[mythtv-users] howto digital 5.1, other audio question

[Justin The Cynical]

Will Constable wrote:
>
> Hello everyone
>
> First question—has anyone gotten an older Sound Blaster Live! (mine is 
> an ‘x-gamer’) card to output 5.1 channel digital sound via the spdif 
> port? I have not tried but don’t know how I would go about turning 
> this feature on. Also, if it does output 5.1 for videos that have it, 
> will it output 2.0 for MP3’s or will it try to upmix everything?
>
I've got this exact thing working.

In alsamixer under playback, turn on SB Live Analog/Digital Output Jack
Turn off/mute IEC958 Optical Raw

Use the pink jack closest to the top of the card (opposite of the PCI 
connector) and it should be working.

If you need a way to get the SPDIF output to the receiver, I suggest as 
a cheap and easy way to use a mono 1/4" mini to RCA converter plug. It's 
been working fine for me.

Now, if I can only figure out why the IEC958 Optical Raw keeps unmuting, 
it's annoying as any audio from mythmusic or external players (aplay, 
mplayer, etc) doesn't make it to the receiver.