DDTS100 - Getting it to apply Neo6 to PC Audio ??

Question

I sold my audigy platinum zs pro 2 and bought a ddts100 so i cud finally get dolby pro logic II (to take advantage of gw's s750's)... I understand that PC audio completely bypasses the decoder...well I want to apply neo6 music mode to my mp3's...(as i used to do with the audigy...using media source player) I thought finally the chance to play music using a player I like (wmp/winamp...not mediasource) AND get neo6 would be great...so is there a way to do this? I've tried setting my PC sound to 2 speaker mode, outputting from the main audio port into analoge in on the decoder (so it works in decoder mode)...but still I only get sound from the 2 front channels (as expected, since its stereo)... I did think neo6 could virtually map the stereo onto my surround etc.. as it used to do with media source....
another question, if I output SPDIF from my computer (which i can do with the laptop...dont have it yet tho) and into SPDIF coax on the ddts...will i be able to use neo6 on mp3's then?
thanks for readin, help appreciated!!

Answer 1

Hello,
It is wrong to say that SPDIF can only output stereo or multichannel AC3 signals.
SPDIF (Sony Philips Digital InterFace) can be used to transfer most types of digital data (usually audio) signals serially.
Our good old CD-ROMs and the latest DVD_ROMs also have a 2-pin digital out that is nothing but a SPDIF digital audio out.
Coming to Creative DDTS-100 Decoder, in addition to AC3, it can also decode 2-channel LPCM signals fed to its optical or coaxial inputs.
For my PC home theater setup, I have connected the decoder thru' the optical out of my PC soundcard. It is also possible for a coaxial connection, but optical is preferred wherever available.
I am able to hear and control (at the PC) whatever is available from the 'Wave out' (LPCM) of the PC's sound mixer panel. That is, the DDTS-100 is able to decode even the volume changes that I make on the PC while watching movies or playing games or whatever application that controls the 'wave out' level.
Just for your info. I have an onboard 6ch soundcard (Analog Devices AD980) with coaxial and optical SPDIF out and SoundMax Audio Control Panel.
In PCs that have digital audio outputs, one must execute the SPDIF setup and enable both AC3 SPDIF as well as PCM SPDIF modes if available for the above configuration to work.
Compared to analog stereo, where the mainboard noise rides the actual signal, the noise is isolated in a digital connection and the resulting sound quality is much better.
Even PL-II and Neo6 operate better in this mode. For Neo6 and PL-II to work effectively, the original stereo signal be it analog or digital, should have good channel seperation and proper stereo imaging.
The sounds which are not decoded in the above setup are all those analog inputs such as Mic in, Line in, analog CD in etc. This is due to the inability of the PC soundcard to output these analog inputs digitally after converting them to a digital form. If the same stereo analog input is recorded on the PC and converted to .wav or MP3 and played back, it appears at the digital outputs.
To be able to hear analog audio signals, one can always use the analogue stereo inputs of the decoder. One can split and keep connected the Front Speaker outputs of the PC soundcards to the analog stereo inputs of the decoder as well as to the decoder bypass switchbox. So that whenever stereo to multichannel upmixing is needed for PC 2-ch analog outputs or for sources such as tape players, FM recievers etc, one can switch to analog inputs.
I occasionally set the software DVD player to 2-speaker mode even if the source is multichannel so that the downmixed 2-ch sound is upmixed again by Neo6 or Dolby PL-II to see the difference. Many times I find that this configuration sounds better than the actual multichannel sound. Most of the directional properties of the sound are maintained and the results are improved. This works for games too.
So play with the DDTS-100 and enjoy.
But in my case, right now I am going through the process of obtaining an RMA for my decoder since it has developed some problem. Very Sad Na?
Message Edited by kartek on 03-03-2005 03:07 AM