5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

VB-Cable A & B, HIFI-Cable, ASIO Bridge
EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

Hi,

I installed the free version of VB-Cable to test, but I found that when VB-Cable is the audio output device, even if it is set to 5.1, only three of the five speaker channels output any sound. I was testing with Foobar2000 and 5.1 SACD dsf files as well as a 5.1 channel identification flac file that output surround correctly when VB-Cable is not active. I also tried channel tests with Dolby Digital Live and DTS Connect enabled, but those do not work either.

Is there a different version of the VB-Cable software or another VB-Audio program that I need to be able to have it active without disrupting 5.1 output?

Thanks!
Vincent Burel
Site Admin
Posts: 2085
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:01 pm

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by Vincent Burel »

to understand precisely what your problem is, could you post a screenshot of the VBCABLE_ControlPanel, while using the cable with Foobar2000
and check you have configured the VB-CABLE output device in 5.1 (in Windows Sound Dialog box).
EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

I had to shrink my screenshot since the jpg filesize of 400k was too large for the forum to accept.
Last edited by EdisonCarter on Wed Oct 05, 2022 1:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

Thanks!
Attachments
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EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

I also tried reconfiguring and using Nvidia High Definition Audio via HDMI to the AV receiver. When I set VBCable to 5.1 and test it, it only plays the front left and right speakers. If I set the Nvidia audio as default and test it, it plays the test sound on all channels. I see that in all cases, VBCable shows 2 channel output. Do I need a different product to get 5.1 output, or am I missing a setting?

Thanks
EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

Bump :D
EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

Is there a way to have VB Cable or one of the associated products installed without giving up 5.1?

Thanks
Vincent Burel
Site Admin
Posts: 2085
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:01 pm

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by Vincent Burel »

no, sorry, i don't understand your problem. what is you player ?
As i can see you have some signal on channel 5 and 6 ... why not on 4 first channel.
right click on meters to change the scale to dB

possibly change the internal latency of the cable to 48kH (instead of 96kHz).
(run it in administrator mode to change this parameter and reboot after).
EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

Hi,
I was using Foobar2000 to play surround SACD files. The reason there is little signal on the first 4 channels is that the screenshot was during a quiet intro of the song where the sound is moving around the listener, which is why the signal is very small on the front, as it has already moved all the way around to back right and will circle around front again soon. Other parts of the music have more signal on the other channels.

When I have VBCable active, sound is only output in stereo. Is there any way to route just FL and FR to an application through the recording device panel, but still listen in 5.1? Or maybe I need a way to send audio to multiple destinations? Currently, I'm getting stereo output regardless of source material.

I don't know if I need A+B, C+D, VoiceMeeter or something else in order to prevent the stereo mixdown.

I tried this on a different computer with 6 channel 48khz Input, and Output is set to 2 channel 44khz 24bit.

I can't see a way to change Output to 6 channel, so I thought maybe I needed a different product.

Thanks!
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EdisonCarter
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2022 3:15 am

Re: 5.1 surround audio only playing some channels

Post by EdisonCarter »

Hi,

I was able to solve the problem by using VoiceMeeter, so I will have to send a donation. VoiceMeeter resolved my 5.1 problem since I don't have to "listen" to recording device that is a stereo downmix. VoiceMeeter also added the capability of playing 5.1 or stereo music in two rooms.

I set it up so the two hardware audio outputs are for HDMI cables going to the AV receivers I have in each room, and the software recording device is used for the music visualizer to listen to. I can play music on either or both of the AV receivers, since one is next to the computer and the other is connected to the computer using a 25 foot active fiber optic HDMI cable, and am able to display the music visualizers on one or both displays.

VoiceMeeter is a great help.

Thanks
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