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- Aug 24, 2018
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| System Name | Dell Inspiron 7375 |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Ryzen™ 7 2700U Mobile Processor with Radeon™ RX Vega 10 Graphics |
| Memory | 16GB (total) 2400MHz DDR4 SODIMM |
| Video Card(s) | Radeon™ RX Vega 10 Graphics |
| Storage | SanDisk X600 SATA SSD 512GB |
| Display(s) | BOE NV13FHM |
| Audio Device(s) | Realtek ALC3253 (Dell Labelling) ALC255 (Real name) |
SPDIF on windows, even if you use encoder, always report to have stereo connection to software asking for speaker layout. Applications requesting for channel layout though, these can see upto 6 channels available in Windows Audio, via WASAPI (2 channels can still be outputted), when using a GFX/EFX APO encoder. Channel request and speaker layout is different; they can send different data, causing a mess in testing and support.
I know this; I use Sound Blaster Omni with Dolby Digital Live.
The Test feature on the advanced tab uses Speaker configuration to test output. This only sends signal to left/right channel, as this is what is exposed by the speaker layout. But the channel layout is different; it is 6 channels, the test feature, as it uses the wrong info, only tests partially all supported channels. As such, to properly test DDL, you need to test with an AAC or FLAC 5.1 test file; files that do not usually have bitstream support, but can support 5.1 content.
You can see the SPDIF channel layout being changed if you use Audacity. After setting DDL, you can use Audacity Loopback recording, and it will only be able to connect to SPDIF output when it is set to 6 channel recording; 2 channel mode causes error.
On playback, all channels are properly allocated, as the player usually sends the signal either to WASAPI input, which prefers a 5.1 input, or DirectShow renderer, which has its own downmix/reassignment capability, and the 5.1 signal will be properly allocated to the proper speaker.
Now for games, it depends on what the game checks. If it checks for speaker layout, well, stereo is what will come out; this is why some time ago there was this need to mod games for SPDIF out.
If it checks for channel support, usually 5.1 can come out. Though the big annoyances are games which sends a 5.1 fake signals with all unused layouts being muted. This is most annoying.
To correct this mess, Creative has an ability to use the analog speaker output, which can have native 5.1 layout, and use that output, encode this signal and send it over SPDIF.
