Is 5.1-channel sound available, or is it stereo only ?

[bamzors]

Anyone know if SH5 supports 5.1-channel sound?

I've got the digital output from my PC going into my 5.1 speakers but the amplifier is resolutely stuck on 'stereo' and I can't find any option in the game to change that...

If not I guess I'll use 2xstereo...

Thanks,
Bamzors

[L.T]

well im úsing a steelseries virtual surround headset (7.1) and the virtual emulator does work...

Its not top of the line sound, but beats the sterreo by far...

"nothing like listening to the DD`s above doing there stuf and have it virtual scooped into your brain."

So cant say anything about hardware surround, but the virtual emulators work....90%

L.T

[bamzors]

thanks LT - I read it as you're really confirming it's stereo-only in the sim...

cheers - Bamzors

[TBear]

might do abit for you.....go into sounds and turn 3d sounds all the way up....

There is a sound pack around...not das boot one and that realy works well with my 7.1 headset.....

L.T

[Zachstar]

Anyone know if SH5 supports 5.1-channel sound?

I've got the digital output from my PC going into my 5.1 speakers but the amplifier is resolutely stuck on 'stereo' and I can't find any option in the game to change that...

If not I guess I'll use 2xstereo...

Thanks,
Bamzors

PC surround sound is a funky thing. Basically the only serious way to do it is with Analog connections which is a pain in the butt and does not work with too many games.

Some games can do surround sound via Dolby Pro Logic or Logic II Try switching your receiver to such to test.

Digital Sound from a PC means just high quality stereo or tracks from DVDs most of the time. Game consoles can do it because their sound standards allow devs to make sure sound goes out right. PCs do not have that luxury.

[Task Force]

I am pretty sure im getting surround sound on my headset. (G35) but if I am, it isnt the best.

[rickidoo]

I have a creative labs fata1ity card and a 5.1 sound system. All "Surround Sound" simulation settings are off in my card, meaning, what I hear is real 5.1.

Water / Engine sounds are clearly behind me when I am facing forward and rotate around me as I turn.

Depth charges appear to be 5.1 although not as strongly so as I would had hoped.

Overall I like the 5.1 experience.

[Zachstar]

So you have an analog system. If I would hazard a guess I would say a logitech 5.1 right?

Notice I say analog folks. Almost no PC games can encode to dolby digital AC3 format for sending over TOSlink. The only way to do that is what is called a Dolby Digital Live card. It is what I have on my Turtle beach card (Note its clearly marked so if its not its not DDL) It has a dedicated chip that on the fly converts what windows thinks is an analog 5.1 out into Dolby digital 5.1 that works on most modern receivers.

[DedEye]

I'm using an Asus Xonar DX sound card on Creative's 5.1 speaker system from 5(?) years ago. Also Captnhelms audio pack. Directionally it works well; I don't think there are any environmental effects.

[rickidoo]

Zachstar (http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=214355) - I am fortunate to have a Pioneer VSX-818V Receiver that power a set of speakers that I used to use for my HD TV. I still watch the HD TV, but the sound system gets more use on the computer.

[Zachstar]

This needs to be clarified.

If the receiver is hooked up via optical on a non dolby digital live card its stereo but through Pro Logic mode (Some) games can do Surround Sound.

If the receiver is hooked up via analog 5.1 connection (Lots of wires) Many games can do 5.1 directly.

Can you clarify your setup and receiver mode? Is it in Pro Logic or Pro Logic II?

[Zachstar]

bamzors did going pro logic help?

[bamzors]

Thanks for this - sorry I've been a bit slow but I've been exploring the options... here's how far I've got:

My (new) motherboard (GA-X58A-UD3) has a Realtek sound chip that supports 5.1 (and 7.1) sound. Optical SPDIF Out is now set for default 5.1 sound.

My speakers controller (Logitech Z-5450) says 'no digital signal' when my PC is quiet and the display wakes up and says 'Dolby Digital' when SH5 is running, and sound comes out of all the speakers. So far I haven't actually been able to 100% confirm this is true 5.1 sound, rather than 2xstereo, but it seems to be.

Prior to me messing with the settings (on the Win 7 PC - I didn't find any in SH5) the Logitech controller said 'Stereo'. I was able to select effects such as 2xstereo or Pro Logic II - both provided sound front and back but I think in each case the front-back separation was artificial.

So I reckon I now have a working 5.1 sound config with SH5, but if someone could tell me a good source in the sim of a clear directional sound that would help. On the bridge I didn't find the engines that clear - maybe they're in the rear but you've got the bow wave noise in the front.

Bamzors

[scratch81]

Realtek chip on my mb. plugged into a 5.1 surround system. Sounds pretty good as long as i don't directly face for or aft, seems to be a sound dead space there (but only when im on the bridge). though being pinged and having dc's dumped all over me, the sound is enough to make me cringe and try to find a safe place to hide.

[bamzors]

cool - I really could do with a repeatable sound source so that I can turn around and listen to that is clearly coming from a single direction so I can confirm it moves to the back when I rotate as clearly as it moves from left to right. Any ideas? I wondered about something in the submarine pen maybe, or out in the harbour. Perhaps if I'm stationary with engines-off I can get a tug to chug past...

A high-frequency sound is a lot easier to locate than low bass notes which come from my woofer and tend to roll around the room anyway...

Bamzors

[Zachstar]

It seems that motherboard has something called "Dolby Home Theater" I have to admit I have not heard of this technology before. Questions

In windows audio settings did you simply switch the "Digital Audio SPDIF" to 5.1? On my setup I do not have that option as the Dolby Digital Live chip takes PCM data meant for the DACs and converts it to the Dolby Digital live track. Therefore I set my settings like I would for analog.. Interesting if yours is the case directly.

Did the mobo dirvers come with audio settings?

[bamzors]

I installed drivers to go with the Realtek ALC889 mobo sound chip (http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?langid=1&pnid=24&pfid=28&level=5&conn=4&ProdID=173) which also come with a GUI 'audio control' tool. In the tool you can set up everything that the sound chip is capable of, including dynamically assigning the various 'stereo' plugs on the back of the mobo (i.e. it doesn't really matter what you plug into what port, so long as you straighten it out in the tool.

*Most* usefully the audio control tool gives you a graphic of the 5.1 (or 7.1) speakers and you can click around and have a 'ping' come out of each speaker, so you can be sure things are flowing through the wiring and the 5.1 amp.

On the SPDIF optical out (actually there is a coax and an optical out but they're hardwired as a single output) I can choose from a variety of stereo output formats plus 'Dolby Digital Live'. I was running with the latter until last night, with the Logitech controller saying 'Dolby Digital' and the 'pings' coming out of the correct speakers.

Last night I switched the Logitech controller to '6-chan direct input' and connected three stereo ports from the back of the mobo (front channels, back channels, center/woofer), configuring those direct outputs (referred to as 'Speakers' in the control tool) as 5.1 audio. Again the 'pings' came out of the correct speakers...

So I'm 100% certain I can have my PC running in 5.1 audio mode and DirectSound or whatever can be sending sound independently to each of the 5.1 channels.

No test of SH5 last night because the servers were down. Tested with FSX and had sound coming out of all speakers, but as with SH5 I couldn't find a sound source within the sim that I could confidently move around my head to test the 5.1 setup. But as I *know* FSX has 5.1 channel sound I'm prepared to take a punt that everything was working as it should.

So I've migrated the port connections to 6-channel-direct just in case there's some issue with SH5 preferring that to Dolby Digital Live over SPDIF (although I don't think the game has to be aware of the Dolby Digital encoding being done by the sound chip).

And I'm still looking for a simple ping somwhere in SH5 that ought to clearly move to the back if I face the other way...

Bamzors

[Zachstar]

Even with the GUI you might want to make sure windows itself is configured for 5.1

If you right click on the windows speaker (Windows vista and 7) and select playback devices. Right click on the active one and hit configure speakers. It ought to be in 5.1 or 7.1 depending on setup.

I noticed that windows can actually override Turtle Beach settings so giving you a heads up just in case. Likely a needless test in your case but heh why not?

The thing is. Its likely best to go back to SPDIF Dolby Digital live and let the digital audio converted on the amp handle the conversion away from the EM inside most PCs. 5.1 analog is fine in a pinch but not the best for 300 USD speakers and amp.

[bamzors]

thanks a lot zachstar - point on the DD Live noted - I'll check the Win7 settings and find a suitable SH5 source just make 100% sure I'm getting 5.1 sound with it and move the mobo connection back to digital - makes sense.

I'm looking forward to the testing with SH5 sound to hear it actually go behind me... still not sure I'll get it.

Bamzors

[Zachstar]

Use mission editor and put a battleship front and behind of warring nations :|\\

That ought to generate PLENTY of directional sound heh heh just make sure you are submerged very well

[bamzors]

lol I surfaced with a destroyer in front of me just to see if I could get good directional sound and it sunk me before I got onto the bridge.

The Win7 audio settings were already 5.1 sound (maybe that changed in sync with the Realtek tool settings) and, guess what, the Win 7 audio controls have a little graphic with 6 clickable speakers as well so I confirmed the 5.1 layout with this as well.

Still no good test from in SH5 though.

Bamzors

[Zachstar]

BTW Try with aircraft flying about. That ought to make a bunch of directional sound. Glad to hear windows synced up.