Best audio settings for 5.1 - suggestions please.

[VIKINGS]

Hello. Ok, here's the thing I checked the audio options vlc has(advanced view) and there are alot of things there I don't understand, don't even know what they are for. And my system still doesn't perform quite well when I play movies with surroud sound(hd,dvd..etc). Can someone please tell me how I should tweak my audio options? I am using windows xp sp2, Creative Audigy SE Bulk soundcard and Genius SW-HF-5.1-5005 audio system and vlc 0.9.9(and I don't want to go ver. 1.0.0 yet, it has some bugs I don't like). If there is any more info you need from me let me know. Thank you.

[VLC_help]

Try Waveout audio output module.
http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ-0.9 ... _anomalies

[VIKINGS]

Thank you, but that still doesn't really answer my question. I don't have problems getting the audio to work I just know it could be much much better and since there are alot of options in audio settings that i don't understand and don't know how to configure I was hoping someone more experienced then me could help me tweak them.

[Arite]

Well as VLC_help said the Waveout audio output module works better/is more reliable than the default sometimes. When you say your system doesn't perform too well when playing movies with surround sound how do you mean? Decoding HD video is very resource intensive (if HD H.264 video playback is jutterly try skipping the loop filter as described here.

If you are getting juttery audio (or video even) try increasing the caching value by going to:
Tools >> Preferences >> (Select "All" for "Show settings") >> Input / Codecs >> Access modules >> File

And increase the "Caching value in ms".

Arite.

[VIKINGS]

Thx Arite. Ok, I changed to waveout output, now for example at waveout extension output what do I select? Do I leave Microsoft soundmapper or switch to my sound card? Do i check "Use float32 output" or is it better unchecked?(and what about the other tabs?) See thats the problem I don't know what these things do and what is better to select. The sound isn't jittery, but for example the speech in movies is always alot less loud then the rest of the sounds, sometimes effects don't work right(like a sound that should go into left-rear speaker goes in front or in all). And overall the quality isn't what I expected. I can see a very big difference when I listen to music, that works great, but as far as movies go I think I'm still missing something.

[Arite]

Generally, unless you know what they do and why you want to change then, leave the settings as the defaults.

So to change the audio to the Waveout module, just go to, in the Preferences (with "Show settings set to "All") "Audio >> Output modules" and select the Waveout one from the drop-down list. Press "Save" and restart VLC. No need to change anything else.

Regarding the sound - VLC downmixes e.g. 5.1 to stereo according to your sound card's settings. Is you have stereo speakers, and you PC's sound card configuration is stereo then VLC should always do that (speech in movies should come out OK). Anyhow, you can check it is downmixing to stereo by going to the "Audio >> Audio Device" menu when playing media with 5.1 surround sound (should say stereo). If you want 5.1 surround sound, it should say 5.1 (if so, you might want to adjust you 5.1 speaker levels etc.).

As for "overall quality isn't what I expected" - need more detail as to what you mean.

Arite.

[VIKINGS]

Well, your ideea didn't work. If I switch to waveout then I have no speech at all.

[Arite]

So you get other sounds just no speech (speech normally comes out through the center speaker)? Check the audio device is 5.1 and you sound card settings are 5.1/6 channels, and balance the audio levels. If there is no difference use the default audio output module.

Arite.

[VLC_help]

And if you use SPDIF make sure it is enabled.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/raiska/tutorials/vlc092/23.png

[VIKINGS]

Yes, I left it on default eventually, didn't have much choice. No, I don't use SPDIF.

[VLC_help]

VLC 1.0.0 fixed Corrections on 5.1 and 7.1 channel decoding and ordering so if your multichannel output is incorrect, then it might be issue of 0.9.9

[VIKINGS]

Yeah, I tried 1.0.0. and it didn't seem to fix the problem plus it has some other bugs that really annoy me, so I'll stick to 0.9 for now. All in all thanks for the help guys but the more I read in different forums and the more the days pass I am becoming quite convinced that my soundcard is to blame. So I'll just try to make an effort and try to buy a ASUS Xonar D2/PM for christmas, that should fix all my problems.(it better fix them considering how much that board costs! )