Muaddib:

Does anyone have any idea of whether or not SP1 fixes this?

hpmoon:

plutoz:

notyouraccount:

I have tested the above, and it works perfect for everything (TV, DVD, FM, music, etc). 5.1 is sent out via PCM and is sent to my surround sound speakers, and at the same time analogue stereo is output to another set of speakers in another room.

Are you sure the signal being sent over your SPDIF is not 2 channel PCM instead of DD 5.1?

I think the giveaway is that "notyouraccount" said, "5.1 is sent out via PCM." He/she might be hearing audio information from all five speakers, but the critical question is whether he's getting his 5.1 "pilot light" on his receiver to indicate true DD or DTS decoding. I doubt it. I also don't see why/how Vista SP1 would solve this problem. It's up to Realtek -- and the compromise that has worked for me is the trick referenced earlier in this thread to mess with the Windows directory. Is that what we're referring to when we get simultaneous output of two channels over S/PDIF, and full multi-channel audio over the analog computer outputs? Or did Realtek add this capability without the need for the driver hack? Now that I've gotten a HD-DVD/Blu-Ray drive, my next challenge is to get lossless audio up to my A/V receiver via HDMI 1.3, even if (for the moment) I will need to toggle to my Realtek High-Definition Audio Digital Output device every time.

Apologies for not getting back to this for so long. After finding a new feature on my receiver which displays details about the audio streams being sent to it (bitrate, coding, flags, channels, etc.), I have to take back my success. Drat!

As it turns out, when I had both analogue and digital being sent to my receiver, the digital was actually 2 channel PCM. I was not getting true 5.1 sound, although I did hear it on all speakers due to Dolby ProLogic IIx being kicked on automatically (which I didn't realize). Obviously, this is not desired and defeats the purpose. 

When sending the actual multi-channel bitstream to the receiver (i.e. Dolby Digital or DTS) I can only get EITHER digital or analogue output.

Back to square one.  

Mithradir:

Hi guys,

I had the same problem recently after I installed new Drivers of Realtek via Microsoft Update.

After I read this forum I decided to install more recent (non Microsoft) drivers so I installed the latest from Realtek but still no joy!
After degrading the drivers to a previous version I had in my Hard disk, it worked like a charm...

It's unbelievable stupid to fix things while corrupting others that worked well.

In case you need more info on the drivers that worked reply and I should check them from home

Cheers

Yes please post more.

This sux...I am loving Vista for giving me 8gb of addressable memory but these little quirks are a real buzz killer. Why can't M$ leave the stuff alone that works and fix the stuff that doesn't?

I want a monolopy that is good for consumers :P

Been doing some research on this issue, and at the same time learning about Blu-Ray audio formats and how they work with a PC.

To make a long story short, after understanding the hardware and the audio paths for on-board audio, I have come to realize that it's impossible to get 5.1 Dolby Digital (or DTS) optical output and 2 channel analogue stereo at the same time from the onboard audio. Basically, the audio processor either processes the audio signal or it doesn't -- and we need a hybrid output. Unless the manufacturer has SPECIFICALLY designed the hardware for this, or you use an add-on sound card (again that is designed for this), you will not get Dolby Digital (or DTS) bitstream and 2 channel analogue stereo at the time time.

Those who have reported success.... I can almost guarantee that they are getting 2 channel PCM output on the optical connector, and not the true Dolby Digital (or DTS) bitsream.

To those wanting to do this -- you will need to purchase an external decoder with the Dolby (and DTS, if desired) logo on it, and that will specifically downmix to 2 channel stereo. I just picked up the Sony MDRDS1000 for $70, which is designed to decond a 5.1 source to headphones. Should work just fine, I can post back if anyone is interested on how well it works. The Midiland ADS 3000 or 4000 would also work, same thing with some of the stand-alone dolby processors you can get used on ebay.

Excellent Find!  Also please post back.

Regarding your original point, if the software made it permissible to pass through the digital signal while down mixing it would work; similar to the way it is handled on MCE 2005.

JamesB:

Hello from Germany! I found a solution and I want to share it with you :) I installed the old Realtek Vista drivers 6231 and it works great with simultaneous output of digital (spdif) and analog audio. I have uploaded the drivers for you: Download

Many of us have achieved simultaneous *stereo* out SPDIF and analog.  However, no one has reported true 5.1 out SPDIF at the same time as stereo out the analog.

Can you verify this is what you see, perhaps by some indicator on your external 5.1 decoder that denotes how many channels are in the stream?

I'm at work so I can't try this myself...

daemonic:

JamesB:

Hello from Germany! I found a solution and I want to share it with you :) I installed the old Realtek Vista drivers 6231 and it works great with simultaneous output of digital (spdif) and analog audio. I have uploaded the drivers for you: Download

Many of us have achieved simultaneous *stereo* out SPDIF and analog.  However, no one has reported true 5.1 out SPDIF at the same time as stereo out the analog.

Can you verify this is what you see, perhaps by some indicator on your external 5.1 decoder that denotes how many channels are in the stream?

I'm at work so I can't try this myself...

Received the Sony MDRDS1000 yesterday, and just tried it out today. Works perfect -- and got a "free" set of headphones as well.

With a simply optical Y-adapter, I now have one optical cable going to my receiver for 5.1/DTS sound to the main room, and the other optical cable going into the Sony adapter. The sony adapter processes the 5.1 dolby digital and DTS signals and downmixes to 2 channel stereo.

The adapter is quite small, lightweight and "set it and forget". It automatically switches between Dolby Digital and DTS, and it has the ability to use Dobly Digital Prologic II to process Dolby Digital input if desired -- but can be also turned off for "straight" stereo. Only thing I had to add was a 3.5mm jack to 2 rca cable.

Recommended if you don't mind spending a little money, as it can be had for about $70 - $90.