only playback.

Anybody able to provide some help or guidance? I'm above average in
regards to PCs, media playback, codecs, etc...but I'm stumped! I've
tried everything including fidling with the AC3Filter via my Sharky
codec pack.

Thanks in advance,
The Choker

[polmuaddib]

You should check your audio driver settings. You should be able to
send DTS 5.1 over spdif. Maybe you have it set to 2 channel audio.
Then, I think, foobar has support for dts, and it should work. There
is a dts plugin for foobar, but i think it is included in new
versions. If you can't get it to work, try media player classic. If
you have ffdshow codecs, I believe you will get ac3/dts decoder. Then
you load a track in mpc, right click and find filters. There should be
a dts decoder. Set it up to play 5.1 with lfe and so so...
I think the main problem is in spdif and 2 speakers setting, and you
should focus on that. Unfortunatly, no audiophile over spdif...
Do you have analogue 5.1 output on your card? And 5.1 input on your
reciever? It would be much better over those.

[razi]

Of course, VLC does support DTS & AC3.
Did you select the right audio-stream?
Most there are more than one.
VLC does not need any plug-ins for DTS & AC3.
And as polmuaddib mentioned, watch the setting of your audio-driver!

For Foobar2000 you need a plugin for AC3 and for DTS too.
You can find them at the homepage of foobar: www.foobar2000.org
at "plugins for input"
DTS: foo_dts.dll
AC3: foo_ac3.dll
both are to put into directory components under foobar2000
That´s all and it works (for me at least)

greetings, razi

[RW]

Choker,

FooBar2000 requires foo_input_dts.dll and/or foo_input_dtshd.dll to be
placed in the Components folder found under your FooBar2000 folder.
These should allow FooBar2000 to playback DTS-encoded discs/streams.

Also, under FooBar's Main Menu go to Library/Configure choose Payback/
DSP Manager and you will see a dropdown labeled DSP chain presets. I
usually choose foo_input_dts.dll and then click the Load button. Give
this a whirl and see if you can now playback DTS stuff...

Best Wishes,

-RW-

[elshagon]

If the song is a .wav try changing it to .dts, you may need to go into
your folder options and uncheck the "hide extensions for known file
types"

[The Choker]

OK...I've followed RW's steps and Foobar2000 now indicated that it's
decoding DTS 6 channel. However, only stereo sound is coming out of
my system and I do not get any indication at the receiver of it
receiving a DTS signal. Is it suppose to receive DTS or is it just
pure PCM bit stream?

Also, in the DSP Manager config page I don't see any of the DTS
libraries available as a DSP input or output...

[george...@comcast.net]

If your output is over a coax or optical digital cable, your AVR will do the DTS decoding. That means the AVR must have a DTS decoder in it and you must select it.

 

If your output is via six analog cables, Foobar will do the DTS decoding and the AVR will be playing six PCM channels. That means your AVR must have six analog inputs and you select external in to play them.

 

Hope this helps.

---

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SurroundSound" group.
To post to this group, send email to Surrou...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to SurroundSoun...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SurroundSound

[polmuaddib]

When you go to win7's playback devices and check spdif properties, and
then advanced, what does your default format say? 2 channel or DTS
interactive?

On Jul 20, 2:42 pm, georgeshan...@comcast.net wrote:
> If your output is over a coax or optical digital cable, your AVR will do the DTS decoding. That means the AVR must have a DTS decoder in it and you must select it.
>
> If your output is via six analog cables, Foobar will do the DTS decoding and the AVR will be playing six PCM channels. That means your AVR must have six analog inputs and you select external in to play them.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
>
>

> ----- Original Message -----

>
> From: "The Choker" <chickencho...@gmail.com>
> To: "SurroundSound" <surrou...@googlegroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2011 8:52:55 PM
> Subject: [SurroundSound] Re: WAV-DTS playback on HPTC
>
> OK...I've followed RW's steps and Foobar2000 now indicated that it's
> decoding DTS 6 channel.  However, only stereo sound is coming out of
> my system and I do not get any indication at the receiver of it
> receiving a DTS signal.  Is it suppose to receive DTS or is it just
> pure PCM bit stream?
>
> Also, in the DSP Manager config page I don't see any of the DTS
> libraries available as a DSP input or output...
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SurroundSound" group.
> To post to this group, send email to Surrou...@googlegroups.com
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to SurroundSoun...@googlegroups.com

> For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/SurroundSound- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[jolson]

You should NOT follow RW's steps... ...nor elshagon's...

You shouldNOT have any foo_input_dts.dll installed. Foobar should NOT
decode the DTS, it should just think it's a WAV file and play the
white noise. This noise should
be decoded by the AVR to surround channel music.

[razi]

I can´t totally agree to jolson:
it depends on your soundcard and your AVR. If you have a good
soundcard and analog connectors at your AVR than you can connect it in
this way.
And in that case you have to use one of this foo_input_dts.dll.

Check out, in wich way you want to hear your music ...

razi

[ArmyOfQuad]

This thread on QuadraphonicQuad may be of help,
http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/showthread.php?14801-DTS-file-Foobar-USB-Spdif-Decoder-SOLVED

[polmuaddib]

I think Jolson is right. Try his way.

On Jul 25, 3:08 pm, Tab Cursor <tabcur...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Choker!
>
> Everyone's offered an opinion here, so I thought I'd offer mine. DTS
> wavs are back up files (archives) from retail DTS CD audio discs.
> They're a great format for surround sound and come officially from
> recording studios. I searched for DTS CD at Amazon and came up with
> this awesome list:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_6?url=search-alias%3Dpopular...
>
> You can also find DTS CDs at your local music store. To play a DTS CD
> you need a DVD or bluray player capable of DTS decoding. I think it
> would be hard to find a DVD / Bluray player today that doesn't have
> this capability.
>
> You can also play a DTS CD on a CD player. However, I don't think CD
> players have DTS decoders built into them. In this case, you need a
> receiver that has a DTS decoder built into it. I think it would be
> hard to find a receiver today that doesn't have this capability.
>
> What happens when you play a DTS CD in your CD player to a receiver
> without DTS decoding? You hear annoying static in glorious surround.
>
> For convenience, some of us (myself included), have archived our DTS
> CD to DTS WAVs. This, I think, is an unofficial format. But once you
> have your Windows HTPC set up, it can be more convenient to listen to
> a DTS CD directly from your hard drive. Looking back over these
> suggestions, it looks like it's a technical challenge at best.
>
> Maybe you'd like to try another option? You can drag 'n drop your DTS
> WAV into burning software such as Nero, imgBurn, etc., and create your
> own unofficial DTS CD. NOTE: this may or may not give you the same
> quality as the original retail CD.
>
> The idea of listening to a DTS WAV -- at least my hope for you -- is
> that you'll feel compelled to buy your own DTS CD from one of your
> favorite artists. When you have the hardware, this format is great.
> The folks at DTS really came up with some fun stuff for your home
> theater. I have a lot of these discs. A few I really enjoy:
>
> Alan Parsons - On Air
> Eric Clapton - 461 Ocean Street Boulevard
> Sting - Brand New Day
> Blue Man Group - The Complex
> Telarc Sampler
>
> I started listening to these retail discs and kept getting more. I
> still don't have Bonnie Raitt's "Road Tested".. It's next on my DTS
> wish list.
>
> One last note: the studios also produce DTS DVDs. These don't have
> videos of the band, but do include menus with artwork for selecting
> tracks. The DVDs also include some other cool formats, such as DTS-ES
> and DTS 96-24. If your receiver (or player) is equipped with these
> decoders, you get another compelling (and yet different) surround
> experience. Some of my favorites:
>
> Alan Parsons - A Valid Path
> Dream Theater - Consequence of Chaos
> Genesis - any from their catalog, Lately it's "Lamb Lies Down on
> Broadway" (in DTS 96-24)
> Jean Michel Jarre - Aero
> Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown
>
> Anyway, the list is long in this format and it's far from dead. I hope
> this background helps you with your enjoyment of a great surround
> format.
>
> On Jul 24, 10:30 pm, ArmyOfQuad <armyofq...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > This thread on QuadraphonicQuad may be of help,http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/showthread.php?14801-DTS-file-...

[Lokkerman]

Tab
did you or your partner write this? I think I known your style
Thanks for the input though
Lokks

On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 2:08 PM, Tab Cursor <tabc...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Choker!

Everyone's offered an opinion here, so I thought I'd offer mine. DTS
wavs are back up files (archives) from retail DTS CD audio discs.
They're a great format for surround sound and come officially from
recording studios. I searched for DTS CD at Amazon and came up with
this awesome list:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_6?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=dts+cd&sprefix=dts+cd

> This thread on QuadraphonicQuad may be of help,http://www.quadraphonicquad.com/forums/showthread.php?14801-DTS-file-...

[jolson]

The Choker wrote:
" All sound is connected via s/pdif to my receiver. "

...which means there are no analogue cables, which means trying to get
foobar to decode the DTS is totally the wrong solution for surround
sound...

[The Choker]

Thanks for all the suggestions...I tried them all and stilll nothing
(via my sp/dif).

I had a 3.5mm to RCA cable lying around and was able to get 2 channel
front sound to my receiver via 5.1 ext input. I just put in an order
to monoprice for 3 more of these cables. When they come in I will try
the analog route to my receiver to see if I can finally achieve 5.1
sound (for dts wav via foobar2000).

That brings me to another question...

I do not have a dedicated DAC. I rely on my receiver to do the
digital to analog conversion from my HTPC. It's an Arcam AVR200 and
seems to do a pretty good job whether I'm watching DTS/AC3 movies or 2
channel Flac (16 and 24 bit). If I go the analog connection to my
Arcam route, my sound card is obvious doing the digital to analog
conversion. How will this compare? Wouldn't my Acram's onboard DAC
be better than my sound card's DAC? I did a very quick A/B comparison
and I did notice a volume difference. I have to do a deeper
comparison of sonics and fidelity when I have the chance, but any
comments are welcome.

Once I get my monoprice cables I'll drop a not with (hopefully)
success.

Thanks again.

[RW]

Choker,

This is fairly simple to conceptualize - if you are connecting your PC
to your receiver using sn S/PDIF cable, you are sending a digital
signal to the receiver and it must provide the digital to analog
conversion.

If you connect your soundcard using gppd ol' RCA cables, your
soundcard is doing the digital to analog conversion and passing an
analog signal to your receiver.

As to which one sounds better? That is up to you to decide. Play
some very well-known music and then switch back and forth to determine
what appeals to you. Have fun!!

-RW-

[Bob Russell]

I dont know if this will help. I discovered with my system that I have
difficulties playing Hi-REs (96/24) with my HTPC. I have a Dell XPS
M1710 with SPDIF output option. SPDIF input to my receiver/amp always
plays as only 2 channel stereo.
People in this forum have informed me that SPDIF was never designed for
5.1 or 7.1 channel hires throughput. So your receiver will try to take
the signal and decode it the best it can (most equipment decodes as 2
channel stereo)

Have you tried other DTS files such as those available from OD? My
system plays normal resolution DTS and Dolby just fine.

Another discovery indirectly related to your problem is I also have
problems playing DVD-A. These also are interpreted by my receiver / amp
as stereo.
People on the forum have advised that the hardware way to play higher
resolution is to have a HTPC that provides HDMI output for both sound
and video. Then you can plug this into a receiver/amp
HDMI input. Your receiver/amp must have passthru HDM to connect your TV.

Hope this might help

RARBAR

[Dac]

Your sound chip (onboard or sound card?) could be the problem.

Most of chips do internal upsampling to 48 kHz, then resampling back
to 44.1 kHz if that is desired. DTS is 48 kHz, but even though 48 kHz
option can be checked it just resamples it anyway, twice. In the
process DTS gets damaged so your AV receiver can't decode it. Funny
thing is, at the same time this does not affect DTS in the movies.

I solved this problem by burning CD's and listening to them on CD/DVD/
PS3 components - anything with S/PDIF output can be used!
Or you could invest in some of "bit-perfect" sound cards with S/PDIF.

http://www.hi-fi-insight.com/bit-perfect-audio.html

On Jul 18, 11:07 pm, The Choker <chickencho...@gmail.com> wrote: