AC3 decoding issue

[dcafri]

Hi All,

 

I have a problem watching HD channels which use AC3 decoding.

When I watch them, the sound is not fluent, obviously because of some kind of decoding issue.

 

My configuration is:

- Acer Aspire 3610 HTPC (Atom 330 & Nvidia IOn).

- TT-3600 receiver

- shark007 codec pack (coming together with ffdshow).

 

I've tried picking each one of the audio options with no luck.

After that I've tried installing AC3filter from http://ac3filter.net/projects/ac3file/releases.

following the installation, I received a new option to select in the audio section.

I picked it up, but it didn't help either.

When I try watching the HD AC3 channels, I found out that the cpu usage is ~45%.

Could it be that the AC3 decoding is too complicated for the Atom processor?

It doesn't make sense for me...

I'm quite sure I didn't configure it the right way...

I was looking in the AC3filter menu, and found many parameters to configure - nothing much that I understand...

[McenterFreak]

I use an Atom 330 processor. It runs perfectly with HD and AC3, so for shure it is not the hardware. My OS is Win 7, and i have not installed any Codec pack, only AC3Filter

[dcafri]

Hi,

 

Well, my computer configuration is identical to yours.

I forgot to mention but I also use Win7 64bit.

 

Could you tell me what is your Audio configuration in the DVBViewer?

[McenterFreak]

Well, my computer configuration is identical to yours.

Not quite. You use Shark07 codec pack. I don't use any codecpacs, just Win 7 internal codec.

 

I forgot to mention but I also use Win7 64bit.

Why?

I think that using Win7 64bit for HTPC i asking for trouble

 

 

Could you tell me what is your Audio configuration in the DVBViewer?

I forgot that i have made a clean Win 7 32 bit installation some days ago, and i forgot to install AC3filter, but it seems to work fine without it. Have just checked Canal+ Film HD and AC3 5.1. Works fine, and my reciever reports a Dolby D signal

[dcafri]

Hi,

 

1. I use Win7 64bit since I bought it like that (pre installed).

2. If you say that it is working fine even without the AC3filter,

I would be happy to know what did you configure in the option-->Audio menu?

 

BTW - which receiver are you using?

[McenterFreak]

Hi,

 

If you say that it is working fine even without the AC3filter,

I would be happy to know what did you configure in the option-->Audio menu?

Nothing, it's all default

 

BTW - which receiver are you using?

Denon AVR-1910, and i am very happy with it

[dcafri]

I think I wasn't clear with my questions

 

1 - once you use the default option, it actually uses a certain codec to decode the AC3.

I found out that if I pick the "default" and then restart the program (or the computer),

It switches the selection to one of the other existing options. can you tell me which one is your "default"?

 

2 - When I wrote receiver, I meant the satellite receiver.

I'm using technotrend 3600.

[McenterFreak]

I think I wasn't clear with my questions

 

1 - once you use the default option, it actually uses a certain codec to decode the AC3.

I found out that if I pick the "default" and then restart the program (or the computer),

It switches the selection to one of the other existing options. can you tell me which one is your "default"?

Not here. All options shows <System Default>, also after restart. In audio I can chose Microsoft DTV-DVD Audio Decoder in AC3 audio decoder, but it is set to <System Default>

 

2 - When I wrote receiver, I meant the satellite receiver.

I'm using technotrend 3600.

I use FireDTV S/S2

[dcafri]

Well, I guess it puts me back in square one

I'll try and "play" with it some more.

 

Thanks anyway for your time!

[McenterFreak]

Well, I guess it puts me back in square one

I'll try and "play" with it some more.

 

Thanks anyway for your time!

Have you tried latest Beta (DVBViewer)?

Have you installed latest drivers for your Graphic and sounddevice?

Have you tried to do a clean install (Win 7) with no codecs at all?

[McenterFreak]

Forgot to tell you:

If you use HDMI for audio, you need this special HDMI driver from nVidia: http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/hdmi_audio_xp_vista_win7_1.00.00.59_uk.html

You can see if you have it installed in properties for your audiocard, it should say that you have support for 8 channels

[dcafri]

Hi,

 

I am using the latest beta.

As for the nvidia driver - it could be it.

I am using an older version of it.

I'll give it a try.

 

Thanks!

[dcafri]

Hi,

 

Well, I've updated the Nvidia driver but it didn't help :-(

I was "playing" with all the audio options with no luck.

 

What I did notice is that even when I choose the "default" in the audio options -->

the ffdshow is active when I watch HD channel with AC3 decoding.

I can see that by the small blue ffdshow icon on the taskbar...

 

I'm starting to think of uninstalling the shark007 with the ffdshow from my computer.

As I understand, Win7 together with MPC-HC should do the job as for all media types.

 

Right now I need my computer to decode successfully all DVBViewer related media (SD TV, HD TV, AC3 decoding, etc.).

In addition I would like to watch movies from the DVBViewer (Divx, Xvid, mkv, etc.).

 

What do you think?

[McenterFreak]

I would do this:

Get a good imageing SW (i use Acronis True Image)

Get an external USB/eSata harddrive, or a large USB stick

Remove any extra HW (tuners etc.)

Install a fresh win 7 on a seperate partition. Data on another partition or HD

Retrieve and install all updates

Install all drivers for your hardware

Make an image (takes aprox. 10 min.)

Install HW

Install SW

experiment

If anything fails, restore image

[dcafri]

Well, that's the last answer I would liked to read (just joking...)

 

It sounds like lots of work...

 

And, my windows is OEM - I don't have an installation disk...

 

In your configuration, do you have any codec pack installed?

 

I think I would start with removing the shark007 and checking the impact on the system

[McenterFreak]

I have no Codec pack, at all