Windows HOW-TO Bitstreaming using XBMC

(2012-06-18 18:18)espylacopa Wrote:  

(2012-06-18 16:49)bluray Wrote:  

(2012-06-18 07:09)espylacopa Wrote:  I've only been able to get 5.1 audio with movies, but I verified that I can send signals to all 8 speakers independently using W7's built in speaker config screen, as well as verifying that my receiver sees all 8 speakers accordingly. However, the real problem could lie with the video encode I was using (even though MediaInfo shows it as having an 8 channel DTS audio stream). I thought I had 7.1 DTS-HDMA audio in it (DTS-HDMA lights came on on the receiver), but XBMC showed it as only outputting 5.1. So is there something I'm missing with this tutorial to get this working properly?

Did you select 7.1 in Windows 7 control panel and XBMC audio output?

Yes I did.

Are you saying your AVR showed 7.1 and XBMC showed 5.1?

(2012-06-18 20:10)bluray Wrote:  

(2012-06-18 18:18)espylacopa Wrote:  

(2012-06-18 16:49)bluray Wrote:  Did you select 7.1 in Windows 7 control panel and XBMC audio output?

Yes I did.

Are you saying your AVR showed 7.1 and XBMC showed 5.1?

I'm saying that I set Windows to 7.1. My AVR is able to do 7.1 audio. I tested that sound could be sent from my computer to all 8 speakers independently from windows through mt AVR. I also tested that all speakers were working via my AVRs own built in test settings. However, XBMC only showed 5.1 audio from a stream that was supposed to be 7.1. I set up XBMC just as you said, and I double and triple checked my settings. The 5.1 DTS-HDMA light lit up on my AVR, so I know I have the HD audio version of XBMC installed. I just don't know why I can't get 7.1 instead of 5.1.

(2012-06-18 23:28)espylacopa Wrote:  

(2012-06-18 20:10)bluray Wrote:  

(2012-06-18 18:18)espylacopa Wrote:  Yes I did.

Are you saying your AVR showed 7.1 and XBMC showed 5.1?

I'm saying that I set Windows to 7.1. My AVR is able to do 7.1 audio. I tested that sound could be sent from my computer to all 8 speakers independently from windows through mt AVR. I also tested that all speakers were working via my AVRs own built in test settings. However, XBMC only showed 5.1 audio from a stream that was supposed to be 7.1. I set up XBMC just as you said, and I double and triple checked my settings. The 5.1 DTS-HDMA light lit up on my AVR, so I know I have the HD audio version of XBMC installed. I just don't know why I can't get 7.1 instead of 5.1.

Ok.....can you try to set it to 2.0 or 5.1 in XBMC audio output? We'll see what your AVR display......

(2012-06-18 07:09)espylacopa Wrote:  I've only been able to get 5.1 audio with movies, but I verified that I can send signals to all 8 speakers independently using W7's built in speaker config screen, as well as verifying that my receiver sees all 8 speakers accordingly. However, the real problem could lie with the video encode I was using (even though MediaInfo shows it as having an 8 channel DTS audio stream). I thought I had 7.1 DTS-HDMA audio in it (DTS-HDMA lights came on on the receiver), but XBMC showed it as only outputting 5.1. So is there something I'm missing with this tutorial to get this working properly?

I have the same issue with xbmc. DTS-HDMA 7.1 displays as only 5.1 within xbmc but my receiver displays and pushes out a 7.1 stream. I think it's an issue with DTS-HDMA 7.1 media flagging within xbmc because TrueHD 7.1 shows fine with proper media flags and all.

(2012-06-19 00:24)blackreign66 Wrote:  

(2012-06-18 07:09)espylacopa Wrote:  I've only been able to get 5.1 audio with movies, but I verified that I can send signals to all 8 speakers independently using W7's built in speaker config screen, as well as verifying that my receiver sees all 8 speakers accordingly. However, the real problem could lie with the video encode I was using (even though MediaInfo shows it as having an 8 channel DTS audio stream). I thought I had 7.1 DTS-HDMA audio in it (DTS-HDMA lights came on on the receiver), but XBMC showed it as only outputting 5.1. So is there something I'm missing with this tutorial to get this working properly?

I have the same issue with xbmc. DTS-HDMA 7.1 displays as only 5.1 within xbmc but my receiver displays and pushes out a 7.1 stream. I think it's an issue with DTS-HDMA 7.1 media flagging within xbmc because TrueHD 7.1 shows fine with proper media flags and all.

I'm thinking that this is the issue. It appears that under all settings (I tried various channel setups), XBMC will erroneously report that the stream is 5.1 rather than the 7.1 it is actually putting out. I verified this by playing a scene in the movie I was watching that was a high action scene, and would make use of all 8 speakers. Sure enough the back speakers were outputting sound.

Under all settings in XBMC, from 2.0 to 7.1, the DTS-HDMA lights popped on on my AVR. So I suppose this might be an issue with this not being a final release of the HD audio code for XBMC?

Either way, I'm glad I figured it out.

Hi Everyone,

I need your advice/help.

When I followed your steps in your first post, I still couldn't bitstream HD audio with XMBC 11 + Hd audio.
So I installed XMBC + AE final and my AVR finally blinks the TrueHD audio + DTS HD-MA logo. Unfortunately the video and sounds just stutters constantly.

What am I doing wrong? (if I need to provide more info, let me know ;-) )

I've installed the following
- Windows 7 ultimate x64
- ATI CCC 11.12 (and later on 12.6)
- ATI HDMI driver from the Realtek website which you've provided (High definition Audio codec)
- XBMC + AE final


HTPC specs:
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-A75M-UD2H
Cpu: AMD A6-3500
Ram: Kingston 4GB
SSD Samsung 64 Gb

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
AVR: Sony STR-DA5300ES

@Jayant....

I haven't try the latest XBMC+AE. I know some version of Nightly builds I tried were stuttering, but the HD audio version in the first post work fine for me.

Have you try these configurations?

1. Enable DXVA2 and use DXVA as renther method, but disable everything else in XBMC settings/video/playback
2. Disable "Use a fullscreen window rather than true fullscreen" in XBMC settings/system/video output

(2012-07-01 13:21)JayantSparda Wrote:  When I followed your steps in your first post, I still couldn't bitstream HD audio with XMBC 11 + Hd audio.
So I installed XMBC + AE final and my AVR finally blinks the TrueHD audio + DTS HD-MA logo. Unfortunately the video and sounds just stutters constantly.

What am I doing wrong? (if I need to provide more info, let me know ;-) )

Under System -> Audio Output Device, did you select the WASAPI output option or the Direct Sound option. IIRC I think the Direct Sound option made my video stutter as well. So switch over the the WASAPI version. If that is not your problem here, then I don't know.

(2012-07-01 18:54)espylacopa Wrote:  So switch over the the WASAPI version.

If he checked out my screen shot in the 1st post, he might have selected WASAPI because it is clearly show in the screen shot......

HI Blu,

I re-installed windows 7 again and followed steps again.
This time I disabled the options which you've described and now bitstreaming TrueHD and DTS-HD MA finally works.

I can finally now watch my movies again with great sound quality.

Many thanks Bluf for your patience and wonderful guide
And thank you as well Espylacopa for your prompt reply