Dolby 5.1 output using your AVerMedia-180 HD tuner

[Fluffdaddy]

Question:
Are you guys getting Dolby 5.1 output using your AVerMedia-180 HD tuner with sage beta ? If so what setting do I set or what plug-ins do I install to get DD5.1 OTA via Sagetv

note: I'm use powerdvd 6.0 for my DVD viewing so Dolby 5.1 output was never a problem.

Thanks

[jkoutrouba]

Originally Posted by Fluffdaddy

Question:
Are you guys getting Dolby 5.1 output using your AVerMedia-180 HD tuner with sage beta ? If so what setting do I set or what plug-ins do I install to get DD5.1 OTA via Sagetv

I am running the same hardware. DD works fine for me. The hardest part about it is that Sage (from what I understand) is not a Dolby certified application, so the decoders will not decode DD with it. However, if you have a sound card with a digital passthrough, you can dump the stream directly to your receiver and let it do the decoding. I am running a VIA Envy 24-based sound card, and I set up my decoder (NVidia PureVideo) to use the passthrough. This was not as straightforward (at least for me) as the posts I had read made it sound. I also had to specify the default Direct Sound renderer rather than just default. I can tell you how I set it up in the NVidia decoder, but I don't know anything about the PowerDVD decoders.


-JK

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by jkoutrouba

The hardest part about it is that Sage (from what I understand) is not a Dolby certified application, so the decoders will not decode DD with it.

FWIW, that only affects the nVidia decoders AFIAK. As for getting DD out of Sage, make sure in the Audio section (Detailed Setup) you have a decoder selected that is capable of AC3. Also make sure it's setup correctly for passthrough or decoding according to your setup.

[Fluffdaddy]

No Go.
After 3 hours of trying different combo's of decoders that was in Detailed Setup I give up.

Time to give NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder Platinum Software a try.

Thanks for the posts guys

[stanger89]

nVidia's decoders (none of them) will decode AC3 in Sage.

[jkoutrouba]

Originally Posted by Fluffdaddy

Time to give NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder Platinum Software a try.

If you're going to give these decoders a try because I am using them, be careful. Remember that I am using passthrough only. I get absolutely nothing from the analog outputs of my sound card when watching DD content, and the volume control in Sage does nothing. Everything is 100% controlled, decoded, etc. by my receiver. If you want to go this route, be absolutely sure that your sound card supports some sort of passthrough mode.


-JK

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by stanger89

nVidia's decoders (none of them) will decode AC3 in Sage.

D@MN

[Fluffdaddy]

Can someone Please tell me what PCI Sound card/w a Optical SPDIF Out and what combo of decoders to use to get AC3 in Sage ? Please Please................ pretty Please

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by jkoutrouba

. I get absolutely nothing from the analog outputs of my sound card when watching DD content, and the volume control in Sage does nothing. Everything is 100% controlled, decoded, etc. by my receiver. If you want to go this route, be absolutely sure that your sound card supports some sort of passthrough mode.


-JK

This would be something I could live with. What audio card are you working with ?

[jkoutrouba]

Originally Posted by Fluffdaddy

Can someone Please tell me what PCI Sound card/w a Optical SPDIF Out and what combo of decoders to use to get AC3 in Sage ? Please Please................ pretty Please

I am using the Mad Dog Entertainer 7.1. It's an Envy 24-based sound card with an optical output. The good news is that this and similar Envy cards are relatively cheap. Mine was $10 after rebate. Full price was something like $40 the last time I checked. There are cheaper ones out there if there are no rebates available (unless you need the optical input for something.) Look for the AV-710 from Chaintech (check your PM). There are general HTPC forums that have reviews, etc. of various sound cards, but I would not waste too much time on those since you are only going to be using passthrough.

What card are you using now?


-JK

[jkoutrouba]

Also, check out Polypro's "AC3 S/PDIF Probs?" post from yesterday.


-JK

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by jkoutrouba

What card are you using now?


-JK

AOpen Cobra AW870LP 8 (7.1)

http://usa.aopen.com/products/sound/CobraAW870LP.htm

[jkoutrouba]

Originally Posted by Fluffdaddy

AOpen Cobra AW870LP 8 (7.1)

Looks like that should work. Are you feeding it into a receiver? Do you have Windows Media Player 10 installed? If so, open it up, go into the Tools menu and select "Options..." This will open up a window for you with a bunch of tabs across the top. Select the DVD tab. It will have stuff for parental controls and language, but you want the Advanced tab at the bottom. For me, at least, using the NVidia decoders, this will open up a configuration screen for the audio decoder. It contains a speaker setup menu that allows me to select speaker type "Receiver" and a checkbox for "Output using S/PDIF cable". This is what makes all the magic happen. I don't know how your decoders work, but it seems like there would be something similar. Of course, you can always try the NVidia decoders for free if you want to experiment. I would try to get the free ones working, though.


-JK

[Fluffdaddy]

Will try when I get home and report back

thanks

[Fluffdaddy]

Eureka!!!!!! Success !!!!!!!!!!
I now have DD 5.1 in Sagetv.


jkoutrouba Thanks for all your help.


I DL'ed NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder Platinum Software and used it to set-up to use Optical SPDIF Out to my receiver like you said. Then I rebooted my system. After the reboot I went to sagetv setup and changed everything to
NVIDIA PureVideo Decoders both Audio and Video. And DD. 5.1 audio came right in on all my HD programming in Sage .......... BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks again jkoutrouba.

btw: With NVIDIA PureVideo Decoders my HD recordings are now jerking free and Smooth as glass


Disclaimer: I'm a big Fanboy of Sagetv so much so that I sold two of my Replaytv dvr's with Lifetime service because I like Sagetv better...........But I'm not happy about having to buy 2nd party decoders to get the performance I'm looking for. Info on how to get Sage to output DD 5.1 was very hard to find. If it was not for people here walking me though it, I would have been lost. It should not have been this hard. Sagetv should have installed all the decoders you need and place in the right places from jump street. I will email the top brass at sage this request for future software updates to do this.

[stanger89]

You realize that Sage is (AFIAK) the ONLY package that includes any decoders whatsoever.

[Fluffdaddy]

No, I was not aware of this.

[jkoutrouba]

Originally Posted by stanger89

You realize that Sage is (AFIAK) the ONLY package that includes any decoders whatsoever.

This includes Windows MCE. Even mighty Micro$oft doesn't include decoders with its premier media product.

I got my decoders in a package deal including sage and a tuner card. It gives vendors the opportunity to provide a value-added service. Perhaps someone should start selling tech support, too.

I'm glad things are working for you. You're the first person I was able to help in any significant way. All other interactions with this forum have either helped me, or I have not known enough to do anyone any good.


-JK