topic Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live in Home Cinema, Projectors & Players

No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 02:39:18 GMT

Hi all, has anyone experienced this issue before?

I have my WDTV Live SMP connected via HDMI v.1.4 to my Sony STR-DN1040 AV\Receiver but I am only getting PCM sound output!!! The Sony unit is not receiving any Dolby Digital signals from my SMP at all.

I have checked the audio settings on both devices and they appear to be configured correctly. It's not the HDMI lead as I have tried several.

Hopefully this screenshot may help diagnose my issue. I have a number of my movies recorded in this format but I'm not very knowledgeable about the various codecs. Should I be obtaining Dolby Digital sound from these files?

Codec Info Source - VLC Media Player

Puzzled!

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 09:29:01 GMT

Hi there

Firstly - Update the firmware on the WDTV to the latest : HERE

Next ensure that you have set "Audio Output" to "Digital Pass-through via HDMI.."

AAC is just the compression used, which is better than MP3 in regards to sound quality. Its like zip to 7z to rar - all of them compress files, some better than others.

Could you test the file directly on the DN1040 via USB?

Give it a go and see.

Cheers

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 13:50:43 GMT

Hi ya Quinnicus,

Thanks for the quick assistance!

Re: Updating to the latest firmware on the WDTV Live, this is not a viable option for most users as that release introduced a number of bugs. It is usually the case that people do a 'roll back' to overcome those issues, myself included.

Yes I have audio output set to HDMI Pass Through.

Thanks for the advice about AAC, I guess it confuses me when you have one format which contains another.

No it's not possible to test a movie file on USB via the DN1040, it only plays audio formats, sadly!

I posted the same issue on the WD forums and have had one response from someone who has the same issue connecting via optical to their Yamaha receiver. This makes me suspicious that I'm overlooking a setting somewhere.

The one thing I do have disabled is CEC control, it annoyed me that every time I turned the WD unit on it also turned the AMP on.

I've just looked at the manual again and I know when I checked these settings last night the top one 'AAC' and bottom WMA were deselected, I wonder if the top one is the culprit?

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:16:31 GMT

Hi there

Its a little unknown for me, as I dont have the WDTV, therefore am not aware of its little quirks (like all devices). Add the ticks, doesnt hurt. Pass-through to receiver is always on the device itself, so its a WDTV setting/issue somewhere.

Sorry that I cannot be much assistance.

Cheers

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:25:08 GMT

Hey mate!

Just had some feedback from a friend on WD forum which has resolved the issue. Now I am not so happy!

Thankfully though I only have a few movies recorded in this format, mostly I watch DVD's instead which play lovely!

Thanks again Quinnicus for your advice, you're a star!

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:29:52 GMT

No problems

Thanks for posting back the answer, which is Interesting itself.

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:34:53 GMT

@Anonymous

Do you think I can achieve what Joey is saying above using 'Handbrake', if so will it effect picture quality if I re-encode it??

Sorry to be a pain in the squirrels...

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:44:32 GMT

Honestly, I dont know, sounds about right though. Nothing hurts to try.

I still cannot see anything in the specs to indicate that AAC is not supported (even on the aussie Sony website.)

However, if others have tried and thats the solution, who am i to argue that! Do other vids play ok, with pass-through? Have you tested others?

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:45:18 GMT

I wonder if any of these settings would work?

I need an experts guidance here I think!

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:04:48 GMT

The passthru in handbrake, is not for receivers

"The next method is called pass-through. This just copies, bit-for-bit, the soundtrack on your DVD." - use it anyhow.

https://trac.handbrake.fr/wiki/SurroundSoundGuide

Firstly, your "source" audio is already 2ch. Its only adding "processing" to make it 5.1 if thats what you require. Personally, I dont "down mix", so set that to "None"

Secondly, you have two audio tracks showing?

EDIT: Upon saying that, you wanted Dolby, so use the Dolby Pro Logic II as a mixdown, just change codec to AC3.

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:09:36 GMT

Just for your information, there are loads to test files : HERE, that may help.

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:20:53 GMT

Maybe I shouldn't have asked, I'm confused already!

What I want to do is convert my movies that have already been encoded as AAC inside the MP4 container, I think that's how you explain it.

Following on from your advice, I had already read the link you sent me but it's a little confusing for a novice such as myself.

Here's what I have changed it too following your advice below.

I've set downmix to Dolby Prologic II as suggested but I have 2 options for the codec, AC3 PassThru or AC3 (ffmpeg).

Can you be a little more specific with what settings I should change please?

I'll buy you some cheese!

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:23:38 GMT

Ok, I think it 'might' be best to try it twice as a test run and see which one works best - before converting the rest. Then you see which one 'works' best (hopefully)

Test 1

Source = 1 English (aac) (2.0 ch)

Codec = AC3 (ffmpeg)

Mixdown = None

Leave rest as defaults

Test 2

Source = 1 English (aac) (2.0 ch)

Codec = AC3 (ffmpeg)

Mixdown = Dolby Pro Logic II

Leave rest as defaults

Don't use AC3 Passthru for this.

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:23:59 GMT

@Quinnicus wrote:
Ok, I think it 'might' be best to try it twice as a test run and see which one works best - before converting the rest. Then you see which one 'works' best (hopefully)

Test 1
Source = 1 English (aac) (2.0 ch)
Codec = AC3 (ffmpeg)
Mixdown = None
Leave rest as defaults

Test 2
Source = 1 English (aac) (2.0 ch)
Codec = AC3 (ffmpeg)
Mixdown = Dolby Pro Logic II
Leave rest as defaults

That's better, I'll make a teacher out of you yet!

OMG.., I'll be needing advice on how to tie my shoe laces next!

I'm going to try test 2 first, I'll report back tomorrow with the results

Thanks again mate.

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:26:57 GMT

No problems - and good luck

Teacher, pfft

I recommend the tests before converting the rest (as I dont have your exact setup, so hard to know what outcome maybe) and it saves time in the long run. Hate to convert all vids, and then it doesnt work (done it myself!)

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:32:52 GMT

Oh dear..!

I had to stop test run after 5 minutes, my AMD Phenom quad core processor was sitting at 100%. I'm not sure leaving it like that for over an hour will do it any good?

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:39:31 GMT

Its perfectly normal

My dual core laptop does the same - and boy does it throw out some heat. Ive had large batch runs process overnight, and still going by the next morning (8 or so hours later) LOL

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 15:47:22 GMT

Phew!

Thanks for that, I've always been a little worried about such things because some programmes I've seen will shut the system down if high CPU is detected for too long.

I'll try it again later, just off out to pot my tomatoes up.

Ta ta..

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

MK_Slinky — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:38:14 GMT

Back again!

I adjusted my machine's performance settings using ASUS EPU4 Engine too 'Performance Mode', I think it made a difference..

Although CPU stayed at 99-100% throughout the CPU temperature did not go beyond 54 degress C

(usually it is around 38 - 40 degrees C - no load)

The original MP4 file was 827 MB

New AC3 encoded file is 1.24 GB

Here's the VLC Codec Info - It looks right to me and sounds good on my PC

I will test on the DN1040 later

Cheers again Quinnicus - Lucky Star Awarded!

Re: No Dolby Digital Output from connected WDTV Live

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:55:03 GMT

Cool - sounds about right, AC3 will increase the filesize.