The AC-3 decode & Bass Redirection in Audigy

[Pack'nHeat]

Hello
I have a 4.1 speaker setup. I use WinDVD 3 as my DVD software decoder & player. I set the audio propertys to, "Enable S/PIDF output".

In the Audigy's Surround Mixer, I set the speakers to 5.1 with AC-3 decoding checked.

Questions:
1 - Is this the right settings for a 4.1 speaker setup?
2 - Would you leave AC-3 decoding on all the time?
3 - Any advise on when to have Bass Redirection on?
4 - Right now I am having treble with the voices not playing on the DVD play back, only back ground sounds. Some times after switching back and forth between 5.1 and 4 speaker setting on both the sound card and software decoder the "S/PIDF 5.1" sound will kick in. ???! Odd & Frustrating

Edit: Using WinXP on an EPOX 8KHA+

Advise & help needed please. Thank you.

Pack'nHeat

[Imperion1]

4.1 speaker systems have the 2 fronts, 2 rears, and the bass.
5.1 speaker systems have the 2 fronts, 2 rears, 1 center, and the bass.

So, if you have 4.1 speakers and try the Audigy settings as 5.1 speakers, whenever something plays (like people talking) that require the center speaker, you won't hear because you don't have the speaker.

Set your speaker settings in WinDVD and Audigy as 4.1

[Pack'nHeat]

The speaker settings on the Audigy go from 5.1 down to just "4 speaker". Will this still give me 4.1? Should the WinDVD stay on "S/PIDF" likes its hooked up, or go down to just "4 speaker" also?
Thanks for the help !:)

[phecky]

The 4 speaker set up is 4.1 as you call it and actually 5.1 is nothing more than a re-naming and marketing of what used to be called surround sound back in the days of Dolby Pro logic systems. Like Imperion said, the 5.1 setting is looking for a center channel to output dialogue source. Without a center speaker you're going to have to use a 4 speaker setup. As far as SPIDF goes, that is refering to what your output signal is. That is, are you using a SPIDF (digital output) cable from the DVD to sound card or the anolog cable to sound card?

[Pack'nHeat]

Thanks for the help & replys phecky & Imperion1. :)
To answer your question phecky, I do believe I'm using a S/PIDF (digital output) cable from the DVD to sound card.

I think I'm making progress. Let me show you my results. Tell me which one you think is giving me DD.



WinDVD / Audigy Gamer / Audigy's option "Digital output only" / Results
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 speaker / 4 speaker / on / Sounds fine but
sound has to be all the
the way up. Soft vioces
hard to hear.

4 speaker / 4 speaker / off /Sounds great & plenty of
sound.

S/PIDF / 4 speaker / on /Sounds good but sound
needs to be all the way
up for good vioces sound.

S/PIDF / 4 speaker / off /No sound
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, It seems I have a few options. Correct me if I'm wrong. All tests were done with Audigy's AC-3 decoding turned off, because my speakers are self powered, Dolby Digital & are connected using S/PIDF.
So, is Audigy's "Digital output only" option needed for Dolby Digital output? Which of the 4 above tests is giving me DD with S/PIDF from rom to card and card to speakers? #3?

Thanks so much for your help & replys. :)