10 replies to this topic

[Pixsoul]

Hi All,

I'm trying to get my MP3s to play in 5.1 surround through my Denon receiver. I have WMC 7 enabled as 5.1 surround sound, Windows speaker setup as 5.1 surround sound and I have Shark007's codec pack installed and configured for bitstreaming through to my receivew. All surround sound movies etc bitstream through fine, and also TV, which is great...but I'd like to configure my MP3s which are obviously in stereo to play through all my speakers.

I've tried disabling LAV filter in Shark007, disabling Windows default codecs and enabling FFDshow as the default for MP3 (and then making appropriate adjustments in the mixer settings)...but I cannot get this working Media center...I have got it working in Windows Media Player though.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Ken

[rocky]

I dont think you can do this via software...

Your best bet is looking on the amp it self - it should have settings/profiles for 5 channel stereo or likes. My Yamaha does.

[Pixsoul]

I dont think you can do this via software...

Your best bet is looking on the amp it self - it should have settings/profiles for 5 channel stereo or likes. My Yamaha does.

A good thought; I'll see if it will do this.

In your case does this only change stereo input into 5 channel stereo, ie. it doesnt mess up bitstreaming your DTS feeds etc?

[Pixsoul]

I dont think you can do this via software...

Your best bet is looking on the amp it self - it should have settings/profiles for 5 channel stereo or likes. My Yamaha does.

I havent tried this yet as the Mrs is watching something....but as a thought, I'm outputting from my PC in 5.1 sound. So even when I play a "stereo" MP3, it feeds the receiver 5.1 channels as far as I know. I think it shows up as "multi in".

[Martin24]

No - it's all about the number of channels in the source - which in this case is two

5.1/7.1 is an encoding spec - MP3's are not encoded like that

On the Yamaha we can select 7 channel stereo (funny term) which as far as I know does not have a lot of processing, it just drives the two channels through all of our left and right speakers which does give more depth and room coverage.

With the Yamaha we just change the scene (1 button) to reconfigure the amp settings for movie/music

Other options are to use one of the NEO playback settings if your amp has that - it using processing to fake 5.1 - some people like it

[rocky]

On the Yamaha we can select 7 channel stereo (funny term) which as far as I know does not have a lot of processing, it just drives the two channels through all of our left and right speakers which does give more depth and room coverage.

Yep that is the same with my amp... i dont use this feature on my MCE (but have tested it) and it works fine - i use this on radio.

Other options are to use one of the NEO playback settings if your amp has that - it using processing to fake 5.1 - some people like it

I think this might be called dolby pro logic, i bealive the neo you have to set in the sound card, just like dolby live as well.. - dont quote me...
And as Martin as sad - on Yamaha amps you can set a "scene" which can set the amp in the right mode - im guessing you could do this with your amp as well.

I guess the downside is that you have to remember to put it in this mode if you want play MP3 off your MCE......

[rocky]

In your case does this only change stereo input into 5 channel stereo, ie. it doesnt mess up bitstreaming your DTS feeds etc?

No it dosnt...well....... my amp is always set on "movie dramatic" which i think is just dolby pro logic as it fakes 5.1, but when i put on a DVD that is DTS 5.1 it then plays it in DTS 5.1 turning the amp to "straight" does not change the effects at all; "straight" is just yamaha way of saying "not touching the source input at all" - the same goes when a DVD play using dolby digital 5.1 or a FTV show 5.1....
Anything not in 5.1 by "digital" is then faked..... (which mind you i dont mind....)

In terms of the 5 channel stereo - i can test for you if you like, but this is only answering the question with my amp not yours..

hope this always makes sense!

[mediadan]

Hey,

If your Denon AVR says "multi-in" this means you are not bitstreaming and the PC is doing the decoding of the audio.

When you're successfully bitstreaming on a Denon, the console will say DTS Surround, Dolby Digital or similar. This means the decompression is happening on your receiver and you're getting the optimal sound quality

When an MP3 or stereo source is sent to my AVR the console displays "Matrix" or whatever surround mode I've currently got set.

I'm using Shark007's codecs and have them configured optimally for my environment apart from one setting, Dolby for stereo sources. The setting is set in the FFDShow config but it doesn't seem to work and the amp receives the signal as stereo and applies the 'fake' surround mode.

Dan

[rdub]

With my Denon amp, if I select Dolby Pro Logic (or any other mode) for a stereo input, it will remember to use this mode the next time it receives it. It will automatically switch over to DTS, Matrix etc when receiving 5.1 or 7.1 signal.

Yours may do the same.

Rdub.

[Pixsoul]

With my Denon amp, if I select Dolby Pro Logic (or any other mode) for a stereo input, it will remember to use this mode the next time it receives it. It will automatically switch over to DTS, Matrix etc when receiving 5.1 or 7.1 signal.

Yours may do the same.

Rdub.

Ill give it a go...although I think it outputs as multichannel for stereo...will check though.

[WarrenH]

Your MP3 is in 2 Channel stereo, you can't upgrade it to true 5.1. However, your AVR should have a setting for faux 5.1 so that it outputs sound to all speakers. This isn't the cinema, live, rock, other settings as those are only the bass / treble preset amplifications. It also isn't the Dolby, etc settings. I have a Pioneer so I'm not sure what your Denon's selection would be, but they all work the same in theory.