Windows 7 5.1 surround problems (realtek)

[DMK91]

just downloaded the newest realtek drivers and installed and it's exactly the same thing as all the previous versions. nothing changed. still struggling with that 5.1 system of mine =/
its really weird that when i test it in the realtek sound manager, it works perfectly. but it doesn't work in any other application. only when i click the speaker fill option but that's not what I want, i want real sound out of my other 3 speakers, not just some noise.
and even when i test the speakers in windows :

it works great there.
and in realtek, the same thing, works perfectly:

only when i highlight the speaker fill option, then some sound comes out of the remaining 3 speakers, but that's not really what i'm looking for. in windows xp, it was normal sound.

and when i plug in the cable, i get something like this:

when i click the tool symbol, it just opens the realtek sound manager.
i remember back in xp, it would open a totally new window that asks you what you just connected so you can choose, and after that, it worked perfectly.

I have set the same settings, of course that didn't solve my problem.
On XP, even now, I still use SRS Audio Sandbox, probably one of the most powerful drivers, to alter Surround Sound, Stereo sound, Quadraphonic - etc. by adjusting sliders. I can choose the stereo 'size', the center 'location', to enhance my sound experience, and the sliders for Surround work perfectly fine on windows XP with the exact same driver setup - no matter what sound device was actually connected, may it be stereo speakers or headphones in the front jack. However.

On Windows 7, I used your settings (though I already had them like that) and used the preview option to preview the sound. (pre'hear'). But I only get sound from the front speakers. For me, this is a general problem, it's not just a difference between driver testing and actual use by sound applications, even the test returns negative results for me.

Hello fellows, I have the same problem, i'm really dissapointed that realtek won't fix this problem with new drivers. I downloaded a simple solution from Winamp Media Player - MP3, Multimedia, and Music Player (because i listen music with winamp player). The link is here. And to watch movies that support 5.1 sorround i downloaded win 7 codec pack by shark 007 where you can choose 5.1 audio settings.

Since apparently this works, I can not confirm this, it means that somewhere in the updated code from above, a solution may lie for realtek. Is the plugin open source? And if so, maybe it can be used by realtek, or just hackers for all we care, to update the driver software from realtek either officially or manually to fully support surround, even when using headphones and such?

 

[svenvandevelde]

Windows 7 RTM realtek sound...

I was a succesful tester of Windows 7 RC, where the realtek audio drivers worked flawlessly. Recently i purchased and installed windows RTM Home Premium.

If you have the following symptoms when reinstalling windows 7 RTM with the realtek audio:
- No Realtek icon in the taskbar
- Cannot active the realtek driver window from control panel.
- The windows audio playing devices do not show up when requested...

well:

For some reason, the realtek driver or Windows 7 RTM are not compatible anymore with RTM got released.
The problem is not with the driver, however, but with User Accounts Management security settings.
Install the latest driver from Realtek, which you find on the www.realtek.com. The version of the driver currently is 235.
Then, disable UAC through Control Panel -> System -> Change User Account Management, and reboot.

You'll notice now that the Realtek driver taskbar icon (the brown luidspeaker) shows up in your taskbar. Good news.
Click on the taskbar icon, and the RT driver windows shows up. In this window, you can change the driver operating from Stereo to 5.1.

Clearly, some things are wrong with audio in RTM. Because you cannot open the audio play devices dialog through the windows luidspeaker icon and right clicking the option from the menu.

So, maybe this is a preliminary work around.

Sven,

 

[erhanxl]

i ve the same problem and i worked it on and that was a really time wasting for me...but i am not sure how it is worked ,i install k-lite codec pack's last version and then restart my computer...now w7 works with my alc662 in 5.1 channel flawless..yes i am happy

 

[Absolution]

After days and days of searching the web on tons of sites and trying all sorts of work arounds I can say with confidence that there is no REAL fix for this. People are having varying degrees of success but it usually involves room filling and cheap enhancement settings.

Here are the facts:

With a windows 7 install if you are having the issue you will only have the option of stereo. No 5.1 or 7.1 sound.

Downloading new drivers (I have tried them all) will allow you to select 5.1 and/or 7.1 in the windows device management or device software. You will be able to set it and even reassign the cables, etc. It will seem to be working. You will get sound in all test modes. Everything seems wonderful....but

......when playing an audio file the rear speakers will not work. Checking sound enhancements is not a proper fix and in my case sounds like pewp.

My system worked great in XP and Vista. I have tried new drivers, codecs, software, unplugging cables, you name it.

No fix for this. If you find one that doesn't involve ritual sacrfice and ouija boards, then please post it.

 

[Flow]

I have the exact same problem as all of you guys (i think)
No sound from rear speakers + center speaker while playing music. (Works fine in vista though)

I have a logitech z-5500 5.1 speaker system. When I change the effect on the speaker system itself, i get sound in all speakers. (From 6 Ch Direct to PLII Music)
Not sure if this is "True surround" or Speaker filling. Sounds okay though.

 

[The Stodd]

Yep, another one here. 5.1 works in test mode (Windows AND Realtek sound manager), I've managed to get faint sound out of the 5.1 with media player but it's definitely not right and no other app even attempts 5.1, everything is in stereo.

From what I've seen it's not exclusively a Realtek problem either, some people with Creative cards are posting the same problem which makes me think something is different in Windows 7 and M$ aren't acknowledging it...

I've literally spent 3 days trawling everywhere for a solution - there doesn't appear to be one. Speakerfill is not a solution, it just emulates front stereo.

Guess we have to wait for either M$ or Realtek to address this.

 

[asilzade]

Sorry, i forgot to write it

FIRST OF ALL, Go to Device Manager and remove your soundcard driver. Then run Realtek Driver SETUP. After restart your machine,then install Realtek SoundBlaster Software.

All will be fixed!

Hello Guys,

First of all i am sorry for my english still trying to make it better )
let's work on our common problems i found some plugins for 5.1 on winamp and driver for realtek + ac97.

Winamp > Preferences > Plugins > Output > DirectSound Output > Configure

http://www.neowin.net/forum/uploads/post-107-1091723974.jpg

These 2 links are for 5.1 on Winamp for Windows 7

VL Sound for Vista v1.0.0.5 - Winamp
A3D Output Plug-in - Winamp

These 2 links are for Realtek Driver and Realtek Audio Software

Link 1

Link 2

I hope, all these things will solve your problems Have a nice day!


After i have done all these, my surround system has started to work ( 5.1 )

 

[The Stodd]

Sorry, i forgot to write it

FIRST OF ALL, Go to Device Manager and remove your soundcard driver. Then run Realtek Driver SETUP. After restart your machine,then install Realtek SoundBlaster Software.

All will be fixed!

Hello Guys,

First of all i am sorry for my english still trying to make it better )
let's work on our common problems i found some plugins for 5.1 on winamp and driver for realtek + ac97.

Winamp > Preferences > Plugins > Output > DirectSound Output > Configure

http://www.neowin.net/forum/uploads/post-107-1091723974.jpg

These 2 links are for 5.1 on Winamp for Windows 7

VL Sound for Vista v1.0.0.5 - Winamp
A3D Output Plug-in - Winamp

These 2 links are for Realtek Driver and Realtek Audio Software

Link 1

Link 2

I hope, all these things will solve your problems Have a nice day!


After i have done all these, my surround system has started to work ( 5.1 )

Link 2 don't work. And isn't this for legacy software?

Anyway, working link:

Realtek 3D SoundBack Download - Softpedia

Doesn't work anyway! Still stuck with stereo sound only.

 

[asilzade]

it's working this file has been publishing by realtek,too. ftp://152.104.238.19/pc/audio/3DSoundBack_Beta0.1.zipMy 5.1 works without problem. i hope,soon everyone has been solved all problems.

 

[ganryu]

*deleted*

 

[Twister]

ive also got a problem

ive got realtek 7.1 output on my motherboard gigabtye ga-73pvm-2sh, and also a creative sound blaster audigy 7.1.

when i turn my 5.1 speaker system on all i get is a buzzing sound, when i try play music or even do the test with either the realtek or creative as default i get no sound at all

downloaded and installed all the latest drivers i can find, but cant get either to work

check my other post in this section for what i have put about the creative sound card

 

[Jamezs5]

"I checked the 'Speaker fill' "

This is what made it work for you. this is required to play any 5.1 - 7.1 suround sound in windows OS. that is its function and any one with similar problems should place a tick in the checkbox for "Speaker fill" and your surround sound will play perfetly baring you dont have other issues not related to windows playing suround sound audio.

 

[The Stodd]

"I checked the 'Speaker fill' "

This is what made it work for you. this is required to play any 5.1 - 7.1 suround sound in windows OS. that is its function and any one with similar problems should place a tick in the checkbox for "Speaker fill" and your surround sound will play perfetly baring you dont have other issues not related to windows playing suround sound audio.

SPEAKER FILL IS NOT TRUE 5.1!

Speaker fill simulates a multichannel loudspeaker setup. It allows music that would otherwise be heard on only two speakers to be played on all of the loudspeakers in the room, enhancing the spatial sensation.

There are clear problems with Realtek and 7, I've spent days looking into this and have given up. Fingers crossed for the next Realtek driver...

 

[Absolution]

Seems Windows 7 is having issues with alot of sound cards and there are ALOT of fairly new cards listed on their website that are not officially compatible.

The list of tested and certified cards is SLIM and mostly pci-express.

I will wait a couple more weeks and hope for a driver fix. If not, I will prolly buy a new card. Shame really. I thought the realtek onboard was pretty decent. Better than some other cards I have had.

 

[jepherz]

so....12 pages and no solution? =/ I'm having problems with my creative lab audigy 2, it worked fine in XP. I dunno who to blame though...microsoft or creative lab

 

[quantum112]

Hello there, just registered here to post about this problem as well, I have Creative T6600 5.1 and a Realtek ALC889A onboard chip. For music I use Winamp and I never got 5.1 in XP that till I found this little plugin called Studio Sound FX which not only made the sound quality better, but I would check "convert to mono" and I guess this made the same channel play over all 5 speakers, but it sounded awesome!, and not even that - muffly, faded, half-the frequency gone only heard half the time stuff that you get when you turn on speaker fill, or even that equally worthless DTS connect.
This really sounded a worlds better. Now in Windows 7 even THAT doesn't work anymore, all I'm left with is DTS connect which sounds like you know what....
I don't care how much better Windows 7 is in other areas but if I can't get 5.1 in my music like I did with XP then to hell with your no D3D sound support and OpenAL, Microsoft making money signing deals with Dolby or whatever to buy their supportive sound cards just to get 5.1, no thanks, I'll take XP till Win 8 comes out then maybe they get rid of this sh...

 

[danyo23]

hey BELLERORPHAN------------how come i dont have this on my realtek audio manager




you got all this option like i USED to on my vista but how come my windows 7 realtek audio manager got something called "wavemaxxaudio" crap????? please help me how to get this?????? pleazzzzzzzzzzz

 

[Absolution]

Well, I gave in and bought a new card. Got the turtle beach riviera for $22 on newegg. I opted to buy a cheap card at this point until they resolve these issues and offer more tested options.

The new card plays all my 5.1 movies in true 5.1 and has a "stereo mix setup" that will play stereo cd's and mp3's over all of the speakers without the "room fill" enhancements. No more empty tunnel sound.

Best $22 I have spent in a good long while..

 

[4n00815]

I fix a problem... You only need to set blue jack as center/subwoofer speaker, red as side speakers and green/black as front speakers and it will work

 

[pitmetal]

Hello all
I just found that when I select an option from Sound Effects tab -> Environment, my rear speakers start to work.
I am using 4 speakers and i have set the Speaker Configuration to Quadraphonic.
Until now I was using the Dolby Prologic setting in Control Panel / Sound / Speakers Properties as someone mentioned that this is one of the solutions.

Another thing that was my first problem is that in Quadraphonic configuration, i thought i have to use the output for rear speakers, but after some testing I found that the speakers work when they are connected to Side speaker aoutput... strange