I have WMC connected by HDMI to a 7.1 surround sound receiver.
In the "Set Up Your Speaker" section of the WMC settings, the number of speakers can be set to either "2 Speakers", "5.1 Surrond Speakers", or "7.1 Surrond Speakers".
I don't understand what the point of these settings are, because even if I leave it set to "2 Speakers", I'm still able to bitstream 5.1/7.1.
What is the purpose of these settings?
WMC Speaker Setup
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I'm not entirely sure either because I just haven't looked but the most common suggestion has always been 2 speakers in order to enable bitstreaming as you said.
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Bitstreaming works regardless of the number of speakers selected. I could have "5.1 surround speakers" selected, and 7.1 bitstreams will still work.
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The speaker configuration in windows 7 comes into play as well. If you have it set to 2 then it might bitstream regardless of what you tell wmc. If you want to confirm this for some reason the try changing your speaker configuration in windows itself.
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Bitstreaming is controlled using the EXCLUSIVE MODE settings for the playback device in WINDOWS 7 SOUND.
If EXCLUSIVE MODE is enabled, bitstreaming works regardless of the speaker configuration set for the playback device.
When connected by HDMI to a surround sound receiver, the AUDIO CHANNELS setting has to be left set to the default STEREO setting so WINDOWS 7 audio codec is PCM STEREO.
The audio codec is PCM SURROUND for all other configurations (QUADRAPHONIC, SURROUND, 5.1/7.1 SURROUND).
Stereo sources have their left and right channels encoded into the PCM SURROUND audio codec's left and right channels. This causes issues with listening modes such as DOLBY PRO LOGIC II x MOVIE, there won't be any center channel for dialogue. That's why the AUDIO CHANNELS setting has to be STEREO, so DOLBY PRO LOGIC II x MOVIE can process it into surround sound with the center channel for dialogue.
If EXCLUSIVE MODE is enabled, bitstreaming works regardless of the speaker configuration set for the playback device.
When connected by HDMI to a surround sound receiver, the AUDIO CHANNELS setting has to be left set to the default STEREO setting so WINDOWS 7 audio codec is PCM STEREO.
The audio codec is PCM SURROUND for all other configurations (QUADRAPHONIC, SURROUND, 5.1/7.1 SURROUND).
Stereo sources have their left and right channels encoded into the PCM SURROUND audio codec's left and right channels. This causes issues with listening modes such as DOLBY PRO LOGIC II x MOVIE, there won't be any center channel for dialogue. That's why the AUDIO CHANNELS setting has to be STEREO, so DOLBY PRO LOGIC II x MOVIE can process it into surround sound with the center channel for dialogue.
- DavidinCT
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Keep in mind, WMC was designed for back in the 2009-2010 days and made to be very simple to setup, as good as they could at the time. This was designed for sound cards with 2.0, 5.1 or 7.1 (not digital outs, analog channels out).Keylonta wrote: ↑Sun Feb 03, 2019 3:24 am I have WMC connected by HDMI to a 7.1 surround sound receiver.
In the "Set Up Your Speaker" section of the WMC settings, the number of speakers can be set to either "2 Speakers", "5.1 Surrond Speakers", or "7.1 Surrond Speakers".
I don't understand what the point of these settings are, because even if I leave it set to "2 Speakers", I'm still able to bitstream 5.1/7.1.
What is the purpose of these settings?
2019-02-03 13_58_42-Windows Media Center.jpg
Using bitstreaming bypasses this so changing this would have no affect, as you have noticed.
I remember this from the Windows 7 WMC beta test as this came up in a discussion with the devs...
-Dave
Twitter @TheCoolDave
Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012
Twitter @TheCoolDave
Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012