I had this real cool idea I would build a mini-Itx puter and completely replace my head unit which was failing do to age.
now the puter is ready but the only way I have to hook up the desired 5.1 sound is to convert the s/p dif output to 4,5, or 8 volt rca pre-amps . needless to say I don't know spit about building circuits (lets face it assembling a puter and building a circuit are 2 different things) but if i could find a schematic I fallow instructions quite well.
Thanks
now the puter is ready but the only way I have to hook up the desired 5.1 sound is to convert the s/p dif output to 4,5, or 8 volt rca pre-amps . needless to say I don't know spit about building circuits (lets face it assembling a puter and building a circuit are 2 different things) but if i could find a schematic I fallow instructions quite well.
Thanks
I can't directly answer your question, but I am wondering if you understand what Spdif is, and what it would take to do what you are asking. Basically you are asking someone to design you a D/A converter. SPDIF stands for Sony Phillips Digital Interface Format, I believe, its a digital out, and so to turn that into an analogue output means converting from digital to analogue. Not an impossible task, there are various plans for D/A converters, and I am pretty sure most of them would be able to work on 12 volts with a little ingenuity.
I recomend looking around for d/a converter kits, there are many phillips non-o/s kits available, which people believe to sound very good. The voltage of the output will probably be closer to the 2 volt standard, but I imagine somebody could tell you how to increase that to 4 or more volts. Honostly, I dont feel that a high voltage output is all that important, the idea was to reduce noise, but I never have had a problem in car audio with noise as a result of too low a voltage output. Often the noise I had was because of ground loops or poorly designed circuits.
I recomend looking around for d/a converter kits, there are many phillips non-o/s kits available, which people believe to sound very good. The voltage of the output will probably be closer to the 2 volt standard, but I imagine somebody could tell you how to increase that to 4 or more volts. Honostly, I dont feel that a high voltage output is all that important, the idea was to reduce noise, but I never have had a problem in car audio with noise as a result of too low a voltage output. Often the noise I had was because of ground loops or poorly designed circuits.
Look at the H701/RUC701 combination from alpine, that has a nice d/a and you have time correction, 3 way crossover in the front, 2 way in rear, and sub out... and a lovely little controller up front... but it is around 500-600$...
pjpoes pretty much summed it up, you're asking to do digital to analog, but that is a huge task. Sound cards typically have a very poor noise to sound ratio. Have you considered some of the outboard surround sound processors for your PC?
Or why do you only have spdif out ? I mean, almost all cards these days with multiple outputs have configureable outputs, most have 5.1 capability... it'll probably be cheaper to buy a nice sound card for your mini puter than it would be to buy a nice d/a converter that would also split the sound up into the frequency bands you need... hence the beauty of headunits...
pjpoes pretty much summed it up, you're asking to do digital to analog, but that is a huge task. Sound cards typically have a very poor noise to sound ratio. Have you considered some of the outboard surround sound processors for your PC?
Or why do you only have spdif out ? I mean, almost all cards these days with multiple outputs have configureable outputs, most have 5.1 capability... it'll probably be cheaper to buy a nice sound card for your mini puter than it would be to buy a nice d/a converter that would also split the sound up into the frequency bands you need... hence the beauty of headunits...
my soundcard is even worse than you think: it's onboard, it has one line out, one line in, one mic in, and an s/pdif connection. The motherboard info says that the line in can be "fliped" to a line out but nothing about the mic.
The only "outboard surround sound processors" I am aware of are the ones by creative labs which still use s/pdif's to fill out at least 2 of the channels. "I believe"
If you are aware of some I am not, Please share your insight.
An added problem is that I have no unused pci slot so it would have to be firewire or usb.
The objective is to play the 5.1 surround files without mixing them to 2 channels while sending them to the headunit, then mixing them back to 5.1 using the headunits virtual surround sound feature.
As far as noise to sound quality; I hadn't noticed that in my home pc, but it is on an optical to the Dennon so that may be the reason. It was purchased that way and I gave them spacific instructions that, all I wanted that pc for was running to the reciver.
Another question is if an amp is rated for 4 volts the will it perorm properly with only a 2 volt input.
As a last resort does anyone know what software I could use to mix sound in DVD-Video soundtrack format for 5.1 surround (but this would take forever with 40 to 45 gigs of music.
The only "outboard surround sound processors" I am aware of are the ones by creative labs which still use s/pdif's to fill out at least 2 of the channels. "I believe"
If you are aware of some I am not, Please share your insight.
An added problem is that I have no unused pci slot so it would have to be firewire or usb.
The objective is to play the 5.1 surround files without mixing them to 2 channels while sending them to the headunit, then mixing them back to 5.1 using the headunits virtual surround sound feature.
As far as noise to sound quality; I hadn't noticed that in my home pc, but it is on an optical to the Dennon so that may be the reason. It was purchased that way and I gave them spacific instructions that, all I wanted that pc for was running to the reciver.
Another question is if an amp is rated for 4 volts the will it perorm properly with only a 2 volt input.
As a last resort does anyone know what software I could use to mix sound in DVD-Video soundtrack format for 5.1 surround (but this would take forever with 40 to 45 gigs of music.
The Idea of Mixing the music to DVD-video soundtrack format would be because I have a headunit that plays dvd-video (No dvd-audio though) and has 5.1 surround outputs, I could simply retool the pc for regular power supply and use my headunit in the car.
If there is no original 6 (5.1=6 channels) then you are getting Dolby Prologic... I think you are searching for something that is not really going to deliver what you think it is...
First of all Music is recorded in stereo, 2 channel, and at best you are getting some fuzzy logic to simulate rear channels and a center, and it doesn't add that much in that small of a space. There is no point in turning a 2 channel audio source into 5 channels, because they're already all the same anyways. You would be better off with the computer doing some sort of spatialization effect to simulate "cave" surround etc...
If you really want 5 channels, I would say use the onboard DSP of the sound card, and probably you will need to get a better sound card, that is alot cheaper than buying a DSP outboard processor to do that for you. Because you are already working within the PCI framework, as opposed to some unknown "studio recording" or on the road type application that would require 5 channels... it's going to be cheaper to do it with a PCI card + software configuration.
That way you will have no processing of files, just set the soundcard to use 5.1 and it will do all the simulations for you, and it will do DVD-Video and DVD-Audio with the right software DVD Player.
First of all Music is recorded in stereo, 2 channel, and at best you are getting some fuzzy logic to simulate rear channels and a center, and it doesn't add that much in that small of a space. There is no point in turning a 2 channel audio source into 5 channels, because they're already all the same anyways. You would be better off with the computer doing some sort of spatialization effect to simulate "cave" surround etc...
If you really want 5 channels, I would say use the onboard DSP of the sound card, and probably you will need to get a better sound card, that is alot cheaper than buying a DSP outboard processor to do that for you. Because you are already working within the PCI framework, as opposed to some unknown "studio recording" or on the road type application that would require 5 channels... it's going to be cheaper to do it with a PCI card + software configuration.
That way you will have no processing of files, just set the soundcard to use 5.1 and it will do all the simulations for you, and it will do DVD-Video and DVD-Audio with the right software DVD Player.
I apologize; I didn't make myself clear on the file content I'm talking about. I have files in several different mixes: some are already in DVD-Audio format, some are in raw format, some are in apple lossless, some are in stereo, but most are multi-channel. Those that are multi-channel I don't want to mix them to stereo to sent them to the receiver through a aux connection and my head unit will not play dvd-audio, only dvd-video according to the manual.
sorry for the misunderstanding.
sorry for the misunderstanding.
If you have a computer in your car, why are you using a Headunit to do anything? I mean, the headunit is really useless if you have a computer.
I was saying, if you have a DVD player in the computer, and the right software, you will be able to be able to output 5.1 channels of audio directly into the amplifiers. You don't even need to use the headunit...
I was saying, if you have a DVD player in the computer, and the right software, you will be able to be able to output 5.1 channels of audio directly into the amplifiers. You don't even need to use the headunit...
The original problem is my sound card only acheaves 5.1 channels if I use the s/pdif. The mob manual says to do the fallowing (line out = Lf & Rf, convert line in to a line out = Rr & Lr, spdif = center & sub) the mic evidently doesn't convert. so I run 3.5 mm to left and right rca addapters on the line jacks but what to do with s/pdif. In my checking around I have found that most mob's convert both line in and mic in to line outs but rebuilding now is not at all a favorible idea. another thought I had was it i could find a "signal processor" Eq whatever that would have a digital input, odds are very good if I did it would be s/pdif compatabel from what I understand and this would give me fine tuning control before the amps as well.
dorry for the confusion.
dorry for the confusion.
xero said:
plug the front speakers into line out, rears into line in, and center/sub into spdif. I have a creative SB card that uses the spdif jack for center/sub, and all I need to do is disable digital output (spdif), and I get the center/sub channels from that jack.
What kind of jack is your SPDIF port?
It SOUNDS like it's just another 3.5mm jack...
Because SPDIF can be either electrical or optical signaling... and It sounds if the mobo manual says center/sub goes out SPDIF, then only when you have 5.1 turned off does it send out SPDIF... otherwise it just works like a regular 3.5mm stereo jack. i.e. first pin is center, second is sub, third is shared ground...
It SOUNDS like it's just another 3.5mm jack...
Because SPDIF can be either electrical or optical signaling... and It sounds if the mobo manual says center/sub goes out SPDIF, then only when you have 5.1 turned off does it send out SPDIF... otherwise it just works like a regular 3.5mm stereo jack. i.e. first pin is center, second is sub, third is shared ground...
s/pdif is an electrical "coax" is what they call it still looks like and rca to me.
I was under the impression that it sent digital signal for the center and sub but the digital signal being turned off for analog 5.1, I'll go back through the manual tonight and see if I can't find something. First I'm going to stop staring at puter screens for awhile.
"The next time I buy a motherboard I want a printed manual not a pdf file."
I was under the impression that it sent digital signal for the center and sub but the digital signal being turned off for analog 5.1, I'll go back through the manual tonight and see if I can't find something. First I'm going to stop staring at puter screens for awhile.
"The next time I buy a motherboard I want a printed manual not a pdf file."
but the digital signal being turned off for analog 5.1 (makes sence now that I think about it)
That's what was missing in that sentance.
As you can tell I need to get off puter for a bit
Thakx for your help
latter
That's what was missing in that sentance.
As you can tell I need to get off puter for a bit
Thakx for your help
latter
What motherboard is it? Do you have a link to the pdf ?
The plug is only partially indicative of what the signal is that is coming out of it...
I've never heard of a system sending 4 of the 6 channels analog, and the last two digital, that doesn't make much sense. Because it would be very difficult to implement, it splitting signals like that, it's usually all digital or all analog, or both fully, but not part of this, part of that...
The only reason I can think of going digital is if you have a high end processor that can split the digital signal into 6 channels... It has some advantages, but it doesn't make much sense to split it up multiple times.
I think what your card has, is no decoding logic, so it just passes the digital stream, as opposed to breaking it out? But if you have the manual, or a link where I can look at it, it would be helpful.
The plug is only partially indicative of what the signal is that is coming out of it...
I've never heard of a system sending 4 of the 6 channels analog, and the last two digital, that doesn't make much sense. Because it would be very difficult to implement, it splitting signals like that, it's usually all digital or all analog, or both fully, but not part of this, part of that...
The only reason I can think of going digital is if you have a high end processor that can split the digital signal into 6 channels... It has some advantages, but it doesn't make much sense to split it up multiple times.
I think what your card has, is no decoding logic, so it just passes the digital stream, as opposed to breaking it out? But if you have the manual, or a link where I can look at it, it would be helpful.
I have done 2 things that change the situation entirely
first I took the entire puter out and took it to the local shop.
Ocelaris: you are exactly correct "not decoding logic" the next thing they said was legendarily poor sound.
so I hooked it up according to instructions to their speakers (rather they hooked it up at my request) result
I have an open usb and can turn the onboard sound off in the bios.
Oh the man is on cd not on web. The whole thing was part a car pc kit.
I think at this point with the information I have gotten here and from the puter shop I will endeavor to get the creative labs usb audigy 2 nx or the turtule beach usb card if it will play back dvd-a (i'm sure it will - it's more a matter of software as that the card has just about as good a specs as the creative.) They both have 7.1 channel analog capability if memory serves.
Thanx for the help.
first I took the entire puter out and took it to the local shop.
Ocelaris: you are exactly correct "not decoding logic" the next thing they said was legendarily poor sound.
so I hooked it up according to instructions to their speakers (rather they hooked it up at my request) result
I have an open usb and can turn the onboard sound off in the bios.
Oh the man is on cd not on web. The whole thing was part a car pc kit.
I think at this point with the information I have gotten here and from the puter shop I will endeavor to get the creative labs usb audigy 2 nx or the turtule beach usb card if it will play back dvd-a (i'm sure it will - it's more a matter of software as that the card has just about as good a specs as the creative.) They both have 7.1 channel analog capability if memory serves.
Thanx for the help.
M-audio makes an excellent card (my wife has a 7.1 M-Audio and one of ther usb midi hookups in her puter) I had looked at them but there are 2 problems
A) and most importantly: although thay have usb recording equipment thay have no actual usb sound cards. I downloaded the pdf's on much of there usb gear to see if I could set it up. what I have found is that it would be far more dificult than to look for a high quality usb sound card.
B) mini itx has pci slot shortage.
Thanx for the atempt though
A) and most importantly: although thay have usb recording equipment thay have no actual usb sound cards. I downloaded the pdf's on much of there usb gear to see if I could set it up. what I have found is that it would be far more dificult than to look for a high quality usb sound card.
B) mini itx has pci slot shortage.
Thanx for the atempt though
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit-main.html
They do have it, it's just in a dumb category. "Instant Music"
I can't speak for that particular device, but I've got their revolution 7.1 PCI card, and haven't got any real complaints. Linux drivers are a little quirky, but work.
They do have it, it's just in a dumb category. "Instant Music"
I can't speak for that particular device, but I've got their revolution 7.1 PCI card, and haven't got any real complaints. Linux drivers are a little quirky, but work.
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