No DTS or AC3 from .mkv file to amp

[Jock in a Frock]

Hi, I'm new to all this so be gentle...

Gigabyte mobo with onboard Realtek audio chip. Windows 7 64 bit, Pioneer HTS-GS1 5.1 surround system. Connected via co-axial cable.

Under Windows Sound Properties, I am able to test the DTS and AC3 sound function okay. These trigger the DTS and AC3 decoders in my amp.

However I am unable to get VLC to stream the DTS from any .mkv file to the amp. I oly get PCM sound.

I can tell the amp is not receiving DTS or AC£, as it has LED indicators for those streams. Basically, no LEDs equals PCM sound.

I know the source file has a DTS 5.1 stream, and I've told VLC to use 5.1 output (Audio / Audio Device / 5.1 ) but still I get PCM.

Looking in Preferences / Audio, how should I configure this? I have tried all the various output devices (Default, DirectX audio output with S/PDIF enabled), but no joy.

[VLC_help]

You have to select Audio -> Audio Device -> A/52 over S/PDIF
if you don't have that option, you have to select another device
http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ-1.1 ... o_my_PC.3F

[Jock in a Frock]

No joy - I don't have the "A/52 over S/PDIF" option under Audio Device.

I have tried every other device and still no luck. I think I might need to find another driver for the ALC888 chipset.

Please note that this is a clean Win7 x64 install, fully patched, with the Gigabyte chipset drivers installed (including the Realtek audio driver from Gigabyte's website).

I will also try another audio player to see if it's my VLC config at fault.

[VLC_help]

There should usually be device named Digital Output
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7440/w7applet.jpg

[Jock in a Frock]

Okay, I've now got this working.

After a lot of Googling & driver installing (none of which made any difference), I found a thread which pointed me to an AC3Filter codec. I've installed this and I now get AC3 & DTS over my S/PDIF coaxial connection. My amp now switches automatically from PCM to DD or DTS depending on the source

The AC3Filter codec can be found here:

http://ac3filter.net/

I've now configured VLC Player Audio settings to:
Preferences\Audio\Output Module is set to Win32 waveOut extension output, and "Use S/PDIF when available" is selected.

This now works brilliantly. I suggest anyone else having problems (and Googling seems to suggest that I'm not alone!), give this a try.

Many thanks for taking time to post in my thread.

Jock in a Frock.