The VideoLAN Forums

Hi,

I have problems running VLC with SPDIF, under vista. It either crashes or gives choppy sound, I've read many threads on this here but I cant just get it working. Some tips/ideas from you guys would be appreciated =)

My system:
Windows Vista Home premium (32bit edition)
AMD 5600+, x2, 64 bit
4gb ram
NVIDIA geforce 8800 GTS
Soundcard1: Realtek Digital output (builtin)
Soundcard2: SB Audigy 2 NX (USB)

Here are my symptoms:

Case 1:
--------
SB Audigy card as primary
VLC 0 8 6c (all default settings)
Audio -> Audio device -> A/52 over S/PDIF
File MadonnaConfessionsTour.1080i.dd5.1.CE.ts

Result: Audio gets choppy

Case 2:
--------
SB Audigy card as primary
VLC 0 8 6c, Audio output module = Win32 waveout extension output
Audio -> Audio device -> A/52 over S/PDIF
File MadonnaConfessionsTour.1080i.dd5.1.CE.ts

Result: Audio gets choppy/No sound

Case 3:
--------
Realtek audio card as primary
VLC 0 8 6c (default settings)
Audio -> Audio device -> A/52 over S/PDIF
File MadonnaConfessionsTour.1080i.dd5.1.CE.ts

Result: vlc.exe crashes

Case 4:
--------
Realtek audio card as primary
VLC 0 8 6c, Audio output module = Win32 waveout extension output
Audio -> Audio device -> A/52 over S/PDIF
File MadonnaConfessionsTour.1080i.dd5.1.CE.ts

Result: Audio gets choppy



I've also tried VLC versions 0.8.2, 0.8.6b, vlc-0.9.0-svn-20070614-0839-win32 (testing with default and win32 audio output module). Neither of them work, either crashing or giving choppy sound or no sound.

For that particular sound card you might want to go back in drivers until you find ones that work. So start from the latest and move backward one by one.

Dont think there are that many versions of the SB Creative Audigy drivers that work with Vista. Tried another one for Realtek, but that one was worse.

Ok, you think its Creative that does something wrong. They'll hopefully fix it soon.

What are the odds that two audio drivers are broken. Have another sound card that I can try

Hmm. What's the exact audio card from the first case? It's just called SB Audigy or or is there a "Z/S", "Live" or "Pro" that follows it? The reason I ask is because I've been using these really neat third party drivers from kX Project Audio Driver

They've fixed quite a few problems for me, but most of all they sound better then Creative's own drives. If you want you could try them and see if they fix anything.

Somewhat similar setup but some differences as well. Sounds like the exact same problem though.

Core2Duo 6400,
Intel Mobo using onboard audio (sigmatel) with most recent drivers
VLC .8.6c using a clean setup
Vista Home Premium

If I use "Audio Device" stereo or 5.1 I get a 2 channel PCM feed
If I try A52 over spdif a massive amount of stuttering occurs

The funny thing is it works fine in media player using the AC3Filter plugin. I get a full 5.1 dolby digital output...

The only way I can get 5.1 to work on VLC but I have to switch my audio device to analogue outputs and then choose 5.1. I'd like digital to work as I use my analogue inputs on my receiver for another device!


Ideas?

Thus far you are batting 1000% as all chip sets mentioned have known issues that are driver related.

1. Realtek issues are crashing the machine on exit of VLC. Where VLC remains in memory at best case. Don't know about S/PDIF usage with this chip set, but older drivers has solved the primary issue.

2. SB Audigy issues are S/PDIF related and the drivers mentioned (according to all users except 1) has solved the issue.

http://kxproject.lugosoft.com/index.php?skip=1
http://www.driverheaven.net/general-dis ... eased.html
Replacement drivers for Creative sound cards

The first URL: The drivers are now quite old, but these were the ones reported to solve the S/PIDF issue.

3. I don't remember the issue with Sigmatel. What I do remember is the Devs saying: "Cheep audio cards!" without explanation and it appears that nothing worked correctly.