Is there a setting to force LPCM from the optical out for stereo even for HD channels, but still get DD 5.1 for programmes broadcast in 5.1?

O

Owen Smith

Well-Known Member
I have a new audio processor for stereo that can take input on optical. I want to use it to process all my stereo audio viewing but it only takes LPCM 2.0 on optical. This is fine for SD channels but if you want 5.1 sound as I do when HD programmes have it then stereo on HD channels is output as Dolby Digital 2.0 and surround as Dolby Digital 5.1. I want a way to force the HDR Fox T2 to convert to LPCM 2.0 instead of DD 2.0 while still outputting DD 5.1 for surrond. All you can do with Humax's own settings is force it to output everything as LPCM 2.0 including programmes broadcast in 5.1. I don't want to have to change the Humax setting every time I watch an HD programme with different audio format to the last one I watched. Is there a custom firmware setting or package that can do this?

Before anyone points out I can't connect one optical output to two devices, yes I can. Passive splitters can be cheaply bought.
 
You know (or should know) we have no means to make the hardware do anything different, which is how I read your post. On the other hand, if what you mean is something you can already do manually, there is probably a way to automate it.
 
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Black Hole said:
You know (or should know) we have no means to make the hardware do anything different, which is how I read your post. On the other hand, if what you mean is something you can already do manually, there is probably a way to automate it.
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I'm asking because I've become aware recently how out of date my knowledge is of what the custom firmware and packages can do in some areas. I'd hate to assume it can't be done only to find next year it was implemented 8 years ago.

It can be done manually by changing the audio output setting on the HDR Fox T2 menus between stereo (which forces LPCM stereo out for everything) and multi channel (which outputs the HD channels audio in DD 2.0 or 5.1), therefore it feels like something that could potentially be manipulated.

The issue may be detecting the format of the audio currently playing. BBC HD channels switch between 2.0 and 5.1 sound depending on what the programme has, typically while the continuity announcer is talking. C4 HD similarly, but also while playing 5.1 programmes it switches to 2.0 during advert breaks and then back to 5.1 at the end of the adverts. It might be better if that didn't get detected and the adverts stay in DD 2.0, but LPCM 2.0 for them might be OK too.
 
Owen Smith said:
It can be done manually by changing the audio output setting on the HDR Fox T2 menus between stereo and multi channel
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Boot-settings can tweak system settings, but I suspect only at boot and not live. The only other way in would be via IR, which is error prone (dead reckoning through the menu system from an unknown starting point) and would have unwanted screen artifacts.

Owen Smith said:
The issue may be detecting the format of the audio currently playing.
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Indeed. With no access to the live stream, it would have to be picked out of the TSR buffer, and it's not easy even knowing where the current write point is.

Owen Smith said:
I'd hate to assume it can't be done only to find next year it was implemented 8 years ago.
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Fair enough, if you don't keep an eye on what's going on, but the exceptions to the "it's a black box – we can do things along side it but not interact with it" rule are few and far between, and certainly nothing new because God went off-line several years ago. fan, ir, and nugget are the only exceptions I can think of, off the top of my head.
 
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