Instead 5.1 I only hear the front speakers

[Felix]

Hi All!

I hope someone has the answer.
I browsed through the posts, but didn't find the answer.

So the problem is: I have a 5.1 soundcard, the 5.1 mode is set in the control panel, all other stuff work with 5.1 sound, but VLC (0.8.6) plays only the front speakers' sound. (5.1 is picked in audio channel mode, and in the setup DirectX output is the sound output module.)

Anything that can be adjusted in the setup that solves this, or the development isn't there yet?

Thanks,
Felix

[dionoea]

Please post in the appropriate forum. This obviously isn't about "Forum, Website and Artwork". I've moved the topic.

[DJ]

The source is AC3 Stereo ???

[Felix]

Sorry, don't know. Wher to find this info?
It is the same with any given DVD. (Original DVD.)

[DJ]

DVDs often default to Stereo AC3 where 5.1 AC3 or DTS is an option. Look in the DVD's menus.

[Felix]

Sorry, this is not the solution.

[Arite]

Hi Felix,

Do you get a 5.1 surround output when using, for example, Windows Media Player? Normally when 5.1 is selected the system is setup to automatically upmix all audio to 5.1 (if through DirectX). So, a normal stereo MP3 file should output through all 6 channels in Windows Media Player? If it doesn't, then that means you audio drivers are not set up to upmix to 5.1.

If you do, then that same MP3 file should play in VLC through all 6 channels also.

The source AC3 you refer to is (almost certainly) going to be an 6 channel AC3 file, as if it were stereo then there would be no "5.1" option in the "Audio Device" section of the "Audio" menu.

Cheers, Arite.

[Felix]

Hi Arite!

WMP (10) or games have 5.1 sound but VLC doesn't.

May my DirectX 9.0c files be corrupted?
If yes, other applications why produce 5.1 sound meanwhile VLC doesn't?

I had a problem with DirectX, but DirectX Happy Uninstall saved me from reinstalling my computer.

Regards,
Gabor

[Arite]

Here is a link to a 6 channel test ac3 file (courtesy of rjamorim ) :
http://pessoal.onda.com.br/rjamorim/stuff/test.ac3.zip

If you still get stereo (just the front 2 channels), then check that "5.1" is set and available in:
Audio >> Audio Device

If it is, and there is still no 6 channel output, then you could do a "Reset All" in Preferences to make sure any settings that might be causing problems are cleared out. Then try some of the different Audio output modules - e.g. PortAudio (?).

Unfortunately the test.ac3 file will probably not play in Windows Media Player unless you install some extra DirectShow filters, however you could try it in e.g. foobar2000 (would need foo_ac3 as well) if you wanted to try a different player to ensure that you get a 6 channel output.

Arite.

[Felix]

Dear Arite!

Thank you for your help.
I went through what you recommended, there was only sound in the front speakers.
Ten I thought, maybe the source of the problem is the soundcard driver.
I used a general one instead of the Soundmax driver (Asus P4P 800 SE mobo with onboard sound) because sometimes the original crashed.
So the problem was, although the system was set to 5.1 with the general driver, it was only two speakers.

I reinstalled the Soundmax driver, and now VLC works fine with 5.1 sound.

Thank you again, your tips generated the thought that is maybe the system just says it is 5.1 meanwhile it isn't.

God bless,
Gabor