aeroguy:

Well guys, I finally did it.  Ready to give my idea a try.  I've been trying for a long time to get stereo audio to my TV and SPDIF audio to my receiver simultaneously to no avail (my wife doesn't want to mess with the receiver and I prefer it on -- especially for HDTV and DVDs).  So here's my plan:

I bought this an XFX GeForce 7600GS HDMI passive video card for $100 shipped (after $10 rebate) -
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005197 

Also got a 2-pin motherboard header y-splitter (about $11 shipped) -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=289&products_id=21699&zenid=8c6cc7a6d1686ba3c88bf09f1cb067de
I've also got a 3-pin fan y-splitter that I can modify if that doesn't work.

I'm gonna split the SPDIF motherboard header and take one end to the HDMI video card, then to the TV (Panasonic TH-42PX60 42" Plasma), and one end to my digital coaxial bracket, then to the receiver (no, my receiver does not have HDMI inputs).  If I'm lucky, I can set up MCE to SPDIF passthrough mode and get audio to my TV for my wife and to my receiver for me!  The thing I'm concerned about is whether splitting the SPDIF signal will screw it up (I need and electrical engineer or electritian).  Please cross your fingers!

Parts should come in on Friday.  I'll let you know if it works.

Good luck! I still think it is a shame that we have to purchase additional hardware to get a feature to work that should have been enabled from the beginning. :(

mwiechmann:

As for the remote, I haven't looked into that yet.  But, considering most buttons are used, I am not sure what could be assigned.

Thanks again for your efforts.  I was looking for something along the lines of a IR command.  It does not necessarily have to be specific to the MCE remote but assignable to a learning remote.

Ya know....

Coax SPDIF (the brown RCA connector) can be split to 2 devices using a $2.99 RCA Audio "Y" cable from Radio Shack.

This will allow you to send SPDIF Coax Digital signals to 2 different devices.

I have this working successfully -- sending one to a Marantz 7.1 for the Theater and the other to a low end Denon A/V receiver that drives 2 audio-only zones (set the amp for 5 channel stereo and I have the bar speakers connected to the "Front" lugs and the pool table speakers attached to the "Rear" lugs).  You could easily drive more zones ussing the additional speaker outputs.

 

Craig L. Davis:

Ya know....

Coax SPDIF (the brown RCA connector) can be split to 2 devices using a $2.99 RCA Audio "Y" cable from Radio Shack.

This will allow you to send SPDIF Coax Digital signals to 2 different devices.

Yes, but for my case at least, most people don't have a SPDIF Digital coaxial input on their TV.

aeroguy:

Craig L. Davis:

Ya know....

Coax SPDIF (the brown RCA connector) can be split to 2 devices using a $2.99 RCA Audio "Y" cable from Radio Shack.

This will allow you to send SPDIF Coax Digital signals to 2 different devices.

Yes, but for my case at least, most people don't have a SPDIF Digital coaxial input on their TV.

ditto....

aeroguy:

Well guys, I finally did it.  Ready to give my idea a try.  I've been trying for a long time to get stereo audio to my TV and SPDIF audio to my receiver simultaneously to no avail (my wife doesn't want to mess with the receiver and I prefer it on -- especially for HDTV and DVDs).  So here's my plan:

I bought this an XFX GeForce 7600GS HDMI passive video card for $100 shipped (after $10 rebate) -
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005197 

Also got a 2-pin motherboard header y-splitter (about $11 shipped) -
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=289&products_id=21699&zenid=8c6cc7a6d1686ba3c88bf09f1cb067de
I've also got a 3-pin fan y-splitter that I can modify if that doesn't work.

I'm gonna split the SPDIF motherboard header and take one end to the HDMI video card, then to the TV (Panasonic TH-42PX60 42" Plasma), and one end to my digital coaxial bracket, then to the receiver (no, my receiver does not have HDMI inputs).  If I'm lucky, I can set up MCE to SPDIF passthrough mode and get audio to my TV for my wife and to my receiver for me!  The thing I'm concerned about is whether splitting the SPDIF signal will screw it up (I need and electrical engineer or electritian).  Please cross your fingers!

Parts should come in on Friday.  I'll let you know if it works.

Okay, here's the update.  I couldn't get it to work.  It tried for about 3 hours (albeit with a heavy buzz) but didn't have any luck.  I'll try to remember the best I can and give you everything I tried.  I started with Media Center set to SPDIF passthrough mode. 

1.  I used the y-splitter and hooked up both audio outputs (the HDMI video card to the TV and the digital coaxial output bracket to the receiver). Neither worked.  No sound at all.  Reboot.
2.  I went back to the basics and only hooked up the digital coaxial bracket to the SPDIF mobo header, and it worked.  I had DD5.1 sound to the receiver.  Reboot.
3.  Next I only hooked up the video card to the SPDIF mobo header.  I couldn't get any sound to the TV.  Reboot.
4.  I put the y-splitter back in and hooked up the digital coaxial bracket.  The other end was available to hook to the HDMI video card, but I did not plug it in.  I got sound to the receiver, and while the computer was running, I also plugged in the HDMI video card to the y-splitter.  At this point I lost all sound, so I unplugged the video card from the y-splitter and got sound back to the receiver.  Reboot.
5.  Hooked the HDMI video card to the SPDIF header and went through the audio setup.  Told Media Center I had a 5.1 channel system via 3.5 mm plugs.  Sure enough, I got sound to the TV via HDMI.  Reboot.
6.  Added the digital coaxial bracket to this configuration and lost all sound. (I'm not 100% sure I actually tried this, but I think I did.  I was getting pretty fed up at this point).

I probably tried a few other configurations, but I just can't remember everything I did.  So splitting the sound from the SPDIF header on the mobo to an HDMI video card and a digital coaxial bracket did not work for me.  One question I came away with was, can my TV even decode a raw SPDIF signal?  Obviously a receiver can do this, but I just don't know about my TV.  Also, by virtue of the receiver losing sound simply by plugging in the HDMI video card, I'd be hesitant to think this method would work for anyone... but who knows.  I easily could have missed something simple.  Too bad, it's gonna cost me $25 to send the video card back, plus the $10 I payed for the y-splitter cable.  Oh well, if someone finds this info useful I guess it's worth it.

Good luck to rest of you; I think I've given up on this... at least for awhile.

I have been searching the internet and yet I still can't find a solution.  This sux!

I have both digital Toslink (to receiver)  and analog miniplug (to computer speakers)  working simultaneous and I have for years. First with a Creative Extigy external sound card with Windows XP and now with an HDA Xplosion sound card with Vista Ultimate. 

RichGuy:

I have both digital Toslink (to receiver)  and analog miniplug (to computer speakers)  working simultaneous and I have for years. First with a Creative Extigy external sound card with Windows XP and now with an HDA Xplosion sound card with Vista Ultimate. 

I have that working fine for analog sources, but when playing DVD or HDTV sources with DD5.1 sound, you can either:

1. Set up Media Center for SPDIF passthrough.  In this case the sound is DD5.1 to the receiver but no sound to the TV (it's either no sound or just left and right audio channels, I can't remember which, and since almost all dialog goes to the center channel, this is just as worthless anyway). 
2. If you set up Media Center for an analog source, you get sound to both the receiver and the TV, but the receiver downmixes audio to PCM.

So yeah, my problem is only with digital audio sources.

mwiechmann:

Ok, I figured out a solution that works for me and was FREE.

1)  Downloaded a windows macro utility and install on MCE. Here is the link.
http://www.download.com/Mouse-and-Key-Recorder/3000-2094_4-10191625.html?tag=lst-0-1

2) Recorded 2 macros that open the audio configuration utility that came with my sound card. One switches to 2 channels and the second switched to 5.1 SPDIF.  Be aware that if you use the pointer reference you will need to play with the XY parameters when MCE comes out of focus.  Here is an example of the macro code.

 

{{Delay 900}

{{Mouse  1, 2, 31, 179, 0

{{Delay 300}

{{RelativeMouse PCI 3D Audio Configuration, 1, 1, 15, 222, 0

{{Delay 300}

{{RelativeMouse PCI 3D Audio Configuration, 1, 1, 594, 548, 0

{{Mouse  1, 1, 168, 579, 0

{{Exit}

 

3) Added two menu options to MCE More Programs 1) House Sound 2ch, 2) Surround Sound.  Just create two files in the following directory [  C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Media Center\Media Center Programs ] Here is the syntax
a.  Surround Sound – file name “Surround Sound.mcl”
<application
     run = "C:\Documents and Settings\mce\My Documents\Recorder\Surround Sound.krc"
     name = "Surround Sound"
</application>
b. House Sound (2ch) – file name “House Sound.mcl”
<application
     run = "C:\Documents and Settings\mce\My Documents\Recorder\House Sound.krc"
     name = "House Sound"
</application>

4 ) Start MCE and go to More Programs, you will see two options.  I just click on surround sound when I want 5.1 and house sound when I want 2 channel.

And... Saved $150 on Creative's out of stock solution.

All, a quick update.  I loaded the newest C-media drivers but kept the legacy sound card configuration software.  Now when I want 2ch it simultaneously sends it out the audio jack and SPDIF.  Then when I just want 5.1, I use the solution above and switch so SS and the back to 2ch.

---

Asus Duo Core2
pvr 250
geforce 6600
HDA Mystique 7.1 audio


on the skinny and it works just fine

Check out this thread:
http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/thread/192435.aspx

In the thread, I asked:
"Assuming you have a 360 Premium, one question I do have is whether the 360 will output sound via the digital optical connection and the analog stereo outputs simultaneously.  That way you could run the left and right (white and red) analog jacks to the TV and the digital optical output to your receiver.  Like I said though, I can't tell you whether the latter scenario would work or not."

dlawson12 replied:
"I have a 360 and that is how my audio is set up, it will do both the the stereo cables (connected to tv) and the surround sound (optical output connected to my receiver) at the same time..."

So apparently a 360 used as an extender can do what Windows is not able to do on its own.  Sad.  Just sad.

I am still looking in the farthest corners of the internet for a solution.  It has to be out there somewhere, surely MS disregard will not prevail!  Hello! Is this Mic on!  If someone from the house that Gates built is reading this, throw us a frekin bone, PLEASE!

Eureka!  I think I found a solution.  I will order this next week and let you guys know the results, keep your fingers crossed!

ULTRAMATCH PRO SRC2496

Ultra High-Resolution 24-Bit/96 kHz A/D-D/A & Sample Rate Converter

http://www.behringer.com/SRC2496/index.cfm?lang=ENG

http://www.google.com/products?um=1&hl=en&q=Behringer+SRC2496+Ultramatch+Pro+Format+Converter&scoring=p

I don't want to rain on your parade, but I read the manual and spec sheet and didn't see anything to indicate that this device will do anything more than stereo.  There are two issues:

1.  Is the digital to digital connection a straight thru path or is there processing that won't pass DD 5.1

2.  Will the digital to analog path accept DD5.1 input and decode it into a stereo analog signal.

Hopefully, the answer to both questions is affirmative and you are good as gold.

I'll be watching and hoping for your success.

Mike

I will use it differently then what you are prescribing.

My setup will consist of a toslink splitter, the DA converter, and a modulator; one end of the toslink will connect to my Yamaha 2600 the second end will connect to the DA converter.  Then I will connect the DA converter to my modulator via a 3.5mm y cable, which should enable me to share content on my MCE with the rest of my house.  This should work as the modulator only accepts analog.