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Muted DVD playback

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Designhaus

Designhaus

Technical User
Jan 22, 2004
12
US
I've got an external DVD burner that seems to play back DVD movies just fine with the exception that I can hardly hear anything from the movie.

My speakers are plenty powerful, but the sound from the movie is super muted in comparison with the rest of the computer sounds.

Does anyone know if there is a setting tucked away that I'm neglecting? My "CD Player" volume in the volume control panel (with the volume sliders) is turned up all the way.

One caveat: I'm using on-board sound instead of a dedicated sound card (engineering workstation). Could that be a factor?

Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC
 
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Designhaus,

What application are you using for DVD playback? Does it have the volume slider turned up?

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA: Security 2003
 
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I'm using Nero ShowTime for playing the movies (or Windows MediaPlayer or whatever). In those applications, the volume slider is all the way up.

Then, I use something called Global Audio Control, which allows control over specific things and gives me quick keyboard short-cuts for volume control. The slider is all the way up in there as well.

Then there is the on-board sound management called SoundMAX Control Panel. Everything is cranked in there as well.

Any ideas?

Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC
 
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Hi there,

1.) it could well be that it is set to 5.1 sound in the player and your system is actually set to 2 speaker mode...

2.) there may also be the chance that you have, instead of digital audio, the DVD set to Analog...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...
 
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BadBigBen,

Where would I find the setting for the DVD to digital? In the properties for the drive I found something to the effect of "enable digital audio playback", and I have that option selected.

My speakers in SoundMAX are configured for the two stereo speakers on my desktop--but I'll try to see if there are hidden configurations anywhere else.

Thanks for the help,

Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC
 
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The setting for digital 5.1 should be located in whatever player you are using (for example, Nero Showtime).

What about regular video files like AVI or MPEG? Do they play OK?

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
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Hi there, like Cdogg mentioned, the other settings are located within the player software...

oh, another thing sprang to mind, about the 5.1 sound, are the speakers otherwise working ok? (like a playback of a video/music file from HD?) if so, then nevermind, if NOT, take a look at where/how the speakers are attached to the internal soundcard, (ie. plugged into the light green jack on the back of the PC)...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...
 
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Thanks for the feedback.

I can play saved music and video from my hard drive with no problems (AVI, Quicktime, etc). The speakers work great (Labtec) with everything I've previously used as well.

I've got Nero's DVD player set to using two speakers, but I noticed a setting called SPDIF, which I don't understand, and which I'm not set to use. Ring any bells?

Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC
 
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You do not need SPDIF.

Yes, if the setting is already set to 2-speaker Stereo mode, then you should be fine. Take a look at the DNC setting in Nero Showtime as well. Make sure that option is NOT enabled.


If that doesn't do it, then I suspect you have a conflict of some kind between the SoundMAX and Global Audio Control applications. Sometimes neither is needed. So try the following combinations:

1) SoundMAX on, Global off
2) SoundMAX off, Global on
3) Both off

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884
 
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Many people have the same problem with the build in audio system using the Soundmax drivers. It only shows up on CD/DVD movies regardless which playback program you are using. This is the reason that Asus changed their sound support to the Realtek chips in their newer bords. We overcame the problem by disabling the onbord sound chip and using pci soundcards. It appears to be the only way. The reason why movies have a very low sound level and all else appears to be normal was never found. I gues we have to live with it.
Regards

Jurgen
 
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@Jurgen36 - Well, I am glad I do not belong to this group of people... I use SoundMAX drivers only (not the accompanying program) and have no problem with DVD playback...

@cdogg - good info...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...
 
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:BadBigBen
You are very lucky indeed, we had the problem with 6 out of 10 machines. The machines used 3 different mobos, that's why we really investigated the issue. I say again you are very lucky.
Even Asus could not find out why this happened, they finally changed their soundchips to realtek.
Regards

Jurgen
 
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Jurgen36 - it could also be the fact that my mobo actually doesn't have a soundchip but uses AC97 (ASUS P4PE-x)...



Ben

If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer...
 
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All,

Thanks for the solution offerings. This gives me encouragement to stop trying everything logical I can think of and to just go buy a soundcard if I want to fix this thing outright. I was beginning to suspect this might solve the problem anyway, and recent posts confirm my suspicions.

Jeff Mowry
Industrial Designhaus, LLC
 
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Just a thought and i havent seem it specifically mentioned but skirted around.
under control panel and 'sound and audio devices' theres a speaker settings option at the bottom make sure the advanced is setup right for your configuration as i had same problem but switching over from 2 speaker to 5.1 solved it.

Its an obvious suggestion but sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees ;)
 
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