Live 24-bit ---- Line-In -- ignores custom suround

Question

<SPAN>Computer Hardware<SPAN>HP Pavilion - PIII 500 - 384 ramLi've! 24-bit (internal)<SPAN>Inspire 5800 speakers
<SPAN>Non-Computer Hardware<SPAN>Sony External DVD Player
<SPAN>My point in this project was to set up a surround sound system for my TV. To that point I bought RCA -> Stereo Mini plug and have my DVD plugged into the Line-in of the Li've! 24-bit sound card. After futzing about and finding the CMSS input I was able to get the rear channels enabled. My problem is that it Line-in seems to be ignoring the custom mix levels of the surround sound. Because of the proximity to the speaker while sitting on the couch, we set the Front(s) & Middle to 00% and the rear channels to ~45%. These settings are honored when playing MP3's, AVI's or DVD's from the computer; however, anything from the line-in ignores these custom percentages.
<SPAN>Am I missing something here or just mis-interpreting the way Line-in works. Is it driver related? Should I check the Drivers from the KXProject?
<SPAN>My current drivers are the "Creative Basic Audio Suite for Creative Sound Blaster audio devices" (35.59 MB) right off the downloads, dated 5 Jun 05. I never even tried the Driver CD that came with, I immediately upgraded to the newest.
Message Edited by nekron99 on 06-28-2005 2:47 AM

Answer 1

With the set up you are doing you will not get true sound sound. Currently you are only getting a stereo signal from your DVD player. Ifyou put it into the Line-In on the speakers the audio will only come outof the front speakers. If you plug the DVD player into the Li've 24 Bit's Line-In again you really only are send a stereo signal to the sound card. However will CMSS enable it will upmix the stereo signal out to the other speaker as what it thinks is the rear and center audio but it is just simulated so depending on how the audio tracks are cut inthe movie then it may not sound the same as a true 5. surround sound. Now one thing you want to check is in Speaker Settings make sure the card is set to 5. not 7.. If you have it set to 7. the CMSS may try to send some of the audio to the side speaker and since you have a 5. system you may lose some of the upmix.
Now if you would like true 5. from your DVD Player you could hook the 6channel analog outputs to the speakers. However most likely you have a newer one that does not have the 6 channel analog but it should have a digital output of some type. If it does all you will need is something that will decode the 5. digital signal. With this you will get your true 5. surround sound from your 5. encoded movies. There is 2 thing you can get to do this ether you can get one of our Audigy 2 ZS PlatinumKits. The front dri've bay has connection for digital optical and coax connections. Another option is if you are not able to exchange the cards is get our DDTS-00 Dolby Digital Decoder.
http://us.creative.com/products/prod...6&product=9468
I have one of these myself. This would connect between your sound card and the speakers. What you would then do is plug the DVD Player into the decoder box and it would decode the 5. signal and send it out to all your speaker with out you having to run the DVD Player to your computer. Also you can hook up your other audio devices to as well. This is what I use as the receiver in my living for my Entertainment Center. If you have any more questions let us know.