Well, I've recently recieved my computer back from repairs with a replaced hard drive, so I'm working on getting all my settings back to normal. Only problem is, I can't remember half of them.
Case in point: when using the Logitech Z-680 speakers (which have a built-in Dolby Digital and Pro-Logic II decoder) and the Creative Extigy sound card, I can't get surround sound. I distinctly remember solving this problem before, but can't for the life of me remember how.
Test game: Doom 3. Surround sound is enabled via options in game.
When using an SPDIF optical cable to go directly from my computer to the speakers (speakers settings on Dolby PL2 Movie [what you have to do for it to decode digital signals, weird, I know]), and the Sounds and Audio devices panel set to "5.1 Surround Speakers" using the C-Media Wave device, I am not hearing the game in surround.
When connected using the Extigy through a USB port (which I generally loathe since my USB mouse is already eating up USB bandwidth), and having the Extigy set to surround and attached through digital optical to the Z-680, I still do not get surround sound. The Creative diagnostics tool reports everything ok, but the speaker test on that program only gets sound through the left and right speakers. Yes, I did set it to "5.1 Speakers" on the Creative Audio Mixer, rather than Auto.
So what am I doing wrong? I've fixed this before, but can't remember how...
I remember the problem arises because the Z-680 speakers try to decode all signals sent them, a problem when you're sending them an already decoded signal via the Extigy. But then, is the SPDIF sound port capable of outputting 5.1 undecoded sound? Is the internal sound card able to do that?
Help would be most appreciated.
Case in point: when using the Logitech Z-680 speakers (which have a built-in Dolby Digital and Pro-Logic II decoder) and the Creative Extigy sound card, I can't get surround sound. I distinctly remember solving this problem before, but can't for the life of me remember how.
Test game: Doom 3. Surround sound is enabled via options in game.
When using an SPDIF optical cable to go directly from my computer to the speakers (speakers settings on Dolby PL2 Movie [what you have to do for it to decode digital signals, weird, I know]), and the Sounds and Audio devices panel set to "5.1 Surround Speakers" using the C-Media Wave device, I am not hearing the game in surround.
When connected using the Extigy through a USB port (which I generally loathe since my USB mouse is already eating up USB bandwidth), and having the Extigy set to surround and attached through digital optical to the Z-680, I still do not get surround sound. The Creative diagnostics tool reports everything ok, but the speaker test on that program only gets sound through the left and right speakers. Yes, I did set it to "5.1 Speakers" on the Creative Audio Mixer, rather than Auto.
So what am I doing wrong? I've fixed this before, but can't remember how...
I remember the problem arises because the Z-680 speakers try to decode all signals sent them, a problem when you're sending them an already decoded signal via the Extigy. But then, is the SPDIF sound port capable of outputting 5.1 undecoded sound? Is the internal sound card able to do that?
Help would be most appreciated.
