Audio 5.1 in Windows 7

[Pulover]

After a week searching for a definitive solution, just like most everyone, I was forced to give up trying to find a way to make Windows 7 send music to all speakers with same quality. And since I'm not willing to pay $30 for Creative software (see: Windows 7 RC 64 bit Getting Sound From 2 Speakers and Minor Questions), I guess I'll have to wait for Realtek to provide a solution, as its 3DSoundBack, which is supposed to do the same as Creative's ALchemy, did not solve the problem either.

The only workaround I've found was in this post:
http://www.sevenforums.com/sound-audio/2197-realtek-hd-changing-jack-output-reassignments-fix.html
Neilsouth explains how to change Realtek output assignments through the registry:

Mappings are saved in the following location "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings\DevType_0888_SS147b1083 or ending in DevType_0885_SS18490890

"Pin00" = Rear Green-Coded "FR FL" jack
"Pin01" = Rear black-coded "RR RL" jack
"Pin02" = Center/Subwoofer
"Pin04" = Mic-In

"01 00 00 00" = Mic-in
"02 00 00 00" = headphones
"04 00 00 00" = Front speakers
"05 00 00 00" = Rear speakers
"06 00 00 00" = Center/subwoofer
"07 00 00 00" = Side speakers

Example if i want "Pin01" = rear black-coded "RR RL" jack to be front speakers all i have to do is Pin01 - 04 00 00 00.

In addition to his post, I found that in my PC these settings were in a different key (I suppose it's because of the driver version), so you might want to go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\" in regedit and do a Ctrl+F for "DevType_" and find the correct key for your version.
Also, in my version (R236) the "Pin01" controls only the rear speakers, and the "Pin03" controls the side ones. The "Pin02" was not present, but I add it and worked fine.

I set all output jacks to "Front speakers", this way I managed to get good quality sound from every speaker. The bad thing about it is when you want to play games with real surround sound, for all speakers would just play the same thing. My solution was to export 2 registry keys, one with the original configuration, and one with all jacks set to front ( or what suits you best), then just click the .reg files to switch between "real" and "fake" surround. To avoid having to restart the system every time for the changes to take effect, follow these steps:

1) Close every app which may be using the audio device (such as media players).
2) Apply the desired .reg file.
3) Go to Device Manager, select "Sound, video and game controllers". Right-click on the Realtek device and select "Disable" (if no app is using the sound you should not be prompted with the restart message).
4) Right-click it again and select "Enable".

That's all. I hope I could help some of the troubled people like me. I searched day and night everywhere and I was getting sick of this. At least now I have an alternative to this issue.

So long.

 

[Arcalimon]

I have a similar problem guys.

Managed to get my card working, but:

1) Creative apps in the drivers pack by Daniel K are not working, when i launch them they tell me ''No device supported for this application'' even if the card seems to be fully installed.

2) Launching Windows 7 config for the speakers and selecting 5.1 makes all my speaker work, put under properties there are no infos about the jack entrances

3) When launching apps that were working 5.1 in Vista i hear the sound only from 2 speakers.


Any suggestion?

Mobo: Asus M2N4-Sli
O/S: Win 7 Ultimate 64
Audio: X-fi Xtreme Gamer

 

[PanterA]

@ Pulover

I can not pass this part:

"In addition to his post, I found that in my PC these settings were in a different key (I suppose it's because of the driver version), so you might want to go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\" in regedit and do a Ctrl+F for "DevType_" and find the correct key for your version."

Here the Ctrl + F does not work, but I go to "edit" -> "find", but finds nothing.

But with all this, you were with 5.1 to 101%? As he had before in XP?

 

[Pulover]

@ Pulover

I can not pass this part:

"In addition to his post, I found that in my PC these settings were in a different key (I suppose it's because of the driver version), so you might want to go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\" in regedit and do a Ctrl+F for "DevType_" and find the correct key for your version."

Here the Ctrl + F does not work, but I go to "edit" -> "find", but finds nothing.

But with all this, you were with 5.1 to 101%? As he had before in XP?

Well, I guess the command to find in english must be different (Ctrl+L, maybe)... I'm brazillian, and I thought it was the same...

In my registry, the key to the controls is under "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings\Drv5969_DevType_0883_SS1043829f" which is different from the one posted originally, that's why I suggested to try a search for the right one. You must use something that will find the key, like "DevType" or "Pin00" (without the quotes). Try RegScanner: RegScanner Tool: Alternative to RegEdit find/search of Windows it makes the search much easier. Or download the lateste driver from Realtek site, it should be in the same key as mine.

About the result, yes, I was able to get the same sound from every speaker (even if I plug a speaker in the subwoofer jack), it's not actual surround, it's more like cloning the sound from the front speakers to the others. I just added the hint with the registry file to help those who play games that might work with real surround (I haven't tested yet the 3DSoundBack to see if it works with games).

 

[Pulover]

I've found a solution!!!

It seems I was wrong about 3D SoundBack! It really does the job! I thought it didn't work because when I clicked it nothing happened. Only after searching through a few sites again I saw a screenshot of it running and realized it was designed to Windows Vista, so all I had to do was run it in compatibilty mode for Windows Vista Service Pack 2, add the applications and voila! I got surround sound again without registry tweaks!

http://i50.tinypic.com/2eulyt4.jpg

Download 3D SoundBack Beta 0.1 from Realtek Website

I've tested it with some programs, it worked with Winamp, MediaMonkey, BSPlayer and PowerDVD. Couldn't get it to work with Windows MediaPlayer though... The software is designed for games foremost, so it should work with them as well. There's just one problem when running MediaMonkey: in my PC it will crash if I have QuickTime installed, haven't figured out why.

I'd like to know if anyone has a solution for the QuickTime issue or gets WMP to work as well.

 

[PanterA]

Supposedly, as I enter 3DSound? :sarc:

 

[Pulover]

Supposedly, as I enter 3DSound? :sarc:

3D SoundBack is installed under "C:\Program Files (x86)\Realtek\3D Sound Back Beta0.1" (x86 is for 64-bit version only). It creates a shortcut in the start menu, but you have to rename it because it's named "new folder>new shortcut".
Right click whether the program or the link and select properties>compatibility and set it to Windows Vista SP2.

 

[PanterA]

Thank you. I got it.

Already entered the program and added to get Winamp. But the 5.1 does not work. Now turn off the speaker fill but I can not for the 5.1 to give.
When did the 1st time ctrl + alt + del there appeared the 3DSB. Then, after a time when I tried again was no longer anything.

Any help?
Thanks.

 

[ljubisa24]

Tried this way and nothing.

Something that we should know and you didnt say ?

 

[Zahar]

I've found a solution!!!

It seems I was wrong about 3D SoundBack! It really does the job! I thought it didn't work because when I clicked it nothing happened. Only after searching through a few sites again I saw a screenshot of it running and realized it was designed to Windows Vista, so all I had to do was run it in compatibilty mode for Windows Vista Service Pack 2, add the applications and voila! I got surround sound again without registry tweaks!

http://i50.tinypic.com/2eulyt4.jpg

Download 3D SoundBack Beta 0.1 from Realtek Website

I've tested it with some programs, it worked with Winamp, MediaMonkey, BSPlayer and PowerDVD. Couldn't get it to work with Windows MediaPlayer though... The software is designed for games foremost, so it should work with them as well. There's just one problem when running MediaMonkey: in my PC it will crash if I have QuickTime installed, haven't figured out why.

I'd like to know if anyone has a solution for the QuickTime issue or gets WMP to work as well.

Thanks for the help
I`ve downloaded this driver and it finally worked for me but now there`s another problem,the rare speakers work really low.
what can i do with this?
Oh and 5.1 works fine with WMP with movies but again, the rare speakers work bad.

And sorry for bad english

 

[Pulover]

Thank you. I got it.

Already entered the program and added to get Winamp. But the 5.1 does not work. Now turn off the speaker fill but I can not for the 5.1 to give.
When did the 1st time ctrl + alt + del there appeared the 3DSB. Then, after a time when I tried again was no longer anything.

Any help?
Thanks.

I'm sorry. Can't think of anything else that could be different from my settings. But try starting winamp in compatibility mode as well. I can't use my computer right now, but I'll say if I think of anything.

Tried this way and nothing.

Something that we should know and you didnt say ?

Have you turned off Speaker Fill? Also don't use the Realtek Equalizer.

Thanks for the help
I`ve downloaded this driver and it finally worked for me but now there`s another problem,the rare speakers work really low.
what can i do with this?
Oh and 5.1 works fine with WMP with movies but again, the rare speakers work bad.

And sorry for bad english

The same. Check if Speaker Fill is off and don't use the Equalizer.

 

[Zahar]

The same. Check if Speaker Fill is off and don't use the Equalizer.

Speaker Fill is off and im not using Equalizer and still the rare speaker`s sound is terrible.
Oh well i hope Microsoft will do something about this soon.
For now i turned the rare speakers off, no use from them anyway :]
I`ll be checking this thread to see if there is another updates.

Thanks to everyone.

 

[PanterA]

I'm sorry. Can't think of anything else that could be different from my settings. But try starting winamp in compatibility mode as well. I can't use my computer right now, but I'll say if I think of anything.

It did not work.

I tried several compatibility modes but still does not work. I have no luck with it.

If anyone knows anything new, you say. This is so very bad.

Thanks.

 

[Pulover]

Hi all. I've just changed my motherboard. Got a good price on a Striker Extreme (old mobo, but still good for overclock), so I can no longer test solutions to the realtek issue. I have though, thought about two possibilities I would like to try.

The first will work on winamp only. It's an output plugin called VL Sound for Vista (or you can try a newer beta version at Neveron's Home Page). It makes Winamp use all channels, and I remember testing it on Windows 7, it just won't work with MediaMonkey.

The second thing is a long shot, but I'd like to know if it has any effect. My new mobo sound drivers come with the Creative OpenAL Installer which my sound card and some apps seem to use (I might have tested that already, but I don't remember). It's worth a try, just download and install to see if it does anything.
And even if it doesn't restore surround by itself, it just might make Winamp OpenAL Output Plugin work, maybe.

Share the results.