HD100 - Multiple Audio Outputs?

[gordo]

It looks like the HD100 makes you choose an audio output (HDMI, Optical or Analog). I'd like to be able to set it up with both Optical and Analog so I only have to turn on my surround sound system when I'm watching a movie or listening to music or something, for regular TV I'd prefer the sound coming through the TV.

Anyone got any ideas or workarounds other than plugging them both in and manualy changing the setup all the time ?

[briands]

Originally Posted by gordo

It looks like the HD100 makes you choose an audio output (HDMI, Optical or Analog). I'd like to be able to set it up with both Optical and Analog so I only have to turn on my surround sound system when I'm watching a movie or listening to music or something, for regular TV I'd prefer the sound coming through the TV.

Anyone got any ideas or workarounds other than plugging them both in and manualy changing the setup all the time ?

I am using audio via HDMI to my TV and this is what I have selected HDMI in the setup... I use analog connections for music listening and they seem to work fine.

[edbmdave]

Do both the HDMI and Analog outputs work at the same time?

[Lucas]

Yes they do.

[gblinckmann]

I use both HDMI and the S/PDIF audio at the same time. I've got a ticket in for the S/PDIF audio being stereo as opposed to 5.1 surround sound, but I'm sure that will be something simple to fix. Both HDMI and S/PDIF are active at the same time, though.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by gblinckmann

I use both HDMI and the S/PDIF audio at the same time. I've got a ticket in for the S/PDIF audio being stereo as opposed to 5.1 surround sound, but I'm sure that will be something simple to fix

Pick S/PDIF as the output if you want 5.1.

[gblinckmann]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Pick S/PDIF as the output if you want 5.1.

That's what I figured, too. I just get stereo through the S/PDIF port even when that's selected for audio. I put in a support request on that. I have no idea what I could have done wrong. It's not all that hard.

[stanger89]

What's the source that's giving you stereo?

[btrcp2000]

gblinckmann-

i could be wrong, but if you are passing your hdmi through your tv, then I think the tv will downmix to stereo before it passes the spdif signal through. I have read this is for copyright reasons (in other words, make it suck so people have to work harder to get what they want).

I have a samsung lnt4661, and if I have my receiver looking at the optical signal the tv is passing through (via hdmi from the extender), it is stereo. If I have it looking at the spdif straight from the hd extender, I get 5.1. This is on dvd rips. It's too hard to tell on regular tv, because I never know when my locals are really sending out a 5.1 signal, or just trying to make me think so.

[gblinckmann]

Oh, it would downmix the audio down to stereo if I were feeding my receiver from my TV, but I'm not. The HD100 is connected right to my receiver through the S/PDIF connector. That's what's selected for audio, too, on the HD100.

The source materials are some ATSC TV shows and ripped DVD's. I know that some ATSC shows are in stereo, but I've recorded some in 5.1, also.

I've even tried this test clip as a source:
http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28974

Everything comes up as stereo for me. My DVD player and my Cable Co HD-DVR both do 5.1 sound with my receiver, but not the HD100.

I've sent the diagnostic logs into support tonight.

[hemicuda]

I'm going to check this out tonight if I get a chance. I'm looking at getting a toslink selector switch. The repair guy that finally cleared up 95% of my green screen issues (tv board upgrade) told me that my samsung only passes stereo from the hdmi to the optical port. my receiver simulates 5.1 somehow, but I want true 5.1. It'll be interesting if I get the switch how the Xbox sounds w/ a direct optical link. Heck I could even go back to 1080p over component and get rid of all my video issues.

hmmm... $10 switch + 3x $5 cable vs. HDMI audio/video heartaches.

[hemicuda]

ok, ordered a 3-way switch and cables. the tv is NOT passing 5.1 from the HDMI to the optical out.

next Q for Sage is whether the HD100 volume control is supposed to work for digital audio via optical. it works for analog broadcasts, but digital seems to pass right through w/o any effect. complicates things having to use an extra remote for DD volume.

[dotheDVDeed]

Well not all HDTVs work this way. I feed 5.1 via HDMI to my cheap Sanyo LCD from Walmart and it outputs 5.1 via optical to my receiver. Works for both my HD100 and my upscaling DVD player.

It also works for the built-in digital tuner when the station is nice enough to broadcast 5.1.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by hemicuda

ok, ordered a 3-way switch and cables. the tv is NOT passing 5.1 from the HDMI to the optical out.

next Q for Sage is whether the HD100 volume control is supposed to work for digital audio via optical. it works for analog broadcasts, but digital seems to pass right through w/o any effect. complicates things having to use an extra remote for DD volume.

Volume control never works for DD, it can't, you have to decode DD to change the volume.

[hemicuda]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Volume control never works for DD, it can't, you have to decode DD to change the volume.

ok, that makes sense. now I'm just waiting on USPS to deliver my toslink switch.

Originally Posted by dotheDVDeed

Well not all HDTVs work this way. I feed 5.1 via HDMI to my cheap Sanyo LCD from Walmart and it outputs 5.1 via optical to my receiver. Works for both my HD100 and my upscaling DVD player.

oh well. guess I'll try to do better on my next homework assignment.

[merneric]

Hi,

I have an HD100 hooked up to a monoprice HDMI splitter (x2). One signal goes to my Sony receiver and the other goes directly to the Samsung LCD in the bedroom. Originally, I had the audio out on the HD100 set to HDMI, and was getting sound through the Samsung fine (its through the TV speakers, so I am assuming it was stereo). I was also getting sound through the livingroom setup, but the signal was not being processed in surround. I then, switched the audio out on the HD100 to SPDIF. Now I get great surround sound through the receiver, but I get no audio at all through the samsung in the bedroom. Shouldn't the sound through the HDMI be "down mixed" to stereo? Are there some other types of settings on the server end that I could adjust to ensure proper downmixing? Ultimately, I will probably just end up buying another HD100 for the bedroom, but would like to have the best of both in the interim.

Thanks

[stanger89]

Setting the output to HDMI will cause the audio to be decoded and sent over HDMI (as Stereo PCM?). There's no way to send downmixed HDMI to the TV and bitsream to the Sony at the same time. Could it be that your Sony doesn't "upmix" PCM from the HDMI input?

[merneric]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Could it be that your Sony doesn't "upmix" PCM from the HDMI input?

I'm not sure what you mean by the sony does not "upmix" the PCM from the HDMI input...the sony is an ES STRDA-5300, so I would think it would be able to handle just about anything, but then again, I am still trying to figure all this stuff out.

Thanks for your help.

[stanger89]

I guess I'm kind of confused what the problem is then, you've said:

1) Audio set to HDMI, TV and Sony work but Sony was not "processed in surround"
2) Audio set to S/PDIF, TV doesn't work but Sony gives full surround.

I guess I sort of jumped your question, which was "Shouldn't the sound through the HDMI be "down mixed" to stereo?".

The answer to that is yes, configured as 1 (HDMI), audio is downmixed to stereo.

Now I was inferring from your post that you don't like the results from that setting (no surround on the Sony) and you want stereo to the TV and 5.1 to the Sony, you can't do that, send stereo to one and bitstream (surround) to the other, not at the same time.

So finally, I have the question/observation that it appears your Sony doesn't "upmix" or "process in surround" stereo PCM input, which is why you don't get surround on the Sony.

[rtengvad]

Originally Posted by stanger89

you want stereo to the TV and 5.1 to the Sony, you can't do that, send stereo to one and bitstream (surround) to the other, not at the same time.

But that is no problem for the Hauppauge MVP. It can output both 5.1 via digital out and stereo via scart. I think it is a bit of a step back if the HD100 can't do the same.

I agree completely with the first post that is would be very practical to have that option of output stereo to the tv and a stream to the surround receiver at the same time.

Rasmus