problems with 5.1 sound

Hi, I had problems with 5.1 and now I have solved it, I put the link with my other post to show how to have 5.1 with an external soundcard and what you need to get 5.1 ingame

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/623508-5-1-sound-alienware-solved.html

 

Sounds like you may be missing the correct drivers. For HDMI you need the ati or nvidia driver from dell.com. For spdif you need the IDT driver from dell. I think the CoD headset you are using is the anolog one with 4 cords right? Of so, use the IDT control panel to specify that you want the 4 audio jacks set to surround sound (front/sub, L/R, surround L/R, etc). That should make it work.

 

thanks for the answer. My CoD headset have optical jack and I connect to my alienware by SPDIF.

When I connect SPDIF to my alien shows a little window from IDT and let me to choose Headset or front speakers

 

I'd just get a USB 5.1 sound card and be done with it. The IDT onboard sound is notorious for dropping sound.

 

yes, i have this idea, buy an usb sound card, but is not normal to buy an alienware, the best laptop , and make this things. Its a

Thanks for your help

 

what kind of port do you use to connect to ur 5.1 speakers system ?

I run optical via SPDIF and have no problem at all.

external USB soundcard doesnt make any difference since the SPDIF is capable of delivering 5.1.

EDIT: my bad didnt see that u also use optical via S/PDIF. You may wanna open Sounds and set default device to SPDIF, or tweak the audio options in CoD in-game, see if those work.

 

did you get the tritton AX pro? if so, here are instructions of how to set it up

Tritton AX PRO setup video for PC 2011 - YouTube

 

I can get sound by spdif, but not in 5.1.

I have tritton, but not this, my tritton are compatible with ps3 and 360 too. In the box only read tritton call of duty black ops, I dont know the exactly model, but the headset is the same, but the deco and the controls are different.

I try to connect 5.1 with headset and with an ONKYO home cinema, and I only get 5.1 with microsoft media center. If I configure media center by hdmi or spdif I can get 5.1, but not in windows.

Many thanks, but I think the program from dell is the problem

 

Unfortuanately you are kinda screwed. I think the spdif does not support multichannel game audio, only PCM stereo. So unless you find software to turn your game audio into Dolby Digital Live, and output via SPDIF, you will never get 5.1 on that headset, at least on an M17. To my knowledge there is no such software for the M17. That headset is intended for a Xbox or ps3 which output game audio in Dolby digital. PCs dont output audio that way. PC games output 5.1 uncompressed . Since Spdif only supports multichannel compressed audio, you can only get stereo in games. The reason Windows Media player works is because it is outputting Dolby Digital (which is compressed), which your headset is compatible with.

Your options: get the triton 5.1 analog version OR get a sound card that output Dolby Digital Live (like a soundblaster X-fi USB). The analog Triton is cheaper than the one you have, so try and exchange it.

 

Pfff, many thanks for your answer. Is not the one i like to hear, but is the one I need. Im gonna getting crazy, and in many forums the people says that this is my fault.

I will try to find an external sound card because I use headset in ps3 and 360 too and I buy it used with very nice price.

Can u tell me what I need to look if I like to buy a sound card to get 5.1?

 

You need something that will turn the game audio into Dolby Digital Live (which is basically Dolbys term for computer game Dolby Digital).

See here. Dolby Digital Live

Products that support it are like this...

Newegg.com - Creative 70SB109500000 5.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz USB Interface X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro

It is possible there is software that will enable the M17 to do this without an external sound card. Maybe the creative X-fi motherboard software, I don't know.

It may be cheaper to just buy another headset like a Logitech G35 or Tritton PC51. Tritton PC51u USB Powered True 5.1 Analog Gaming Headset for PC (TRI905120002/04/1):Amazon:Electronics

If you want to use the current headset no matter what, I would get x-fi USB 1095.

 

many thanks, I Will look

 

You know, everytime I hook my m17x to my Denon reciever via the HDMI cord it doesnt output the sound in 5.1

I know this for one the reciever shows that it is only recieving 2 channel audio. It then manually converts the sound to Dolby Pro Logic 2 (but that is not nearly as cool as dolby digital 5.1)

Also, when I play a game like Elder Scrolls 4 on my PS3 it get true 5.1 sound and can spin the camera around and listen as the voices travel from speaker to speaker as the camera spins. But when I play oblivion via my m17x and spin the camera the voice always comes out of the center speaker (ie not true 5.1 surround). Its lame sauce frankly, but oh well, I dont hook the m17x up to the TV all that often I guess.

 

is a *****, because is a gamer laptop. Is not normal to have to buy another sound card to get 5.1 by spdif or hdmi.

My old m15x havent this problem

 

I completely agree with you. Unfortunately few people seem to want this feature. I think ALL gaming laptops should come with a quality internal soundcard and that soundcard should be compatible with Dolby Digital Live. Then we could all output SPDIF to Astro Mixamps and kick a$%!

 

you'd think that they would put a decent sound card in an alienware. Oh welll...Creative Sound Blaster solved it for me

 

Tomorrow I will go to buy a soundblaster xfi usb

 

Make sure the one you get supports DD-Live.

 

one of this?

TARJETA DE SONIDO CREATIVE X-FI SURROUND 5.1 PRO

TARJETA DE SONIDO CREATIVE X-FI HD USB 2.0

 

According to this.... http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Sound-Blaster-System-SB1240/dp/B004275EO4

Only the 1095 does DD live. The HD does not do it. So buy the first one. Also I've never actually tried it (Ive used the 1095 but not for DD-Live) so you may want to more research to be sure it is what you want.

 

The first, the xfi surround pro I look in other web and It says Dolby digital live.
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro USB 70SB109500002 Tarjeta de sonido

I think this will be my new sound card.

Many thanks, when I receive it I will post if it works great.

Oh, I think my english is not too bad jeje, this winter i like to go to new york and I think I will speak not so bad. One beer, two beers, its easy

 

I think on friday I will have the creative xfi. When I test it I will explain if it works with dolby digital live as I want

 

Cool. That will be good info.

 

I hope it will be perfect because 70€ only for 5.1 is too much

 

This entire thread is yet another reason I am considering getting an Origin Laptop as my next laptop. Things like this that I happen to want to use and have the required hardware for already. So if I play games using HDMI I won't even get 5.1 surround sound. Origin's built in card does 7.1 surround....

 

I have to wait, I think I will have it on monday

 

Ohhh, finaly I have the creative xfi and now I have 5.1 with games.

I install the drivers and in options it have an option with dolby digital live and now perfect.

Thanks for your interest and help, and if someone needs 5.1, this card is the best option I think. Only need an usb to install and no need more power, only usb and audio cable.