Audigy 2 Decoder vs. WinDVD Software Decoder

[Nebor]

I've noticed that in setting WinDVD between between SPIDF (external processing) which allows the Audigy 2 to decode the movie sound itself, and the Analog speakers setting, which uses WinDVD to decode the sound, that WinDVD sounds much better. What's the deal with that?

Also, when I use the Audigy 2 to decode, the video and audio are just slightly out of sync!

 

[Nebor]

Also, when Analog mode is selected (WinDVD does the decoding) what does the check box for "External Pro Logic Processor" do? What does Pro Logic mean?

 

[Quickfingerz]

I'd be surprised if anything sounded better than WinDVD hardware or software. My guess is that CPU usage goes down when audigy 2 decoder is used. I'd probably use WinDVD software decoder since I wouldn't be running any processes in the background.

 

[Nebor]

Bump for the weekenders\daytimers.

 

[GTaudiophile]

My guess is the decoders are similar in quality, but as was said, maybe the Creative decoder frees up some CPU usage. The check-box for the external processor most likely means that WinDVD will just send the data through the SPDIF output of your soundcard to be processed by an external surround sound receiver.

 

[Thor_Sevan]

Hi Nebor,

Sincerly, I use winDVD 4.0 and latest powerDVD and I found that the software decoders have better overall quality. This applies to video and audio.
The advantage of software processing is that on every release nothing is restricting them from having higher quality decoding techniques. I assume, the more faster the current CPU will become, the more sophisticated algorithms will be used to ensure better quality.

As you said, usually, when people watch DVD, they don't do many other tasks so why try saving on CPU and using limited hardware processing ?

Finally, I would recommend the use of software decoding.

Thor_Sevan.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
My guess is the decoders are similar in quality, but as was said, maybe the Creative decoder frees up some CPU usage. The check-box for the external processor most likely means that WinDVD will just send the data through the SPDIF output of your soundcard to be processed by an external surround sound receiver.

I've tried the External Pro Logic Processor check box, and when I hit apply, it stops the sound and restarts it, just as if I'd changed from Analog to SPIDF. None of the settings in WinDVD can make my audigy 2 output through spidf. When you select spidf as opposed to analog sound, WinDVD simply passes the still encoded DVD audio to my Audigy 2 DACs, which outputs that sound through all my speakers.

I couldn't really tell a difference between External Pro Logic on or off. Definitely though, Analog (WInDVD decoding) > SPIDF (Audigy 2 decoding)

 

[Pariah]

Pro Logic is Dolby's channel expansion technology. It is intended to give a surround sound experience for standard stereo material. There is no Dolby Pro Logic (II) encoded material so it has to be processed externally from the original movie processing like CMSS or any other channel expansion. This also means it won't work at all with digital out.

 

[Lynx516]

There is an option in Audio HQ to make the Audigy pass the data through

 

[Viper96720]

You got AC3 decode checked in your audio hq device controls? Not sure if needed but you got the digital cable the small one from the drive going to the audigy 2?

 

[MasterHoss]

1. Set WinDVD to SPDIF out
2. Access your Device Controls under AudioHQ and set SPDIF to Dolby Digital decode and make sure the proper options are enabled/disabled under the Decoder tab
3. DISABLE CMSS

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
My guess is the decoders are similar in quality, but as was said, maybe the Creative decoder frees up some CPU usage. The check-box for the external processor most likely means that WinDVD will just send the data through the SPDIF output of your soundcard to be processed by an external surround sound receiver.

I've tried the External Pro Logic Processor check box, and when I hit apply, it stops the sound and restarts it, just as if I'd changed from Analog to SPIDF. None of the settings in WinDVD can make my audigy 2 output through spidf. When you select spidf as opposed to analog sound, WinDVD simply passes the still encoded DVD audio to my Audigy 2 DACs, which outputs that sound through all my speakers.

I couldn't really tell a difference between External Pro Logic on or off. Definitely though, Analog (WInDVD decoding) > SPIDF (Audigy 2 decoding)

You are not really clear but it seems you are solely using the analog outputs to some kind of amp to drive speakers, n'est ce pas? So, SPDIF is not actually being used and such settings should be thought of only as disabling software decoding and passing the unaltered digital stream on. The DVD player can pass to the sound card and the sound card can likewise pass to an external decoder.

To avoid problems from duelling decoders be sure to set either AudioHQ to decoder enabled and appropriate Speaker Settings/WinDVD to SPDIF (decoder disabled) or AudioHQ to SPDIF (decoder disabled)/WinDVD to appropriate analog channels (decoder enabled). The former would generally be better from a useability standpoint. But, as you say WinDVD sounds better. Well, that could be due to different options that are altering the sound rather than strictly a decoder comparision whos differences would probably not be readily noticeable. Make sure all effects on both sides are disabled. This is pretty much the long-winded version of what MasterHoss wrote.

Pro Logic is a decoder for Dolby Surround sources most common on TV and VCR but on the PC could be DVD or DivX (or other MPEG-4 variants) with DD 2.0 Surround in original AC3 or converted to OGG or MP3 (these also commonly contain down-mixes from DD 5.1 when that was the only audio track available).

The option for external Pro-Logic Processor should be similar to SPDIF pass-through in that it disables software decoding and passes any matrixed-stereo unaltered. I would expect that to be linked to an analog 2-speaker option though otherwise the decoder would have to detect the source channels and decode only if it was not Dolby Surround and otherwise pass it, which would be queer. How many speakers are you using?

 

[Nebor]

I'm using Altec Lansing 4.1s. Connected via analog to my Audigy 2. And that audigy 2 decoding really just sounds much quieter, that's the only real difference. It seems a little more clear, but it's very quiet, probably less than half as loud as the WinDVD decoder. Plus the audigy 2 decoder seems to get out of sync with the video from time to time...

I have my Audio HQ all set up AC3 decoding.

 

[Auric]

I don't have WinDVD installed so it is difficult to make further suggestions but if there is a Dynamic Range Compression setting, that could be responsible for making it louder (less range = louder). It is a common complaint about PC speakers and/or less than 5.1 systems that the audio is too quiet, particularly the dialogue. Even HT receivers commonly have some such a function meant for late-night viewing so as not to disturb others. As for the Audigy decoder losing sync, perhaps try enquiring in the Audigy Usenet group on the server "news.creativelabs.com" (or do a Google groups search first).

 

[MasterHoss]

Originally posted by: Nebor
I'm using Altec Lansing 4.1s. Connected via analog to my Audigy 2. And that audigy 2 decoding really just sounds much quieter, that's the only real difference. It seems a little more clear, but it's very quiet, probably less than half as loud as the WinDVD decoder. Plus the audigy 2 decoder seems to get out of sync with the video from time to time...

I have my Audio HQ all set up AC3 decoding.

Disable CMSS and also note that your volume is completely dependent upon the master volume (and the speaker's volume control) once you tell the Audigy2 to do the decoding. Also, triple check your AudioHQ settings.

 

[Viper96720]

I use the cmss 2 enabled when watching dvds sounds better to me. You did do the speaker calibration?

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Viper96720
I use the cmss 2 enabled when watching dvds sounds better to me. You did do the speaker calibration?

I think it was the dynamic range compression making it quiet. Yeah....And for those of you who don't know, CMSS 2 > All. Sound quality is equal to no CMSS, but you get the sound out of all your channels. It's fantastic.