best DVD decoder for Sage and my Soundcard?

chughes · #1 02-26-2006, 01:58 PM

I am using an Audiotrack Prodigy 7.1 (based on the Envy 24HT chipset) and I have insralled the nVidia PureVideo decoders as a trial. I noticed that the listed audio chipsets at the bottom do not show Envy as a supported chipset. I'm not exactly sure how this will affect my viewing (or listening) experience, but I was wondering if anyone else could recommend a DVD decoder that will work well with Sage and the Prodigy 7.1 card. Obviously I am interested in maintaining the best sound quality possible.

I'm still struggling through getting this HTPC built and functional, so any advice on this subject would be appreciated. BTW, I have read almost every guide I can find (over at HTPCnews.com) but details about how video decoders and audio chipsets interact are a little hard to come by.

Thanks in advance.

stanger89 · #2 02-26-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chughes

I am using an Audiotrack Prodigy 7.1 (based on the Envy 24HT chipset) and I have insralled the nVidia PureVideo decoders as a trial. I noticed that the listed audio chipsets at the bottom do not show Envy as a supported chipset. I'm not exactly sure how this will affect my viewing (or listening) experience, but I was wondering if anyone else could recommend a DVD decoder that will work well with Sage and the Prodigy 7.1 card. Obviously I am interested in maintaining the best sound quality possible.

nVidia works fine with my Revo 7.1 (same chip).

chughes · #3 02-26-2006, 04:58 PM

So I assume you are able to pass the DVD audio signal through your card to your reciever (assuming you are using a reciever) to decode?

Would you mind sharing some of your Sage settings regarding audio? Under Setup > Detailed Setup > Video/Audio... what do you have for Audio renderer and MPEG2 Audio Decoder Filter? And under > DVD > DVD Audio Renderer and DVD Audio Decoder Filer?

Thanks for your help.

stanger89 · #4 02-26-2006, 06:04 PM

Audio and Video decoders are set to nVidia (nVidia Video Decoder not Post Processor). VMR9, and M-Audio Revolution as the renderer.

To get passthrough, you have to set the nVidia decoder "Connected to" to "A Receiver", and "Via" to "An S/PDIF cable".

Soulive · #5 03-01-2006, 09:26 AM

Interesting enough, I have Nvidia Audio Decoder as both the Audio and Video Decoder using SPDIF but can't get the Nvidia Audio Decoder to play tv recordings. The audio tab dosen't show during recorded playback. Using WMP it displays MPEG Audio Decoder and I believe Sage is using this instead of Nvidia.

Possibly related is the fact that when I watch a DVD (which works fine) and then I watch a TV recording I get no sound. Immediately using the VIA Envy 24HT (sound card) test feature, it errors with a description that it can't test because sound is already playing.

So I have to stop sage (to free the sound handle?) and start sage. In which recorded TV sound works again. At least until I watch a DVD.

Finally, this all worked beautifully with my old p4 2.4 HTPC. I've kept the same drivers for Purevideo, Envy (same card) and same Sage versions.

Soulive · #6 03-01-2006, 09:30 AM

Stranger,
For your Audio Render do you have two listings for the M-Audio. I have two and believe one is "VIA Envy" and the second is "Directsound: Via Envy".

stanger89 · #7 03-01-2006, 09:47 AM

I might, but I'm "M-Audio Revolution". Well, actually that's not true, right now I'm using "Reclock Audio Renderer". I've used Default Directsound Device too.

xred · #8 03-01-2006, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stanger89

I might, but I'm "M-Audio Revolution". Well, actually that's not true, right now I'm using "Reclock Audio Renderer". I've used Default Directsound Device too.

I've been looking at using reclock to help with some of the jerkiness with using VMR mode on my ATI AIW 9800 Pro. Do you find it helps smooth out playback?

stanger89 · #9 03-01-2006, 11:23 AM

Mine was basically smooth before, I'm mainly just playing with it.

chughes · #10 04-01-2006, 07:59 PM

BUMP

This audio decoder thing is killing me.

I have the DVD audio decoder set to AC3 for now becuase when I set it to nVidia, I get no sound. However, the famous volume difference between DVD and TV audio problem is upon me.

I am guessing that I can't get audio out of the nVidia DVD decoder because it is not set as default. So I go into the AC3 config and set it to prefer other decoder, then in Sage set the DVD audio decoder to nVidia. This does not work. Anybody have a suggestion?

Currently, I don't have a DD receiver taking the signal, it is simply getting output through my soundcard to the SDTV speakers, if that is useful info.

Polypro · #11 04-02-2006, 12:20 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but...I thought the NVIDIA Decoders only supported Analog 5.1 in MCE and WMP. If you were doing passthrough to a receiver, they should work fine. AC3 Filter would be your option for analog 5.1, and I see that did indeed work for you...the volume difference problem, I have as well...and havn't found a solution. One option may be to downgrade your Hauppauge drivers to a version where the Hauppauge Tweak Tool Line-In settings actually worked. The place to ask that question would be on SHS's site www.shspvr.com What do you mean by SDTV speakers?...1/8" mini-jack out of the Sound card to 1/8" mini-jack or L+R RCA in on the TV?

P

Oh, this is for a particular hardware setup, but something may help:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...46&postcount=6

Try post #6

This is for S/PDIF Passthrough to a receiver with NVIDIA Decorders.

chughes · #12 04-02-2006, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polypro

What do you mean by SDTV speakers?...1/8" mini-jack out of the Sound card to 1/8" mini-jack or L+R RCA in on the TV?

Yes, 1/8" mini-jack out of the sound card to L/R RCA on the TV.

By the sounds of it, I'll be using the AC3 decoder filters until I get my DD receiver set up. Thanks for the info.

makutaku · #13 04-22-2006, 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulive

Possibly related is the fact that when I watch a DVD (which works fine) and then I watch a TV recording I get no sound. Immediately using the VIA Envy 24HT (sound card) test feature, it errors with a description that it can't test because sound is already playing.

So I have to stop sage (to free the sound handle?) and start sage. In which recorded TV sound works again. At least until I watch a DVD.

I have the same problem. Have you solved this issue ?

Do you mind sharing your findings ? I have created a thread just for it:

http://forums.freytechnologies.com/f...ad.php?t=17525

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