Dvd-Playback (Ac-3) Under Mme - RME Audio Hammerfall HDSP 9632 User Manual

8.4 DVD-Playback (AC-3 / DTS / Multichannel) under MME
AC-3 / DTS
When using popular DVD software player like WinDVD and PowerDVD, their audio data stream
can be sent to any AC-3/DTS capable receiver, using the Hammerfall DSP's SPDIF output. For
this to work the SPDIF output wave device has to be selected in 'Control Panel/Sounds and
Multimedia/Audio'. Also check 'use preferred device only'.
You will notice that the DVD software's audio properties now allow to use 'SPDIF Out' or to
'activate SPDIF output'. When selecting these, the software will transfer the non-decoded
digital multichannel data stream to the Hammerfall DSP.
This 'SPDIF' signal sounds like chopped noise at highest level. Therefore the HDSP 9632
automatically activates the non-audio bit within the digital data stream, to prevent most SPDIF
receivers from accepting the signal, and to prevent any attached equipment from being
damaged.
Multichannel
PowerDVD can also operate as software decoder, sending a DVD's multichannel data stream
directly to the analog outputs of the HDSP 9632. Supported are all modes, from 2 to 8
channels, at 16 bit resolution and 48 kHz sample rate. Using the optional AO4S-192, a high
quality 5.1 playback is possible, as 6 channels are available then. Playback via the ADAT
output of the HDSP 9632 is also supported.
For this to work an output wave device of the HDSP 9632 has to be selected in 'Control
Panel/Sounds and Multimedia/Audio'. Also check 'use preferred device only'. PowerDVD's
audio properties now lists several multichannel modes. If one of these is selected, PowerDVD
sends the decoded analog multichannel data to the HDSP.
The device selected as Preferred Playback Device defines the first playback channel. Choosing
ADAT 3/4 and 6-channel mode, playback will happen on channels 3 to 8. Choosing ADAT 5/6
and 6-channel mode, even the SPDIF output will be used for the last (highest) channels.
The available modes depend on the number of channels available above the chosen device!
When selecting Analog 1/2, the 6-channel mode will only be available when an AO4S-192 is
installed.
The channel assignment using PowerDVD is:
1 (first chosen playback channel) - Left
2 - Right
3 - Center
4 - LFE (Low Frequency Effects)
5 - SR (Surround Right)
6 - SL (Surround Left)
Note 1: Setting the card to be used as system playback device is against common sense, as
professional cards are not specialized to play back system sounds, and shouldn't be disturbed
by system events. To prevent this, be sure to re-assign this setting after usage, or to disable
any system sounds (tab Sounds, scheme 'No audio').
Note 2: The DVD player will be synced backwards from the HDSP card. This means when
using AutoSync and/or word clock, the playback speed and pitch follows the incoming clock
signal.
User's Guide Hammerfall DSP 9632 © RME
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