Dolby 5.1 in DVD

[khat]

I have a SoundBlaster Lve! Value card, with one of the speaker out's hooked DIRECTLY into the AUX of my Yamaha ACV-30 Stero Amplifier.

I was wondering, would I get the benefit of Dolby 5.1 sound through this?

cheers
KHAT

 

[graen drol]

If your reciever has Dolby Decoding then yes, I believe so.

 

[Pennstate]

Unless it's a digital out, you can't. If you have the newer version of the live value with a digital out, then yes.

 

[khat]

I do have the digital out on my blaster, but I don't think this is compatible with my amp.

oh well, worth specuating

KHAT

 

[Pennstate]

DO you have a digital input in your amp?

 

[Fireball]

You will NOT get 5.1 dolby digital. The only way to get this is to use an output off of a DVD player like a fiber optic connection, or a digital coax cable. This is one of the MAJOR drawbacks to having a DVD player in your computer versus a standalone DVD player. Your receiver also needs to have a dolby digital or DTS decoder built into it. Typically if you do not know if it has one or not, it most likely does not. It's a feature that really drives up the price of the receiver and is a feature that most people actually look for now a days.

 

[Wizkid]

You need the live with the digital out ( newer versions have it ). Then you just buy a standard minijack to rca converter cable from an electronics store. Plus the minijack into the digital out of the live! and the rca goes to the spdif input on the receiver ( assuming it supports dolby digital, otherwise it won't work ). Then you need liveware 3 and software that supports this, such as powerdvd 2.5.

My setup: SB Live! MP3+ hooked up the dolby digital receiver with TOSLINK cable ( fibre-optic ) and using PowerDVD 2.5.5 in winME ( doesn't work in NT/2000 ). It works great and the sound is MUCH better than dolby surround

 

[AMB]

I have the Sb Live Platinum and Power DVD 2.55 hooked up to my Videologic DigiTheatre, everything works fine and I get DD 5.1, I know I am getting this properley because there was this AC3-Test at DVD Digest that playes a sound though each of the six speakers serparetly.

 

[Auric]

I have the Live! Value "classic" It was not supplied with a digital output but you can hook up a cable to the board. I bought a $15ish add-on because it has the coaxial and optical outputs. Anyway, if you are just using the front speaker output you get Dolby Surround. You need to use the digital output for 6 channel. But again, if the amp ain't doesn't have a digital decoder then it's no joy.

 

[Mday]

amb's setup is ideal. 2.55 rocks with it's ac3 support.

of course i too, am stuck with the original live value. and no decoder, so...

 

[Soccerman]

my Aureal Vortex 2 Superquad has an Optical out, so if I had a Dolby Digital reciever with corresponding input, I could easily get that, or if I wanted to go a different path, my Hollywood Plus has a Coax digital out, so either one would work

hey BTW, does the Digital out on soundcards only work when doing DVD of some sort?

 

[AMB]

Soccerman, through the optical out of the SB Live it outputs everything it can in Digital, including MP3's and CD's etc. I think it swaps between PCM and AC-3 digital sound outputs whether it is playing DVD, AC-3 source, or something else.

Something that it will not output through the digital output is Creative's four point surround. You just get it in stereo. That is something that I am never sure on though, but I remember if you set your speakers to Pro-Logic, it is doing just the the sb live does to create it.

 

[AMB]

Soccerman, through the optical out of the SB Live it outputs everything it can in Digital, including MP3's and CD's etc. I think it swaps between PCM and AC-3 digital sound outputs whether it is playing DVD, AC-3 source, or something else.

Something that it will not output through the digital output is Creative's four point surround. You just get it in stereo. That is something that I am never sure on though, but I remember if you set your speakers to Pro-Logic, it is doing just the the sb live does to create it.

 

[Pariah]

No version of the SB Live! can pass an AC3 stream. Creative Labs themselves will tell you that. The SPDIF on all the Live's is only a stereo output. This is why you had to order the additional break out backpane with the optical out and additional SPDIF in and out to get 4 speaker digital out. The DIN connector does not pass an AC3 stream either, even it you have the DTT2500 speaker set, all it is is a digital out that allows for quad output. The live can simulate surround sound using HTRF's and other tricks, which is why it seems like it is true surround sound. In order to pass a DD stream, you need a hardware decoder like the DXR3 which is an OEM Hollywood+ card.

 

[AMB]

IF you want to be certain that it does work, get this: http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/files/trailers/ac3test.zip

I have run this and have got all six channels in the right place at the right time, so I assume that it is 6 channel AC-3.

The 'additional break out backpane with the optical out' comes with the Sb Live Platinum in the form of Live Drive I or II

 

[Pariah]

This is straight off of Creative's website:

How do I experience Dolby Digital surround on Sound Blaster Live!?

Dolby Digital is a separate functionality from Sound Blaster. Although Sound Blaster does not perform AC-3 decoding, you can still enjoy surround sound on your multiple speaker setup using the CMSS Movie Mode. CMSS uses binaural synthesis to create surround sound by cross-talk cancellation (using HRTF implementation). Since surround formats such as Dolby Digital and Dolby ProLogic content have binaural characteristics, CMSS is able to achieve the spatial effect when playing material that is encoded in these formats. If you are playing software DVD that has Dolby Digital content, select the CMSS Movie mode feature in the speaker applet (AudioHQ). This allows you to experience surround sound on your 4 speaker setup. If you are using DVD Encore, you should connect the Encore to an AC-3 decoder to experience full surround. If you do not have a consumer AC-3 decoder/receiver, you can purchase the affordable DeskTop Theater 5.1 which is available from Creative. If you do not wish to invest in an AC-3 decoder, you can still experience surround on your existing 4 speaker setup. Choose the CMSS Movie mode feature in the speaker applet (AudioHQ) for a very cost effective surround solution that allows you to hear your movie on four speakers.


Note, that no where does it mention you can route the Live directly to a Dolby Digital decoder. They only mention the Encore being able to do it.

I'm not referring to the Live Drive AMB. A couple months after the original Live was released, Creative offered a backpane that looked just like the one that came with the original full Live! that had TOS in/out and an addition SDIF in/out. This card plugged into either the Value or daisy chained through the breakout card that came with the full live.

I thought they had discontinued selling it, but I found it here:

http://www.soundblaster.com/accessories/optical-io/

One additional edit. The LiveDrive I which comes with the US version of the Platinum does not include TOS connectors. Only the European version which comes bundles with LiveDrive II includes the TOS connectors. Creative Labs "graciously" allows North American users to upgrade to the Live Drive II for $130, after you mail back your Live Drive I. What a rip off.

 

[AMB]

I have the Live Drive II, which I am sure can output AC3 DD5.1