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Not getting 5.1ch with AAC encoded movies

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Dragun

New Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2014
So I'm planning on retiring my current desktop (after I finish my new gaming build) and using it as an HTPC. But before I do that, I seem to be having an issue playing my movies on 5.1ch. I'm running a SONY HT-SS360 connected to my Asus Sabertooth x58 mobo through the optical S/PDIF port. The only way I can get a movie to use 5.1 properly is if the movie has AC3 audio. AAC I can only get 2.1ch out of, even though it's a 5.1 supported movie.

I'm a bit new with Home Theater setups but I was hoping to get it all set up here pretty soon. Is there a setting or certain configuration I need to update or change to get 5.1ch audio out of my AAC movies? As of now I've just been playing movies off the desktop with VLC (not sure if that's contributing to the problem at all?) but once I know the audio will work fine in a regular HTPC setup I plan on switching it from my monitor to my Samsung HDTV and running Plex or XBMC. Also, I've got a QNAP NAS 212P lying around, could anyone recommend Plex or XBMC? Heard good things about both, but not sure which to go with, or which is more qnap nas friendly. Thanks again! -Dragun




HTS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882105291
Mobo: http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/SABERTOOTH_X58/
TV: www.amazon.com/Samsung-PN51D6500-51-Inch-1080p-Plasma/dp/B004MNADXK
NAS: http://www.qnap.com/i/useng/product/model.php?II=117
 
I was having a read up out of curiosity... problem maybe its unsupported over optical with AAC

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

extract:-
Another method is to create 5.1 channel AAC audio tracks. For the Track Mix, select "6 channel discrete" from the drop-down menu, and your movie will contain discrete surround sound in the modern AAC format. This takes up less space than AC3: instead of 448kbps, you can do well with 384kbps (64 kbps per channel). Its real benefit is that it doesn't make QuickTime barf. Sadly, it is very difficult to hear all those discrete channels of sound. It cannot be sent over an optical cable to a home theater amp. If you try, whether on a Mac or an AppleTV, you will only hear "downmixed" surround sound, similar to Dolby Pro Logic. To hear the discrete surround sound in all its glory, you will need to attach an analog surround sound device to your Mac. One popular device is the ​Griffin FireWave. Then, you have to attach a cable to your amp/receiver for each of the six speaker channels. It cannot be done over optical/HDMI.

:-/

maybe try some conversion?

http://forum.videohelp.com/threads/337053-How-to-convert-AAC-to-AC3

free conversion software at least...
 
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