HL2 AND Dolby Digital Via Intel HD Audio???

[padams]

I have just built a new PC after waiting a long time to play HL2… Everything looks great, but I can’t seem to get real 5.1 sound.

MB is the Intel D925XBC

I have the coax cable connected to the Denon 3803, and I get DolbyD on the display. Running the test in windows (Intel Sound Studio). The sound is working as expected.

When in the game, if I select 5.1, I can only hear sound from Center speaker, and only sounds that are coming from were I am looking at (if I stand in front of someone who is talking to me, I hear him, but when I turn my back to him, I can’t here ANYTHING)

I tried 2 speaker from the game (I still get DolbyD on the AVR display) I still can’t get proper Dolby D sound. I only hear sound from the front two speakers… Even if I turn my back to the person speaking to me, I hear him from the front speakers instead of the back…..

Am I doing something wrong? Is it possible to get true DolbyD from the hardware that I am using without having to connect the six analogue connections?

Any help would be greatly appreciated….

Ahhhh I’ve waited so long to play this game….

Thanks
P

 

[fabianoag]

As far as I know, you need to use those standard pc audio cables to get surround sound from games. I don't see why you need six though - I only needed three to connect my Audigy 2 ZS Platinum to my Creative 7.1 system.

 

[Manook]

As far as I know the intel audio encodes the dolby stream much like the soundstorm chipset from nvidia. IIRC there is currently a problem with the dolby digital setup on the soundstorm which stops the 5.1 working correctly (edit. with hl2), this may also be true for the HD Audio from Intel.

Pure speculation as I have neither of these boards. I could rig them up at work though and test but then again I cant be a***d.

 

[padams]

Thanks for the info guys...

You are right... It is just three cables... I did try using them (i used to use them with my Audigy 2, but the whole idea to go with this motherboard was to have only one cable for all my Audio needs)

Even with the analogue lines i still can't get correct sound.

Either SPDIF or Analogue, when i select 5.1 for the game audio menu, i can only hear sound from the center....

I am tempted to try my Audigy 2, but i have 2 concerns.
1. I'm not sure it will fit (MB has two PCI slots. one is already occupied, and the other is right next to the PCIE Card)
2. If that works i will be kicking my self for going with this motherboard due to the above constraints.

Have you got any other ideas? I am willing to try anything...

Thanks
P

 

[CriYam]

I have the same problem with my audigy2. Using the digital cable or RCA's I still get voice through the center speaker when looking directly at the person speaking.

Everything else is surround sound. First time playing when I met Barney and someone bangs on the door... well, back and to the right of me is where the door to my apartment is and it took me a second to realize it was ingame.

Anyhow, maybe check for new drivers. I tend not to mess with anything until others do and have good results.

 

[padams]

CriYam,

What audio mode are you using in the game audio menu?

Cause with the Onboard Intel HD Audio, when i have 5.1 selected from the game menu, i can only hear sound from the center speaker. NOTHING from the other speakers. Plus when someone is talking, i have to look at them otherwise i don't hear their voice at all. All other sounds seem to be ok, BUT ONLY FROM THE CENTER SPEAKER...

Thanks
P

 

[CriYam]

5.1 speakers - sound quality high - music volume all the way down (not sure if that would help you hear the game better)

 

[padams]

It looks like i'm the only one on the planet who got this MB and is trying to play HL2

By the way, i tried Doom 3 Demo in 5.1...... and voala... everything sounds as expected.....

CriYam,
How can you get the same (Only from center) when using either analogue or spdif?

 

[CriYam]

It looks like i'm the only one on the planet who got this MB and is trying to play HL2

By the way, i tried Doom 3 Demo in 5.1...... and voala... everything sounds as expected.....

CriYam,
How can you get the same (Only from center) when using either analogue or spdif?

Ask Valve, all the sound effects are surround sound (gunfire,footsteps), NPC voices only come through center channel.

 

[padams]

So your problem is just the VOICE... All other sounds come out from the speaker that they were supposed to...

My problem is even worse... The only speaker that any sound comes out of, is the Center.....

I found that the less painful way to play the game is to select two speakers both from windows and in game, and set my AVR to try and do Pro-Logic...

I am amaizing my self how i can still hold of and not play the game until i can find a solution to this problem... (i don't think i can wait that much longer though...)

Thanks
P