When using Reclock and AC3filter as SPDIF passthrough, what options is than best to pick for my soundcard? I ask this because my soundcard, C-Media 8738, has the option to choose 44.1 or 48KHz as output.
From the many many times Ive read this questions...I think James always says that using "passthrough" pretty much begs the question...why use reclock at all then?
In any case, the output on your card in my opinion should be matching whatever your file is recorded at...ie, movies recorded at 48000Hz then use that. If playing CD audio recorded at 44 then use 44.
Regards
Input format: MPEG Program Stream - 48000
User format: PCM24 - 0
Output format: SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000
Use SPDIF
SPDIF status: SPDIF passthrough
SPDIF passthrough for: MPA AC3 DTS
Use AC3 encoder (encode stereo PCM)
Do not check SPDIF sample rate
Do not query for SPDIF output support
Decoding chain:
(MPEG Program Stream - 48000) -> Demux -> (AC3 - 48000) -> Spdifer -> (SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Dejitter -> (SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000)
Filters info (in order of processing):
Demux:
-
Spdifer:
Stream format: AC3 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000Hz
Bitstream type: byte stream
Frame size: 1536
Samples: 1536
Bitrate: 384kbps
SPDIF stream type: 0x1
Frame interval: 1536
Actual bitrate: 384kbps
Output format: SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000Hz
SPDIF format: wrapped
Bitstream: 16bit LE
Frame size: 6144
Dejitter:
-
Input format: DTS - 48000
User format: PCM24 - 0
Output format: SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000
Use SPDIF
SPDIF status: SPDIF passthrough
SPDIF passthrough for: MPA AC3 DTS
Use AC3 encoder (encode stereo PCM)
Do not check SPDIF sample rate
Do not query for SPDIF output support
Decoding chain:
(DTS - 48000) -> Spdifer -> (SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Dejitter -> (SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000)
Filters info (in order of processing):
Spdifer:
Stream format: DTS 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000Hz
Bitstream type: 16bit big endian
Frame size: free format
Samples: 512
Bitrate: unknown
SPDIF stream type: 0xb
Frame interval: 2012
Actual bitrate: 1509kbps
Output format: SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000Hz
SPDIF format: wrapped
Bitstream: 16bit LE
Frame size: 2048
Dejitter:
-
Input format: PCM24 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000
User format: PCM24 - 0
Output format: SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000
Use SPDIF
SPDIF status: AC3 encode
SPDIF passthrough for: MPA AC3 DTS
Use AC3 encoder (encode stereo PCM)
Do not check SPDIF sample rate
Do not query for SPDIF output support
Decoding chain:
(PCM24 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Processor -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Encoder -> (AC3 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Spdifer -> (SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Dejitter -> (SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000)
Filters info (in order of processing):
Processor:
(PCM24 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> PCM->Linear converter -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Input levels -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Equalizer -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> SRC -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Mixer -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Bass redirection -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Dither -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> AGC -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Delay -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Spectrum -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000) -> Output levels -> (Linear PCM 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000)
Encoder:
-
Spdifer:
Stream format: AC3 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000Hz
Bitstream type: byte stream
Frame size: 2560
Samples: 1536
Bitrate: 640kbps
SPDIF stream type: 0x1
Frame interval: 2560
Actual bitrate: 640kbps
Output format: SPDIF 3/2.1 (5.1) 48000Hz
SPDIF format: wrapped
Bitstream: 16bit LE
Frame size: 6144
Dejitter:
-
No, there is no way. WMV files have WMA audio, not AC3/DD. I do not think there are any amps that can decode WMA. If there are, they are very very rare. So you must decode to PCM on the PC and then re-encode to AC3.and I ll post a relevant, little off-topic, subject about AC3filter SPDIF passthrough here too because I can t get any feedback from the AC3filter forum (seems a little dead):
1.
When I play regular dvd's (VIDEO_TS folders with included .vob files) SPDIF passthrough work great (sample 1). I can see in the Decoder info that the sound is only beeing passed through by AC3 filter and that the filter does not decode it.
2.
When I play HD content, it gets different. Playing .mkv files gives my also SPDIF passthrough (sample 2). But playing my .wmv material, the ac3 filter has to decode it (sample 3) or else I do not see Dolby Digital on my receiver display. I know this has something to do with how the movie was ripped and decoded. Also also see that the presented signal is PCM. I would like to know if these kind of files (where the audio is presented in PCM) can be played in some way that my receiver does the decoding.
AC3Filter is actually of limited use as it can only decode AC3 and DTS. You need to find a decoder for all the different types of multichannel audio you encounterMaybe I ll give it a shot and let my HTPC do all the decoding of all my content.
What do I have to do in order to achieve this? Config ac3filter in a way so all media is being decoded and keep ReClock the same as I have now? (by now I mean that ReClock only functions as passthrough because it gets its feed by AC3filter). If so, how do I config AC3filter?
Most is fine. The Microsoft DMO filters are good for wmv.The pieces are falling more and together as you give my a clear explanation to my questions Jong, big thanks for this!
So, I ve checked the filters that are used on the 3 mediatypes I m using. I put a short explanation with every filter why I think it is beeing used, feel free to correct where I am wrong):
.MKV:
- Reclock Audio Renderer (installed prefered audio renderer installed by myself)
- VMR9 Renderless (selected my myself in MPC settings as directshow video)
- AC3filter (selected my myself, in this case only passes the SPDIF through)
- CoreAVC Video Decoder (installed by myself, needed for .mkv container decoding)
VIDEO_TS material (dvd's):
- Reclock Audio Renderer (installed prefered audio renderer installed by myself)
- VMR9 Renderless (selected my myself in MPC settings as directshow video)
- AC3filter (selected my myself, only passes the SPDIF through)
- MPEG-2 Video Decoder low merit (I see that this is one of the internal filters of MPC-HC, is this a good filter or do you maybe have other recommendations for a filter to use for 'VIDEO_TS' content?)
.WMV:
- VMR9 Renderless (selected my myself in MPC settings as directshow video)
- Reclock Audio Renderer (installed prefered audio renderer installed by myself)
- WMVVideo Decoder DMO (needed video decoder because it s a .WMV file, is this a good filter or do you maybe have other recommendations for a filter to use?)
- AC3filter (selected my myself, in this case sees a PCM input signal that is already decoded by the WMAudio Decoder DMO, and ENcodes it to SPDIF that my receiver can handle)
- WMAudio Decoder DMO (needed audio decoder (that decodes the wma audio to PCM) because it s a .WMV file, is this a good filter or do you maybe have other recommendations for a filter to use?
You see that I have some questions at the some filters that are beeing used. Hopefully I m on the right track with all understand better what happens with video and audio.
Can this filter be altered to make it work better or is it ok to leace it standard?The Microsoft DMO filters are good for wmv.
Ok, I ve checked it again and you are right, there is an item at the bottom of the filter list, but this item is different on all 3 media types I m using:In each case you are missing one item - normally the one at the bottom of the MPC-HC list - that is the "splitter". The filter that breaks apart the audio and video from the container for decoding. For MPC-HC that should be Haali Splitter
I have DISABLED all internal filters of MPC-HC and added 3 external filters: Haali Media Splitter, Core AVC Video Decoder and AC3Filter.(you should disable the internal "Matroska Splitter", which is out of date).
ok, so playing .mkv files will not always be the same and sometimes I will see that MPC-HC uses other filters correct?You appear to misunderstand the way mkv works. As you say it is a container not a codec. It is one of the most flexible containers out there. It can have AVC/H.264, MPEG-2, even wmv video in it and AC3/DTS/FLAC/LPCM/TrueHD..... audio. So an mkv will use Haali to split it apart, but the filters used in decoding will depend entirely on what is in it. The example you give is just one of many many possibilities. CoreAVC is actually decoding the AVC video stream.
check!Regarding your other question, as James has said many times "use the preferred option!" (DirectDraw). In fact if you are using VMR9 D3D you have to use DD. Direct3D will not work.
Not sure to be honest. But I'd say probably no and it's not worth the bother. There is hardly any wmv stuff around anyway, mostly several years old or produced for demo purposes.Can this filter be altered to make it work better?
Yeah sorry, that was a brain slip/typo on my part. Should have read "For mkv that should be Haali Splitter". I will correct it.Ok, I ve checked it again and you are right, there is an item at the bottom of the filter list, but this item is different on all 3 media types
Depends. It will break any hardware acceleration, but its OK if you are happy to software decode. Personally I have that set to "No" and let MPC-HC's internal subtitle handler do the work, which it can do WITH hardware acceleration.I ve put the setting 'Auto Load VSFilter' to YES, is this correct?
OK, but personally not what I would do. MPC has a very good DXVA decoder for AVC and VC-1. If you have a DXVA capable card I would use MPC Video Decoder. But of course you can use CoreAVC to software decode AVC video if you wish. It will not work for VC-1 though, when you will probably fall back on the WMVVideo Decoder DMO , which will also run in software mode.I have DISABLED all internal filters of MPC-HC and added 3 external filters: Haali Media Splitter, Core AVC Video Decoder and AC3Filter.
Yesok, so playing .mkv files will not always be the same and sometimes I will see that MPC-HC uses other filters correct?