View Full Version : HDMI Audio
Hi all done a bit of a search round and i can't seem to find anyone with the same problem that i have. I am running XBMC on a Vista machine connected through HDMI to my amp. Graphics card is an ATI HD4650 so the sound is also passed through the HDMI. My problem is that i cannot get any sound from a 5.1 source, anything in stereo plays fine and if i switch the output in the menu from digital to analogue XBMC seems to convert the 5.1 into stereo and i get sound. I found a reference to something like this in the Linux subforum but Linux is like a foreign language to me and i had no idea what was being discussed. Can anybody point me in the right direction, or at least tell me that someone else has the same issue! Thanks.
Sending 5.1-channel audio 'digitally' over HDMI has never worked for me either and I am unsure if you will find people that actually managed to get it running. If you are using HDMI to output audio you have to use 'analog' and enjoy stereo sound for all your videos (or let your receiver do some voodoo to get it surround again)... or:
A better option is to connect a digital optical or coaxial cable and use this for audio. This also works as a great workaround for any HDMI-handshake issues you might experience (such as when the sound disappears altogether).
WinterFool
2008-12-05, 13:12
I built a 780G / Vista rig for a mate and couldn't get 5.1 over HDMI or Optical out working in XBMC.
The 5.1 wmv's would play audio in Windows Media Player, but there is silence in XBMC.
Similar to above, stereo works fine in XBMC
cold_realms
2008-12-05, 15:23
Hopefully they get it figured out :) HDMI IS the only connection I plan on using when I switch over my XBMC.
alanwww1
2008-12-05, 16:10
If youur receiver and motherboard supports multichannel lpcm than the HDMI audio device can be used as a "regular" analog multichannel soundcard. This way you can enjoy 5.1 audio over HDMI.
You need to enable multichannel analog audio in the advancedsettings.xml.
The only problem is that the the channels are mixed up and forexample the center channel sounds int the left surround speaker.
There is a thread going on about this, but the issue is not yet solved:
http://xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=41551
We need devs changing the channel mapping in the source.
I built a 780G / Vista rig for a mate and couldn't get 5.1 over HDMI or Optical out working in XBMC.
The 5.1 wmv's would play audio in Windows Media Player, but there is silence in XBMC.
Similar to above, stereo works fine in XBMC
Well that sucks. I was planning on doing the same thing...sending 5.1 over HDMI or optical digitally.
Has anyone got this to work?
I'm having the exact same problem, with ATI 3470.
Any other application running on that same computer works fine, for example the Media portal, or Media Center...
supernoman
2008-12-06, 00:27
Leave ATI and go to Nvidia. I know it's not an option for everyone but I ditched my 3450 and didn't even bother to build my AMD htpc with the 780G chipset (which I have lying around now). HDMI audio was super flaky if it worked at all. Plus the 3450 and the 780G was only 2 channel LPCM.
I am currently using the nvidia 8300 chipset and I get multichannel LPCM plus DTS or DD depending on if the MKV was encoded in it or not. There are still a few issues with the HDMI handshake (takes about 1 second after you start a video) but after that, it's fine.
If you're and Intel person, then the nvidia 9300 chipset is the equivalent.
supernoman
2008-12-06, 19:35
So I built a second HTPC for the bedroom and it's nearly the same setup as my living room but for some reason, I could not get HDMI DTS or DD audio to pass through my receiver. Analog would work fine.
This may not be the solution for everyone or anyone but I had to disable my other audio playback device in Vista. Then XBMC would pass DTS and DD. My motherboard had coax digital out for audio as well. It was puzzling me for hours why it would work on one system and not the other.
Hope this helps someone. Also both were Nvidia chips...but hopefully it's a Vista playback device problem and not an ATI problem.
Leave ATI and go to Nvidia. I know it's not an option for everyone but I ditched my 3450 and didn't even bother to build my AMD htpc with the 780G chipset (which I have lying around now). HDMI audio was super flaky if it worked at all. Plus the 3450 and the 780G was only 2 channel LPCM.
I am currently using the nvidia 8300 chipset and I get multichannel LPCM plus DTS or DD depending on if the MKV was encoded in it or not. There are still a few issues with the HDMI handshake (takes about 1 second after you start a video) but after that, it's fine.
If you're and Intel person, then the nvidia 9300 chipset is the equivalent.
So, can you still get AC 5.1 or DTS 5.1 with a 780G chipset? I don't need anything more than that.
supernoman
2008-12-07, 00:16
I never tried. I gave up after my 3450 issues and left my 780G board still in the box.
So, can you still get AC 5.1 or DTS 5.1 with a 780G chipset? I don't need anything more than that.
I've fixed it.
as i saw here, i've disabled at "Sound" (Vista) the SPDIF output, and it works !
Thanks!
crowbar77
2008-12-09, 08:36
Have you installed the realtek drivers?
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3
You only need to install the ati hdmi audio device, v2.09.
just like to report disabling spdif also worked for me, thanks for the help guys
gammatest
2009-03-30, 03:46
HDMI audio works with 780g, but only 2CH, it will not passthrough DTS, DD, or AC-3.
Running HDMI for your video and an optical cable for audio will allow you to get full 1080p video with DTS,DD, or AC-3 audio to passthrough your receiver. Be sure when experimenting with the 780g chipset that you go into BIOS to switch between the two output formats SPDIF/HDMI.
Obi Have
2009-03-30, 04:02
HDMI audio works with 780g, but only 2CH, it will not passthrough DTS, DD, or AC-3.
Running HDMI for your video and an optical cable for audio will allow you to get full 1080p video with DTS,DD, or AC-3 audio to passthrough your receiver. Be sure when experimenting with the 780g chipset that you go into BIOS to switch between the two output formats SPDIF/HDMI.
Completely incorrect. Since Catalyst 9.3 the 780g/HD3200 will do DD/DTS 5.1 over HDMI.
gammatest
2009-03-30, 06:31
Coolness.
That driver is only 10 days old so I don't feel bad about not knowing.
I will test it. Thanks.
vskatusa
2009-04-03, 06:44
My setup works:
LAPTOP
I use sony laptop VGN-FW390 with ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 3470
REVCEIVER
Denon AVR-2807 - The laptop is connected to receiver using HDMI and the HDMI out from receiver is connected to plasma PANASONIC tv
NAS
H.264 video with AC3 5.1 streamed WIRELESSLY using DRAFT-N
The above setup works flawlessly and get full 5.1 dolby digital sound!
DGMurdockIII
2009-04-19, 21:32
i still want to use stereo sound when using hdmi for sound