Does foobar need third party plugins to do so? I used the "foobar channel mixer", and there is a lot of static. Is there anyway to correct this?

If you have a 5.1 speaker system, just set your A/V receiver to Multi Stereo or something similar.

Hi, I'm not sure what you mean. I'm trying to play a stereo CD rip in FLAC format with foobar 2000 on a 5.1 system. Or in general, how do you play a stereo track from a CD/mp3 etc... in a many speaker system?

Thanks.

I don't play it from foobar. I use KMPlayer and DTS NEO:6 and it upmixes stereo to 5 channels. The LFE channel is handled by soundcard driver's bass management.

So all stereo sources must be upmixed into higher configurations right? Does upmixing cause a lot of distortion and static? If so, what's a good PC sound card that is the best for mixing channels? I use the Audigy 2 ZS, is there anything that can do this significantly better?

If you're using an A/V Receiver, it'll simulate the surround sound for you - just set the receiver to the 5.1 or 7.1 mode and enjoy; however, if you're trying to get the sound from computer speakers, you're going to need a decent sound card with appropriate software.

Yes. it' computer speakers. Which sound card is good for mixing channels? And what software would you recommend?

I use foobar channel mixer, and it works. But I was asking what affects the quality of upmixing? Is it the sound card? If so, do you know a good sound card for upmixing?

I'm quite satisfied using Channel Mixer on Fb2k 0.9.5.1. As far as I understand, you can limit distortions using 'Copy' instead of 'Sorround' upmix mode.

You're using Audigy 2 ZS, so there is DTS NEO:6 bundled with Creative Media Player and you can use it only from within this player.

The algorithm affects the quality, not the card. There are no distortions with NEO:6 and I'm using it mainly for jazz and classical CDs.

There is also a Dolby Pro Logic II, and as HeartsOfWar said, current A/V receivers have both these upmixing algorithms implemented, so user can choose which one to use.

Thanks, where do I get this "dolby pro logic II"?

Are both the NEO:6 and the Dolby better than the Foobar plugin?

Would you recommend one for me?

Thanks.

Edit: With the Neo 6, is the music mode better than the movie mode? Like having less distortions? Because the movie mode actually edits and rewrites the sound into 5 channels right?

Well, the PLII sounds somewhat unnatural for my taste. So I prefer Neo:6. I use it from Cyberlink's PowerDVD audio decoder. You can also choose among PLIIx and Cyberlink's CLMEI-2 algorithm.

Both Dolby and DTS don't just copy front channels to the rear. I think that you have to try them both to hear which one better suites your taste, and performs well on the type of music you like to listen to.



Also, here is something about the Movie and the Music mode:





Cheers!

I got PowerDVD. I see the options.

I'm going to try them tomorrow, it's too late now for loud music. (actually it's already past midnight, so later today)

So do you have a recommendation for classical music? Not the loud symphonies, the chamber music type.

Do you know what the CLMEI-2 does and how it's different?

Thanks.

I really don't know anything about CLMEI-2. Those text excerpts I posted are from „DTS Neo:6 overview" pdf, once available online. I couldn't find it on their new site.

As for the recommendations, you can find some here.

I meant recommendations for the best algorithm for listening to classical music. Kind of what you listen to, baroque and early music.

I said that that I prefer DTS Neo:6.

Why can't these algorithms be used in other players like Foobar?

Because one has to pay for licensing, and foobar is a free software.

Is there any way to get the Creative player to play APE files?

I think there isn't.

Do you have the "Creative Console launcher" available? I have it with my Creative X Fi. I enables "CMSS-3D Surround"

For me this works no matter what digital audio player I am using.

Yes, I see it and I was using it when I first got the speakers then turned it off because I thought it was for 2.0 speakers only. I didn't know that it is for upmixing too.

What's the difference between using it and one of the other algorithms?

And would you recommend CMSS or CMSS2?