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#1
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Audio/surround question
If a PC supports say 5.1 channel audio, most (or all) audio played in
Windows can only be heard on 2 front speakers anyway? Is it correct? When I ran an audio test, every speaker made sound as expected. However, there's only sound coming out of front speakers when I play music, games, internet...! Thanks for any input |
#2
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Audio/surround question
wrote in message
ups.com... If a PC supports say 5.1 channel audio, most (or all) audio played in Windows can only be heard on 2 front speakers anyway? Is it correct? When I ran an audio test, every speaker made sound as expected. However, there's only sound coming out of front speakers when I play music, games, internet...! Thanks for any input The sound source needs to be 5.1 to get sound out of all the speakers eg. a DVD movie with 5.1 surround. SteveH |
#3
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Audio/surround question
Thanks. I was confused because I used to use 4 speakers with Turtle
Beach Santa Cruz sound card and there was sound coming out of all 4 speakers at all time. Unless for watching DVD, I guess there's no use of 5.1 channel audio on PC then? SteveH wrote: wrote in message ups.com... If a PC supports say 5.1 channel audio, most (or all) audio played in Windows can only be heard on 2 front speakers anyway? Is it correct? When I ran an audio test, every speaker made sound as expected. However, there's only sound coming out of front speakers when I play music, games, internet...! Thanks for any input The sound source needs to be 5.1 to get sound out of all the speakers eg. a DVD movie with 5.1 surround. SteveH |
#4
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Audio/surround question
wrote:
If a PC supports say 5.1 channel audio, most (or all) audio played in Windows can only be heard on 2 front speakers anyway? Is it correct? When I ran an audio test, every speaker made sound as expected. However, there's only sound coming out of front speakers when I play music, games, internet...! Thanks for any input Content, like from a DVD, can be available to drive 6 speakers. That is an example, where they recorded 6 channels to begin with, so it is a simple matter to pass the content, straight to the speakers. Other sources are inherently stereo, and there were only two channels to begin with. (Like ripping the sound tracks from a music CD.) To make two channels, fill six speakers, there are various transforms that can be applied, to approximate a surround environment. For example, if you go to this page, and click "Upmixing music and movies", you can see a tutorial on setting a complex sound product, to better make use of the speakers. These techniques are far from perfect, and will tend to be perceived as "artificial". (Face it, you cannot make "something from nothing".) The real answer, is to have the content in six channel form in the first place, recorded with six microphones etc. http://www.creative.com/products/sou...o/?c=2&m=1&t=2 But speaking in general terms, there are likely to be situations where such solutions don't do what they are supposed to. Some sound sources are so devoid of information that might make a mathematical transform work, that you still won't be satisfied, even after buying a complex sound product. Another problem area can be, if you attempt to use SPDIF (coaxial) connection to the receiver on your home entertainment system. Here the problem is that SPDIF is a two channel standard - to carry six channels of sound uses a compression technique called Dolby AC-3. While the compression can be done by software, there is a long delay with the software method, so a windows desktop warning sound, would take 0.5 seconds to show up on your home entertainment system. Stick with analog cabling to your speaker system, for fewer problems of that sort. The feature set of built-in sound on a motherboard, won't have as many fancy features as are shown in the Creative page above. Some of the products are pure misery (which is why the built-in sound on my motherboard is disabled and a $7 sound card takes its place). You may want to shop for a separate sound card, but take your time while shopping. It is hard to translate the "marketing speak" into English, so you can understand whether the thing you are buying, is the right answer or not. Paul |
#5
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Audio/surround question
Any sounds to be heard in 5.1 surround sound MUST have been originally mixed
in 5.1. In other words, newer games. Everything else mixed in stereo will just come out two speakers. -- DaveW ---------------- wrote in message ups.com... If a PC supports say 5.1 channel audio, most (or all) audio played in Windows can only be heard on 2 front speakers anyway? Is it correct? When I ran an audio test, every speaker made sound as expected. However, there's only sound coming out of front speakers when I play music, games, internet...! Thanks for any input |
#6
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Audio/surround question
wrote in message ups.com... Thanks. I was confused because I used to use 4 speakers with Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card and there was sound coming out of all 4 speakers at all time. Yes, the Turtle Beach software is nice that way, allowing you to use all the speakers, even with 2-channel source Unless for watching DVD, I guess there's no use of 5.1 channel audio on PC then? Pretty much. Surround sound on a computer is a waste of money, unless you are also using the computer monitor as your primary household television set. |
#7
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Audio/surround question
"Dave" wrote in message
reenews.net... wrote in message ups.com... Thanks. I was confused because I used to use 4 speakers with Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card and there was sound coming out of all 4 speakers at all time. Yes, the Turtle Beach software is nice that way, allowing you to use all the speakers, even with 2-channel source Unless for watching DVD, I guess there's no use of 5.1 channel audio on PC then? Pretty much. Surround sound on a computer is a waste of money, unless you are also using the computer monitor as your primary household television set. I forgot to mention, a lot of games now use 5.1 sound of course. SteveH |
#8
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Audio/surround question
wrote in message ups.com... If a PC supports say 5.1 channel audio, most (or all) audio played in Windows can only be heard on 2 front speakers anyway? Is it correct? When I ran an audio test, every speaker made sound as expected. However, there's only sound coming out of front speakers when I play music, games, internet...! Thanks for any input Did you setup windows correctly ? You need to tell windows to use the 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound speakers/mode. Otherwise windows will simply use 2 speaker set setup. So check that first if you think it's not surround sound Bye, Skybuck. |
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