Audio from SageTV server cutting in and out

[tvmaster2]

I feed my Yamaha receiver with an optical audio feed from a Vizio LCD TV. Any source (antenna - external box) fed to the Vizio directly emerges beautifully, audio-wise, from the Vizio's optical audio output.

EXCEPT....

If the audio feed is coming my the SageTV server, a Gigabyte MB with a Colossus card, HDPVR box and SiliconDust OTA unit as sources. It doesn't matter if the audio is arriving from the Gigabyte's HDMI output, or the Colossus cards analog audio outputs - if the audio source is coming into the TV from the computer, the Vizio's optical audio out cuts in and out about every five seconds, just for a millisecond.

Are the Realtek Audio Drivers the most likely culprit? Any other ideas?

Thanks

[JustFred]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

Are the Realtek Audio Drivers the most likely culprit? Any other ideas?

Temporarily try connecting the Gigabyte HDMI output and/or Colossus analog output directly into the Yamaha; see if the dropout goes away. Your description makes me suspect the conversion to optical in the Visio more than Realtek.

I doubt anyone would really notice a **millisecond** dropout from an analog audio source, but I've been wrong before

[tvmaster2]

What I did to test that was wire my rooftop OTA directly into the Vizio. No problem. Then I sent HDMI from both an Apple TV and Sage HD200 to the Vizio’s HDMI inputs. No problem there either. How about 100 milliseconds then

[JustFred]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

What I did to test that was wire my rooftop OTA directly into the Vizio. No problem. Then I sent HDMI from both an Apple TV and Sage HD200 to the Vizio’s HDMI inputs. No problem there either.

I still recommend to try bypassing the Visio, connecting the Gigabyte HDMI output directly into the Yamaha. If the dropout continues, that points to Realtek. On the other hand, if audio is good, that points to Visio's internal conversion to optical.

How about 100 milliseconds then

My twisted sense of (poor) humor showing here.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by JustFred

I still recommend to try bypassing the Visio, connecting the Gigabyte HDMI output directly into the Yamaha. If the dropout continues, that points to Realtek. On the other hand, if audio is good, that points to Visio's internal conversion to optical.


My twisted sense of (poor) humor showing here.

lol. A millisecond is quick. I'll try that patch and see what happens. One other caveat - this connection used to be fed to a 14-year-old, pre-HDMI Yamaha receiver. The new one (five-years old) is HDMI compliant, which also means HDCP crap compliant. But since it didn't choke with the Vizio output from an OTA connection, that's likely not the issue.
Stay tuned, as they say

UPDATE: Okay, your suggestion confirms it's the computers output, as the problem persisted while patched directly into the receiver, at least the Gigabyte HDMI output. It's possible the Hauppauge drivers may be suspect as well. Trying to think of a way to isolate the cause BEFORE uninstalling - reinstalling software..

[JustFred]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

UPDATE: Okay, your suggestion confirms it's the computers output, as the problem persisted while patched directly into the receiver, at least the Gigabyte HDMI output. It's possible the Hauppauge drivers may be suspect as well. Trying to think of a way to isolate the cause BEFORE uninstalling - reinstalling software..

It should be pretty painless to just update the Gigabyte audio and/or video drivers. Going directly to Gigabyte's website tends to get newer drivers than those from Microsoft.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by JustFred

It should be pretty painless to just update the Gigabyte audio and/or video drivers. Going directly to Gigabyte's website tends to get newer drivers than those from Microsoft.

yup - something like that. I wonder if HDCP plays a part in this, as the last time I updated audio drivers was years ago - before HDMI 2.0 arrived I believe.