Rear channels

**Lum** · 01-23-2006, 04:17 PM

I know about the mixer related problems, this isn't a major problem as I don't care if the mixer doesn't work.

However, I can't even get CF to output sound through the rear channels. According to M-Audio's support people, the software has to send it 4ch audio, or 5.1 audio or whatever.

How can I get CF to do this as currently the only way I can get any sound at all out of my rears is to enable M-Audio's surround sound emulation stuff which only sends certain effects out of the rears.

Card is an M-Audio Sonica Theatre 7.1 USB

**deleted** · 01-26-2006, 12:30 PM

Use FFDSHOWs audio config to re-encode in real time to 5.1 for VIDEO, and use Alex AC3 filter for re-encoding to 5.1 for mp3. (mp3 5.1 works on analog output only)

Video output however also works on spdif out (unstable if u use 2 displays)

If you are going to use analog out, the setup works okay.
Get the K-lite codec pack and import these settings, see attachment

On Alex Ac3 filter, leave it default except from set it to 5.1 instead of 2.0

**Lum** · 01-26-2006, 06:19 PM

Thank you, I will give that a try tomorrow.

Does this re-encoding affect the sound quality at all? Is there any way to re-encode it into 4 or 6-channel PCM audio on the fly?

**deleted** · 01-27-2006, 04:56 AM

Yes, you can select the output in FFDSHOW and Alex Ac3 decoder. Ps: why PCM ? do you wanna connect to an external decoder like cyberlinks? use 16 bit to save CPU

Yes, it definitly changes the sound. It makes everything much more massive, I feel its a real imporment vs 2 channel. Since there are loads of stuff you can "tweak" in ffdshows audio decoder you can add delay, winamp dsp effects ect.

anyways, try it out I bet you'll like it

One last thing though the CF EQ does not have any effect, you have to do eq stuff in FFDSHOW

**Lum** · 01-27-2006, 03:09 PM

I wanted to re-encode to PCM rather than AC3 5.1 as that is just moving from one lossey codec (MP3) to another (AC3) only to have the M-Audio card decode the AC3 back into multi-channel audio. It all seems a little pointless to me, unless there is a bandwidth issue along the USB cable.

Unfortunately, I seem to be having engine troubles yet again, and will be getting the car towed to the place that sold me the engine back in November, so the Car PC has suddenly become a lower priority and I've not been able to try what you suggested. Thanks anyway though, as soon as I get back on the road, I'll give it a go.