switching back-and-front on speakers?

sirtoby · 04-26-03, 06:58 AM

ok.. so I'm probably getting another computer this summer to be a HTPC, and I'm also thinking of getting some 5.1 speakers..

Now to my question..

As my main rig will be in the same room I'd of course want to hook both computers up to the same speakers.
However, the speakers are on opposite sides of the room.. is there some setting somewhere where one can switch the front and back channels around (i.e. so I wouldn't have to move the speakers around all the time)

Flamed_Chip · 04-26-03, 04:40 PM

Usually the way 5.1's are set up, all the cables from the soundcard go into a decoded or the sub, then are sent out to the speakers from there, all you'd have to do is swap the outbound cables from the decoder/sub around for the front and back, should work a treat, you could even rig up some Kind of DPDT type switch to do it at the flick of a switch...

sirtoby · 04-26-03, 05:29 PM

So I couldn't do this with the help of software somehow? I obviously knew that I could switch the cables..

Namagomi · 04-26-03, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sirtoby
So I couldn't do this with the help of software somehow? I obviously knew that I could switch the cables..

I can't think of anything off the top of my head. Which speakers are you using? Some computer speakers, or a real reciever-based home stereo 5.1 setup?

Sounds like a job for google in any case.

RadRacer · 04-26-03, 06:26 PM

No, Namagomi is right, you're not going to be able to do this with software.

sirtoby · 04-27-03, 06:08 AM

Well I haven't got the speakers yet, as I'll probably pick them up in mid-may.. unless I decide to buy some more expensive and then it'll be in june..

but right now I'm kinda interested in the Logitech Z640.. since they seem to be cheap and good..

On the other hand.. I've also been interested in Creative MegaWorks THX 5.1 550 .. they have them on sale now and THX is never wrong..

although they are 3 times more expensive than the Z640s..

Flamed_Chip · 04-27-03, 06:33 AM

If you buy some 5.1's that do not have a decoder, where the decoding is done by the soundcard, and 3 minijacks leave the sound card and go to the sub/volume control, I imagine there would be some software mod you could get that would let you swap which ports on the soundcard send the signal for front back and mid/sub.

I have a set of videologic zxr-500, it does not have a decoder for the 5.1, the soundcard does it. I am using the onboard sound of by motherboard cos I couldn't afford anything else atm. There is a piece of software shipped with the soundcard drivers which lets you change what type of speaker set up you are using and what each port does. eg.

2 speakers:
o-speaker out
o-Line in
o-Mic

5.1 surround
o-front
o-rear
o-mid/sub

I am sure if this can be done, there us software that could change the order of the ports....

sirtoby · 04-27-03, 06:52 AM

ah, great.. that's what I figured..

and I'll probably stick with my onboard sound.. Soundstorm shouldn't be too shabby..

04-26-03, 06:58 AM	Thread Starter #1
sirtoby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Finland	switching back-and-front on speakers? ok.. so I'm probably getting another computer this summer to be a HTPC, and I'm also thinking of getting some 5.1 speakers.. Now to my question.. As my main rig will be in the same room I'd of course want to hook both computers up to the same speakers. However, the speakers are on opposite sides of the room.. is there some setting somewhere where one can switch the front and back channels around (i.e. so I wouldn't have to move the speakers around all the time)
	QUOTE Thanks

04-26-03, 04:40 PM	#2
Flamed_Chip Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Yorkshire, UK	Usually the way 5.1's are set up, all the cables from the soundcard go into a decoded or the sub, then are sent out to the speakers from there, all you'd have to do is swap the outbound cables from the decoder/sub around for the front and back, should work a treat, you could even rig up some Kind of DPDT type switch to do it at the flick of a switch... __________________ Herb: 2 x Intel PIII-S 1.4 GHz - GIGABYTE GA-6VTXDR - 1024MB PC133 - 2 x Tt Volcano 7+ - PCI nVIDIA GeForce fx5500 128MB - 60GB Samsung 7200RPM - 200GB Seagate Barracuda - 500W PSU - Debian GNU/Linux Wyatt: XP 1800+ @ 1725 (150x11.5) 1.85 vcore - Asus A7V266-E - 512MB DDR PC2100 - SK6 modded for Delta 80mm "SHE" - nVIDIA GF2 MX 400 64MB DDR - 40GB WD 7200RPM - 20GB WD 7200RPM - Generic 300W PSU - Load Temp: 45C (Ambiant 22C) - Debian GNU/Linux Moon: Intel PIII 1GHz - Generic Intel motherboard - 512MB PC133 - 7GB HDD - Generic PSU - FreeBSD Kaya (laptop): Sony Vaio PCG-GRT815M - P4 2.8Ghz - 512MB DDR - 80GB 5400RPM - nVIDIA GF FX5600 64MB - Ubuntu GNU/Linux / Windows XP
	QUOTE Thanks

04-26-03, 05:29 PM	Thread Starter #3
sirtoby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Finland	So I couldn't do this with the help of software somehow? I obviously knew that I could switch the cables..
	QUOTE Thanks

04-26-03, 06:26 PM	#5
RadRacer Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Chesapeake, VA	No, Namagomi is right, you're not going to be able to do this with software. __________________ My arrival marks a change in your hegemon, Forget your Lexus, here's the nexus of your lexicon! CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ MB: Asus A8N-SLI Premium RAM: 1Gb Corsair TwinX XMS PC3200 Monitor: Dell 2405FP 24" LCD Case: Antec P180 Graphics: 2 eVGA GeForce 7800GT Storage: 2 Western Digital 74Gb (RAID 0) Cooling: Scythe Ninja (CPU) and 2 Zalman VF-700Cu (VGA) heatware
	QUOTE Thanks

04-27-03, 06:08 AM	Thread Starter #6
sirtoby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Finland	Well I haven't got the speakers yet, as I'll probably pick them up in mid-may.. unless I decide to buy some more expensive and then it'll be in june.. but right now I'm kinda interested in the Logitech Z640.. since they seem to be cheap and good.. On the other hand.. I've also been interested in Creative MegaWorks THX 5.1 550 .. they have them on sale now and THX is never wrong.. although they are 3 times more expensive than the Z640s..
	QUOTE Thanks

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04-27-03, 06:33 AM	#7
Flamed_Chip Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Yorkshire, UK	If you buy some 5.1's that do not have a decoder, where the decoding is done by the soundcard, and 3 minijacks leave the sound card and go to the sub/volume control, I imagine there would be some software mod you could get that would let you swap which ports on the soundcard send the signal for front back and mid/sub. I have a set of videologic zxr-500, it does not have a decoder for the 5.1, the soundcard does it. I am using the onboard sound of by motherboard cos I couldn't afford anything else atm. There is a piece of software shipped with the soundcard drivers which lets you change what type of speaker set up you are using and what each port does. eg. 2 speakers: o-speaker out o-Line in o-Mic 5.1 surround o-front o-rear o-mid/sub I am sure if this can be done, there us software that could change the order of the ports.... __________________ Herb: 2 x Intel PIII-S 1.4 GHz - GIGABYTE GA-6VTXDR - 1024MB PC133 - 2 x Tt Volcano 7+ - PCI nVIDIA GeForce fx5500 128MB - 60GB Samsung 7200RPM - 200GB Seagate Barracuda - 500W PSU - Debian GNU/Linux Wyatt: XP 1800+ @ 1725 (150x11.5) 1.85 vcore - Asus A7V266-E - 512MB DDR PC2100 - SK6 modded for Delta 80mm "SHE" - nVIDIA GF2 MX 400 64MB DDR - 40GB WD 7200RPM - 20GB WD 7200RPM - Generic 300W PSU - Load Temp: 45C (Ambiant 22C) - Debian GNU/Linux Moon: Intel PIII 1GHz - Generic Intel motherboard - 512MB PC133 - 7GB HDD - Generic PSU - FreeBSD Kaya (laptop): Sony Vaio PCG-GRT815M - P4 2.8Ghz - 512MB DDR - 80GB 5400RPM - nVIDIA GF FX5600 64MB - Ubuntu GNU/Linux / Windows XP
	QUOTE Thanks

04-27-03, 06:52 AM	Thread Starter #8
sirtoby Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Finland	ah, great.. that's what I figured.. and I'll probably stick with my onboard sound.. Soundstorm shouldn't be too shabby..
	QUOTE Thanks

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