Multichannel LPCM audio playback Options

[arnymars]

Can someone suggest soft audio or media player that can directly play 5.1 LPCM audio? Pls don't tell that any player can, because in my experience NONE can. What plugins should I use to enable Foobar2000 play 5.1 LPCM?

Also, what utility can show media info data of a multichannel LPCM file? I tried MediaInfo and Gspot - they can't show any info about LPCM file.

What Media Server can transcode 5.1 Flac to 5.1 LPCM, and stream it to a Samsung BD Player over LAN?

This post has been edited by arnymars: Jun 1 2012, 06:21

[Ceniza]

foobar2000 can indeed play 5.1 audio. That's what I'm using to play 5.1 FLAC files. It should work with DirectSound, but I would recommend the WASAPI plugin if you have at least Windows Vista. It also depends on what playback device you select and your soundcard's capabilities.

For me it only works with Speakers as playback device. S/PDIF is limited to 2 channels, but depending on the specific sound card it is possible to use it for 5.1 (it needs S/PDIF to be internally HDMI). If your S/PDIF goes out through coax or toslink, then it's not possible to use it like that at all.

As a matter of fact, I'm trying to push the WASAPI plugin to be changed in such a way that it will be possible to use my sound card (Xonar HDAV1.3) to do multichannel pass-through. What sound card do you have? What error do you get when trying to play the file?

[andy o]

foobar2000 can indeed play 5.1 audio. That's what I'm using to play 5.1 FLAC files. It should work with DirectSound, but I would recommend the WASAPI plugin if you have at least Windows Vista. It also depends on what playback device you select and your soundcard's capabilities.

For me it only works with Speakers as playback device. S/PDIF is limited to 2 channels, but depending on the specific sound card it is possible to use it for 5.1 (it needs S/PDIF to be internally HDMI). If your S/PDIF goes out through coax or toslink, then it's not possible to use it like that at all.

As a matter of fact, I'm trying to push the WASAPI plugin to be changed in such a way that it will be possible to use my sound card (Xonar HDAV1.3) to do multichannel pass-through. What sound card do you have? What error do you get when trying to play the file?

AFAIK WASAPI exclusive can't bypass the Xonar's driver/mixer/resampler. I don't see how the fb2k developers could fix that. I used to have that card back when it was actually a bit useful (before the release of bitstreaming "HD" lossless capable GPUs), but it had too many limitations even then (like bitstreaming only with one proprietary player), and I got fed up and returned it. WASAPI exclusive didn't work either, so its one advantage, auto-switching channels over an HDMI connection, didn't work. Since the release of the ATI 5000 cards and bitstreaming equivalents form NV and Intel, and also the ability to decode DTS-HD into e.g. the ATI 4000 series and NV and Intel equivalents (multi-ch LPCM but no bitstreaming) was developed, this and the Auzen card are not of much value anymore, and more of a hindrance.

In any case, WASAPI exclusive is not the OP's problem, but there's also not much advantage unless you're using HDMI output into a multichannel receiver. In fact, I'd prefer to use DirectSound with an auto-channel switcher instead of having to use exclusive mode, like it could be done for a while with the ATI 4000 and some older Realtek drivers for it, with Reclock.

This post has been edited by andy o: Jun 3 2012, 08:20