Surround issues OpenELEC

[Edf22]

Hi all,

I'm having issues getting proper 5.1 surround from my laptop to my receiver.
I am unable to get any sound coming from my center speaker, instead it plays through the two side front speakers.

Since my laptop has no optical out (and receiver no HDMI in), I use the SOUND BLASTER X-FI SURROUND 5.1 PRO USB sound card (http://us.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/s...nd-5-1-pro).
In Windows surround sound works perfectly after I enable passthrough and check AC3 and DTS, with the center speaker working (using Wasapi S/PDIF).
However, without enabling passthrough and selecting AC3 and DTS in Windows, I get the exact same result as in OpenELEC (center speaker sound comes through the two front speakers).

I am planning to buy a dedicated NUC but can't as long as my usb sound card doesn't work properly with my receiver.

Thanks in advance for the help! (and OpenELEC is fantastic btw, can't wait to get rid of Windows on my HTPC)

[rvsixer]

Some things I would check on Audio Output setup screen:
1) Select correct output device (i.e. receiver)
2) Output configuration: Optimized
3) Number of Channels setting: correctly configure the number of CHANNELS your receiver supports (important, this setting is NOT for the number of speakers you have connected, let the receiver take care of remapping the supported number of channels to the actual number of speakers)
4) Enable Settings level -> Expert mode: then enable passthrough and then configure the correct bitstream formats your receiver supports

See http://kodi.wiki/view/Audio_settings for more audio configuration info.

[Edf22]

Thanks for your reply.

I have already done all those things, except that I do not get the option to select the number of channels.

However, I don't get that option either in Windows and there it works perfectly. Also on the wiki it says "This setting does not apply to passthrough audio connections, if enabled." so that's not applicable in my case if I'm not mistaken.

[rvsixer]

However, I don't get that option either in Windows and there it works perfectly. Also on the wiki it says "This setting does not apply to passthrough audio connections, if enabled." so that's not applicable in my case if I'm not mistaken.

Yes but if you are not truly passing through, if this setting is not available I believe all you will get is 2-ch downmix if I am not mistaken. Hmmm sounds familiar somehow.

Well since you are unable to see the number of channels setting, all I can think of is you have the incorrect SB device selected (you need the digital mutlichannel device such as spdif optical, not two channel or analog devices).

SSH into OpenELEC and get to system prompt:
1) aplay - l (list the sound cards Kodi sees, make SURE correct SB sound card is selected in UI)
2) vi /storage/.kodi/temp/kodi.log (verify the selected device actually supports the channels and formats you are trying to listen to whether LPCM or bitstream)

[Edf22]

I reinstalled OpenELEC before SSH'ing, and as I was ready to post all the information on the forum, I decided to test the surround once more (after reinstall), and magically it worked!

Nevertheless, thanks for your help!