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olePigeon · Mar 30, 2009, 10:39 PM

Under OS X, my receiver just automatically switches to Dolby Digital if I play a DVD or play a game that has surround sound.

However, when I switch over to Windows, it only sees it as stereo speakers. I can not get it to work as 5.1 Dolby Digital. I've gone into the Sound & Volume control panel and set it to 5.1 speaker setup and made sure that it's set to RealTek HD Audio for the default output.

Under the RealTek HD Audio Manager, it doesn't show that the SPDIF is connected, it only shows up as stereo speakers. If I actually adjust settings in the RealTek HD software while the cable is connected, the audio will completely die. The only way for me to get it back is to uninstall the RealTek HD device in the Device Manager, reboot, then let Windows detect the hardware and reinstall it.

Nothing seems to make it actually work as 5.1.

olePigeon · Mar 30, 2009, 10:41 PM

More specifically, I'm trying to use my surround stereo system to play Left 4 Dead. I did set Left 4 Dead to 5.1 but it doesn't change anything.

olePigeon · Apr 1, 2009, 08:52 PM

No one has any ideas? I have the latest BootCamp and RealTek drivers. It won't let me select anything other than 2 Channel stereo, I can't get it to do 5.1.

olePigeon · Apr 1, 2009, 09:07 PM

So apparently I have to have a sound card that supports Dolby Digital Live or DTS Connect. I don't think the MacBook Pro does either. So I guess I can't use my stereo for surround sound.

Still doesn't explain why DVD movies under Windows won't play in 5.1. VLC also only reports stereo.

I hate Windows.

badidea · Apr 2, 2009, 09:24 AM

I can check if I have the same problem with XP on my MBP when I get home.
I assume that you know about the settings in VLC...that you have to activate "use SPDIF when available" (or something similar)?
What app do you use when you try to play a DVD? Also VLC?
(I will also check Left 4 Dead - I have that as well)

olePigeon · Apr 2, 2009, 11:29 AM

VLC. Windows XP doesn't come with a DVD player, although Windows Media Player likes to tell me it can play DVDs, only it can't.

badidea · Apr 2, 2009, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

VLC. Windows XP doesn't come with a DVD player, although Windows Media Player likes to tell me it can play DVDs, only it can't.

True! Just tried WMP and it's missing a decoder...

VLC only works partially here.
If I switch in VLC to 5.1 output everything is fine but as soon as I switch to S/PDIF the audio sounds like a scratched CD!
"Da De Di" sounds like "Da Da Da De De De Di Di Di" if that explains it better...

(my receiver does show "Digital" though)

I also tried to set Realtek output to "passthrough S/PDIF" but then I get nothing!

hookem2oo7 · Apr 2, 2009, 04:01 PM

I have successfully used an old copy of PowerDVD that I got with a retail DVD-ROM drive a few years ago with my MBP to output SPDIF to my home theater receiver. Worked flawlessly. That was the extent of my testing, and I've long since lost the install disc for PowerDVD that I had.

olePigeon · Apr 2, 2009, 04:10 PM

I'm not worried about the DVDs, I use my nifty DVD player to watch movies on. I was just excited about playing games in 5.1 off my stereo. Would have been fun.

badidea · Apr 2, 2009, 07:17 PM

Left 4 Dead seems to work fine here.
Well at least I can set 5.1 speakers and choose between tons of settings on my receiver side - Digital 5 speaker setup works (Harman/Kardon AVR 347)!

olePigeon · Apr 2, 2009, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by badidea

Left 4 Dead seems to work fine here.
Well at least I can set 5.1 speakers and choose between tons of settings on my receiver side - Digital 5 speaker setup works (Harman/Kardon AVR 347)!

I set Left 4 Dead to 5.1, but my receiver only switches modes when it detects a signal. It doesn't switch over when I play. Not sure what's up.