ac3 5.1 surround not working on digital out on macbook pro

[pacmanssj]

Hey guys,
Loving the new version! Just a quick issue regarding 5.1 output on mkv files and DVD's when i select digital output for the sound. I don't get any! If it's just a standard stereo mix it's fine but going to 5.1 I get nothing. The same files and dvd's work fine in vlc and the dolby digital light comes on. If i switch the source to analogue I get sound but no 5.1. Is it another setting I've missed? It happens in Plex as well so maybe it's a macbook pro issue? I'm using a 3.5mm to optical to a creative amp.

Thanks guys, keep up the good work!

[perrin21]

its the sound setting in Boxee, you need to set it to output via digital output and select dolby digital.

[perrin21]

look in settings/System and select audio hardware.
select

Digital
Tick the box
Tick the box
Built in digital output.

hope that helps.

[pacmanssj]

Hey perrin21,

I've tried that, i get digital, i've ticked the box for AC3 dolby digital, had the DTS one ticked and unticked as my decoder doesn't support DTS and i only get built in output as an option in the last box. Unfortunately still no sound, maybe I'll try another amp and see if it's just mine. Will report back.

Thanks!

[perrin21]

hmmm, a decoder that doesnt support DTS, is it a Sony SDPEP9ES? thats about the only decoder i know of without DTS. lol just being a geek.

[pacmanssj]

lol no it's a creative labs one, the DTT3500, so quite old school now! About 6 years :S Unfortunately it has to keep going just a little longer for me!

[gromit]

I am having the same issue. I am running Boxee on a Mac Pro with 10.5.5. I have optical audio hooked up to my receiver. I have the digital settings set correctly and my receiver displays "DEC ERROR" when I play anything that has AC3 audio. I can play the same files in VLC just fine & my receiver will diplay "5.1" or "DTS" depending on the file.

[SpaceBass]

I am having the same issue. I am running Boxee on a Mac Pro with 10.5.5. I have optical audio hooked up to my receiver. I have the digital settings set correctly and my receiver displays "DEC ERROR" when I play anything that has AC3 audio. I can play the same files in VLC just fine & my receiver will diplay "5.1" or "DTS" depending on the file.

I have a few surround receivers here all with a Mac and optical output - I'd be happy to test the files in question and see what results I get....
not sure how to get copies though

[espenlg]

Just wanted to say - same thing here.. Videos with AC3 works fine in VLC, but I get no sound at all in boxee if I choose digital output. I have a Macbook Pro hooked up to my receiver with a optical cable.

I have a Mac Mini on the way, will I get the same problem there?

[wmbutler]

My problem is audio related, but with a slight twist. I have a Behringer USB to dual RCA device plugged into my Mac Mini USB. This is just a more reliable connection than the 1/8 port. The Mini recognizes it and plays across the RCA outs from iTunes. I have set the Mini default sound output to go through the Behrenger device as well and all the system sounds play as expected, however, boxee consistently tries to keep playing though the built-in audio. I have played with this a bit in the boxee system setup -> Sound. I have chosen the USB Sound Output (which shows up properly just like it does in the Finder), although even after choosing it, the sound is not rerouted to the Behringer device. When I quit boxee and relaunch, boxee has reverted back to built-in audio. Hopefully, this is a very easy fix for one of those awesome developers.

[matt22207]

I have a very similar problem. No surround sound (only 2-channel) on DVD's, and poor audio sync on AVI/MKV's.


Hardware:

MacMini Core 2 Duo 2GHz
Firewave (Firewire Dolby Digital Decoder)
Logitech Z-640 6 Speaker Surround Sound System



Boxee (0.9.6.4578) Audio Setup:

Audio Output: Digital
Dolby Digital (AC3) Capable Receiver: Yes
DTS Capable Receiver: No (Firewave does not support DTS)
Audio Output Device: Griffin Firewave Surround (1559)



If I set the audio output to the system default, I get no sound at all during DVD's.

Everything works fine in VLC, DVD Player, and Front Row.

Ideas?

[Quasar]

I have the same problem with my regular MacBook. Stereo audio works fine, but try and play a file with dolby 5.1 and I get nothing. And by how my receiver reacts its like it gets an empty 5.1 audio stream.

I've made sure its set to digital audio (with the Dolby and DTS items selected). I can get 5.1 audio out with VLC, so it doesn't seem to be a hardware issue.

Weirdly, if I deselect the DTS option audio comes through but just prologic.

[Quasar]

Well..that's frustrating. I don't have the audio issues with Plex (it even outputs my 6 channel AAC files in DD5.1 for my receiver).

[Steve28]

Add me as a Me Too to this thread. When I play anything with an AC3 stream, the stereo lights up the Dolby 5.1 light, but all I get is silence. Same file places fine in 5.1 with VLC.

I have the digital audio options enabled in boxy too.

[pghmtnbiker]

same problem here.
maybe a clue, but in when hooked up via the headphone to toslink cable and using VLC I don't get 5.1 surround, DTS, etc unless I check the option Built-In Output (Encoded Output) under Audio > Audio Device.

If I select just Built-In Output, I get nothing but Dolby Pro Logic.

The reason I think this has something to do with our issue is that Boxee has the Built-In Output selection...but not an additional (Encoded Output) selection available.

same thing happens on XMBC, same lack of options in the audio output.

[joselama]

Ok guys, had the same problem as you did... Was working with VLC but not with Boxee.

The problem is not your macbook or your boxee software. Its your receiver.

In my case, i have a Sony STR-K670P. Went to the Main Menu, chose CUSTOM and scrolled till i got something showing DEC PCM. Switched it to DEC AUTO and voila! Got DTS working right away!

Good luck fellas.

[matt22207]

The problem is not your macbook or your boxee software. Its your receiver.

In my case, i have a Sony STR-K670P. Went to the Main Menu, chose CUSTOM and scrolled till i got something showing DEC PCM. Switched it to DEC AUTO and voila! Got DTS working right away!

How can this not be the software's fault if all other software works fine? Obviously Boxee only outputs a certain type of DEC (that most other software does not), if you were able to switch your receiver to work.

I guess I'll see if there is some setting in my driver software, but I doubt it:

# Firewave (Firewire Dolby Digital Decoder)
# Logitech Z-640 6 Speaker Surround Sound System

[joselama]

I understand, however it works. I do not know much about decoding, but seems like there is PCM and another, Dolby Digital and DTS. My receiver has PCM and AUTO setting for decoding. I think that boxee does not sends PCM Digital signals, but just Dolby Digital or DTS raw signals. So im guessing thats why it didnt work before.

So again, just set up your receiver and good luck ;)

[ZildjianKX]

I'm getting the same problem... anyone figure it out yet?

Edit - I got it working on my Mini finally. The divx file with AC3 was bad and I also didn't have "Multichannel" selected in the speaker configuration of Audio MIDI Setup, not sure if the latter was important or not.

[theirongiant]

I have boxee (latest alpha) on the Mac. DTS / AC3 standalone audio files or DTS Audio CDs will not play correctly. However, a video file with embedded DTS/AC3 track WILL trigger a change on my receiver (Onkyo). So the digital passthrough is working, but only for video.

Any idea why?

[jmk_428]

Did you guys try XBMC? I got the same problem in Boxee, and then I tried XBMC and found the same issue.