SPDIF pass through - recommended filter?

[rahzel]

sorry if this is the wrong place to post this.

i have a HTPC with a digital optical cable going to my receiver. i would like to pass through the audio (DTS/AC3) to my receiver to do the decoding. after googling a little, most people seem to recommend AC3 Filter. i got FFDshow working before, but decided to switch to AC3 filter because of what i heard from others. anyway, is this the best filter to use?

if it is, can someone help me with a few things? what i should set the 'Format' to? i have these as options:
PCM 16bit
PCM 24bit
PCM 32bit
PCM Float

what should i set SPDIF/DTS Mode and SPDIF/DTS conversion to?

is there anything i should check/uncheck?

my receiver is capable of decoding DTS and AC3 btw.

i came across a mini guide, but i can't seem to find it again. but they recommended settings Format to PCM Float, set SPDIF/DTS Mode to Auto, set SPDIF/DTS Conversion to Do not convert, check 44kHz.

if i leave MPEG Audio unchecked,

TIA.

[Inventive Software]

AC3Filter is indeed among the best for such uses. If your receiver can decode DTS 48kHz check that. For other formats excepting AC-3, it'd need to be converted to AC-3. Assuming you're just passing DTS and AC-3 through, you should be fine.

[rahzel]

thanks for replying.

so what about the different settings? like what should i set 'Format' to?

[Inventive Software]

16 bit, usually. Anything else you're not sure about?

[rahzel]

under the SPDIF tab, i probably want to uncheck "Use AC3 Encoder" right? does that encode the audio (including AC3/DTS), or does that encode all other formats to ac3?

[ACrowley]

under the SPDIF tab, i probably want to uncheck "Use AC3 Encoder" right? does that encode the audio (including AC3/DTS), or does that encode all other formats to ac3?


AC3 Filters "use AC3 Encoder" Options means that AC3 Filter can output AC3 (encoding on the fly)from other Formats as like AAC,WMA,lossless etc. So you can send the encoded AC3 trough SPDIF.

All "1:1" supported Formats like AC3,DTS are going 1:1 trough SPDIF to a external Receiver or to the internal Soundcard Decoder like Creatives Audigy X-Fi DD and DTS Decoder.

But AC3Filter/MPC will not work for DD EX 6.1 and DTS ES 6.1 because AC3 Filter cant handle the 6.1 Bistream, so you get only DD/ DTS 5.1 via SPDIF, so far i can remeber.
You need a 6.1 capable Decoder too to send 6.1 to a 6.1 Receiver.

But The "AC3 on the Fly encoding" works very very well imho!

[rahzel]

thanks for the help guys.