Audio disappears when using ATI HDTV Wonder for PVR

[shawncochran]

I've made reference in other threads to this issue, but I can't seem to resolve it. Any help is appreciated.

If I try to FF/RW or pause live DIGITAL (both SD and HD) TV via OTA from my ATI HDTV Wonder card, the audio goes away and won't come back unless I switch channels. Also, any SHOWS recorded as .ts files from the ATI card -- the audio goes away if you FF/RW or pause the recordings.

The Hauppauge PVR150 card is using the S-video & audio inputs to receive the feed from my DirecTV receiver and it works fine for pause and FF/RW. Also, the .ts file playback on those recorded from the Hauppauge work fine if FF/RW or paused and resumed. There's no audio issues with DVD playback either.

Also -- if I do change the setup in SageTV for audio/video decoder filter to use the ATI/Cyberlink driver the FF/RW and pause elements work fine -- except that the audio output is ALWAYS 2.1 pro-logic rather than 5.1 (which the Purevideo switches just fine.)

The only way I've been able 5.1 audio to work correctly is to use the nVidia Purevideo in audio/video for video renderer and audio renderer. This is also the same setup in the DVD area.

Machine: intel P4 2.53Ghz / 533Mhz bus on intel D845PEBT2 motherboard, 1Gb PC3200, ATI Radeon 9500 AGP 4/8X 256Mb, Maxtor 300Gb SATA 150, ATI HDTV Wonder, Hauppauge PVR 150, SageTV 4.1.x (overlay mode) + two clients, nVidia Purevideo Platinum (output via SPDIF on motherboards' sound card), Cyberlink v6 DVD software, ATI/Cyberlink drivers for HDTV Wonder.

[shawncochran]

Noticed that a few people have viewed this, but haven't seen any responses. Is anyone out there having audio disappearing issues re: pause/FF/RW playback?

[malore]

I use a HDTV wonder for recording and have 5.1 playback working with the intervideo audio decoder that came with WinDVD4. My audio often gets choppy or cuts out after skipping through the commercial break, but I've always been able to fix it by jumping back a little ways. It sometimes takes a couple of tries and the networks switching between prologic and dolby digital between the shows and commercials doesn't help. I've also noticed commercial segments that the only sound I hear is from the subwoofer.

[shawncochran]

Originally Posted by malore

I use a HDTV wonder for recording and have 5.1 playback working with the intervideo audio decoder that came with WinDVD4. My audio often gets choppy or cuts out after skipping through the commercial break, but I've always been able to fix it by jumping back a little ways. It sometimes takes a couple of tries and the networks switching between prologic and dolby digital between the shows and commercials doesn't help. I've also noticed commercial segments that the only sound I hear is from the subwoofer.

That's interesting. When I change to the ATI drivers from the card, I don't have any issues period -- with the exception that NONE of the programming is 5.1 -- it's all 2ch pro-logic sounding (and that's what the reciever says it is doing too)

Have you heard of anyone sucessfully using a codec/decodec combo without issues when using an ATI HDTV Wonder for 5.1?

[malore]

What I meant was that sometimes the transition from the commercials, using plain stereo, to the show, using dolby digital, cause my audio to get choppy or cut out. Which makes resynching? the audio trickier because to hear all the audio I have to time my jump back to hit the start of the show and miss the end of the commercial break. I don't think I have as much trouble with my local Fox station since everything is broadcast in dolby digital even if it's only mono.

I would be interested in knowing how well 5.1 playback is working for people using the hdtv wonder or another card.

[shawncochran]

Originally Posted by malore

I would be interested in knowing how well 5.1 playback is working for people using the hdtv wonder or another card.

Agreed. I've been fighting this since the day I installed SageTV. The sad part is -- I'd think that this is some simple fix. I've tried every combination of setting I can think of. I documented my test cases and can reproduce this EVERY TIME. If I use the nVidia decoder (preferred) for OTA HDTV via the ATI HDTV Wonder (recorded or live) the ff/rw/pause (PVR features) cause the audio to disappear and it simply won't return. I've even tried changing the default output (directsound versus wave out) and the problem still exists. I watch after the pause, and the nVidia deocder in the tray shows it is still receiving audio (because the little blue bar is moving) but there is NO SOUND and the receiver says it isn't receiving audio. Again, change this to ATI/Cyberlink and the audio is always 'famous' but the audio is 2ch only.

Since EVERY OTHER APPLICATION ON THE PLANET SO FAR WORKS, I can only assume that this is directly related to the code for SageTV and how it works with the code from nVidia. I say this because the ATI application works flawlessly. Cyberlink v6 works flawlessly. BeyondTV works flawlessly. Unfortunately, I've paid for SageTV and two PC clients. I've requested "official" tech support twice now, and no one seems to either 1) receive these requests or 2) care about these requests.

I've had a lot of really great end users in this forum try to help so far, but nothing seems to bring this to a working solution. PolyPro and Stanger89 have spent a lot of time working ideas with me, and I appreciate their help so far. Sadly, nothing has resolved this.

I sure like the way SageTV looks, and I really like the features, and I think it could be a great application. I'm starting to regret ever having sent money to either SageTV or nVidia at this point. I'm not interested in beta-testing their 'release' software. I'm a consumer that expected his money was going towards a more complete product. I guess I was wrong.

[Polypro]

Do I have it right: Nvidia decoders allow 5.1 but you lose sound... ATI/Cyberlink has no sound loss but won't pass 5.1?


WinDVD 6 (and definitely 7) won't pass through DD 5.1 outside of their native app. Your Cyberlink may be the same way. Someone who uses Cyberlink in Sage will have to chime in. I ran into this in the beginning...I wanted to use the DNM version of WinDVD6 (that one release ) in Sage, but 5.1 wouldn't pass.

"Integrated audio driver for Intel desktop boards using AC '97 processing with the Analog Devices (ADI) AD1885, AD1980, AD1981A or AD1981B codecs 5.12.01.3516b 1/7/2003"

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...4&submit=Go%21

Is this the driver you have installed?

P

[shawncochran]

Originally Posted by Polypro

Do I have it right: Nvidia decoders allow 5.1 but you lose sound... ATI/Cyberlink has no sound loss but won't pass 5.1?


WinDVD 6 (and definitely 7) won't pass through DD 5.1 outside of their native app. Your Cyberlink may be the same way. Someone who uses Cyberlink in Sage will have to chime in. I ran into this in the beginning...I wanted to use the DNM version of WinDVD6 (that one release ) in Sage, but 5.1 wouldn't pass.

"Integrated audio driver for Intel desktop boards using AC '97 processing with the Analog Devices (ADI) AD1885, AD1980, AD1981A or AD1981B codecs 5.12.01.3516b 1/7/2003"

http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...4&submit=Go%21

Is this the driver you have installed?

P

PP -- you're correct. nVidia does 5.1 passthrough SPDIF but will stop passing audio on FF/RW/PAUSE. ATI/Cyberlink works on FF/RW/PAUSE but won't pass 5.1 (probably because of something ATI/Cyberlink has 'crippled' in their software to prevent others from using it this way!)

So -- to get 5.1 from SageTV for OTA HDTV & DVD/file playback I've got to use the nVidia codecs.

Tonight I will check the version of the audio board drivers I'm running on the Intel M/B.

[shawncochran]

Originally Posted by Polypro

"Integrated audio driver for Intel desktop boards using AC '97 processing with the Analog Devices (ADI) AD1885, AD1980, AD1981A or AD1981B codecs 5.12.01.3516b Is this the driver you have installed?P

I double checked and it is. I downloaded it anyway and installed it.

[shawncochran]

Here's another odd quirk. I have copied some DVDs to disc. When I play them back through the Media Library, I can FF/RW/skip chapters just fine. Pause and the audio goes away and won't come back.

Again, I had the latest drivers for the Soundmax digital audio (Cadenza) installed and I re-installed them, but it didn't make a difference.

Again -- any content recorded from or watched live on the Hauppauge card is fine. Any content from the ATI HDTV Wonder recorded or live has the sound disappearing issue when using the nVidia Purevideo Platinum decoders.

[shawncochran]

I'm going to try to find one of the "supported" sound cards that nVidia has listed and see if that works -- all of the cards on their site don't look like they are available in the mainstream retail arena, and few have S/PDIF

[Polypro]

Good luck, I'm out of ideas Just a thought...a motherboard with Optical and/or Coax S/PDIF out may be cheaper than a soundcard

p

[shawncochran]

Originally Posted by Polypro

Good luck, I'm out of ideas Just a thought...a motherboard with Optical and/or Coax S/PDIF out may be cheaper than a soundcard
p

I could get a newer M/B (because I'm using onboard sound right now) but I did open a ticket w/ nVidia re: the list of supported sound cards for Purevideo (almost none of the cards on the 'supported' list are still available through retail channels.)

The response was:

Hello,

Direct Sound via S/PDIF is the requirement for the Decoder for S/PDIF out. The list of cards were tested and qualified at the time the Decoder was brought to market some time ago. New cards are not listed but will not be a problem. We only advise against using AC97 or integrated software audio.

Best regards,
NVIDIA

That's pretty specific. So, I'm going to purchase 'any sound card' w/ a SPDIF optical out.

[shawncochran]

Originally Posted by shawncochran

I could get a newer M/B (because I'm using onboard sound right now) but I did open a ticket w/ nVidia re: the list of supported sound cards for Purevideo (almost none of the cards on the 'supported' list are still available through retail channels.)

The response was:


That's pretty specific. So, I'm going to purchase 'any sound card' w/ a SPDIF optical out.

Here's the answer: installed Turtle Beach Riviera sound card with S/PDIF out and the nVidia Purevideo Platinum decoders now work fine. There is an incompatibility with AC'97 soundcards. Special "thank you" to SageTV "tech support" who provided absolutely NO REPONSES to a PAYING CUSTOMER.

[spacecadet]

Originally Posted by shawncochran

Here's the answer: installed Turtle Beach Riviera sound card with S/PDIF out and the nVidia Purevideo Platinum decoders now work fine. There is an incompatibility with AC'97 soundcards. Special "thank you" to SageTV "tech support" who provided absolutely NO REPONSES to a PAYING CUSTOMER.

I know this thread is a bit out-of-date, but I was having the same problem with the onboard audio of my Intel D865PERLL motherboard. This motherboard uses the same Soundmax audio chipset/drivers.

I was able to solve the problem using the instructions from the first post of this thread:

http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/36115.aspx

If I installed the Soundmax drivers that came on the Intel CD (didn't record the driver version # on the CD), I was able to passthrough the SPDIF audio, but lost the audio on Pause/FF/REW as shawncochran describes.

If I updated to the latest Soundmax drivers that Intel offered on their website (5.12.01.5240), then I lost the ability to passthrough the SPDIF audio altogether.

I fixed this as the thread above suggests. I installed the drivers off of the Intel CD and saved a copy of the WINDOWS\system32\drivers\aeaudio.sys that was installed.

I then installed the updated drivers from the Intel website (5240). I replaced the aeaudio.sys that was laid down by the 5240 driver with the aeaudio.sys that I had copied off from the original driver.

After a reboot, my SPDIF passthrough was working perfectly. Apparently, the aeaudio.sys driver is used by SoundMax for some settings related to the microphone. Since I don't have a microphone, I can't say I'm worried much about swapping the driver files around.

To be fair to Sage, this is a problem with the Soundmax driver and appears to affect other applications beyond just Sage TV (the post above references MCE).