How do I get 5.1 audio to my receiver?

[ingeborgdot]

I have an ATI 2600XT video card and I have it hooked up to my Denon 3808Ci receiver via HDMI. I get picture and sound but I don't get 5.1 or 7.1 audio. Is there something I'm missing? What do I need to do?

 

[Hefemeister]

You need to route the audio from your audio card. The video card only sends video it has no audio output.

 

[ingeborgdot]

No, it sends audio. I am listening to the audio. I just need to know what I need to do to get it to recognize 5.1. Go look up the ATI cards with hdmi.

 

[Jayce]

Uh, what? I don't see why you would be getting audio out of your video card...

 

[patonb]

It's HDMI is why.

I know i've seen cards that have to get a bypass cable for digtal sound.. Maybe you're not plugged in right.

 

[Hefemeister]

AMD Customer Care Site Map > Radeon Support - PC > Radeon HD 2900 series > Knowledge base > HD Audio >
737-32277: AC3 (Dolby Digital/DTS) Audio Playback Issues when using an HDMI Receiver

The information in this article applies to the following configuration(s):

* ATI Radeonâ„¢ HD3000 series
* ATI Radeonâ„¢ HD2000 series
* Grey DVI-HDMI Adapter (Part Number: 6140063500G)
* Black DVI-HDMI Adapter (Part Number: 6141054300G)
* Windows Vista 32-bit Edition
* Windows Vista 64-bit Edition

Symptoms:
AC3 (Dolby Digital/DTS) multi-channel audio which is typically available to end-users who connect their ATI Radeonâ„¢ HD2000 or ATI Radeonâ„¢ HD 3000 series to an HDMI Audio/Video receiver with HDMI decode capabilities is not functioning correctly with specific software players.

Solution:

1. Make sure you have the correct setup as below:



2. On Realtek click on "HD Audio Codec Driver" under Quick Links
3. Download ATI HDMI Audio Device Driver Version R1.68
4. Install the driver and restart your system
5. Open "Control Panel" and double click on "Sound"
6. Select "Playback" tab
7. Right click on “Realtek HDMI Output“
8. Select "Set as Default Device“ (Green Checkmark will appear)
9. Click on “Properties”



10. Select “Supported Formats” tab
11. Checkmark “Dolby Digital” box
12. Highlight “Dolby Digital” option
13. Click on “Test” button



14. Check the display panel of your HDMI Receiver for:
* Dolby Digital/DTS indicator
* 5 Speaker Surround indicator
* If 5 speakers connected, each speaker will have its own sound output



Now you can run your application to play the movie in 5.1 surround (Dolby Digital/DTS):

For High Definition Content:

* Corel WinDVD 8 Gold or Platinum
o Right click on WinDVD main screen and select "Setup"
o Select “Audio” tab
o Select “HDMI” under “Audio Output Configuration”
o Select “6 Channel (5.1 Home Theater)” under “Audio Speaker Configuration”



* PowerDVD Ultra 7.3 with HD DVD/Blu-Ray Patch
o There is an issue with this version of PowerDVD playing High Definition content in AC3 (Dolby Digital/DTS). Please contact Cyberlink for support.

For Standard Definition Content:

* Catalyst Media Center
o Select "SPDIF" in Audio Settings/Speaker Environment


* PowerDVD 7.0
o Select "Use SPDIF" under "Audio" tab




Rate this article

I also found this if you are trying to play blue ray.
The information in this article applies to the following configuration(s):

* Radeonâ„¢ HD2900 series
* Radeonâ„¢ HD2600 series
* Radeonâ„¢ HD2400 series
* DVI-HDMI Adapter (Part Number: 6141054300G)

Symptoms:
Linear PCM 5.1 Audio is not available when playing HD DVD and Blu-Ray content.

Solution:
The integrated HD Audio codec of Radeonâ„¢ HD2xxx series does NOT support Multi-Channel Linear PCM (5.1). It supports 2-Channel LPCM and Multi-Channel AC3 5.1 Audio formats for HDMI output using DVI-HDMI adapter

 

[Nagasama]

are you using the latest realtek HDMI drivers? i think the latest version is 2.09
do you have 5.1 enabled in the control panel?

edit:
good post hefemeister.

 

[ingeborgdot]

I am using a soundblaster card and not the mobod sound. It could be my dvd software also. What seems to be the best software player for this?

 

[Nagasama]

wait a minute.
are you using a soundblaster card, or are you using the HDMI audio from your video card?

 

[ingeborgdot]

I am using a soundblaster card that I use to plug into my whole house audio system. I am using the 2600xt to run sound for the theater.