How to play music in surround sound?

[xxBAFOWxx]

I just got surround sound speakers for my comp, they work fine, but if I play music it only comes out the front speakers. I know that things have to be "5.1 compliant" or be made with 6 channels or somthing like that. I see convertors that make ac3 files or "3d audio". I dont really need it to be "surround sound, I just want the music to come out ALL the speakers. do I need to convert the audio file to a 6 channel file or is there somthing that just makes it play on all speakers?

It doesn't need to be real surround like, hearing a gun shot in front speaker and the hit in the back speaker. I just want to play music to where it comes out all the speakers.


EDIT: actually tae that back, they dont seem to be working fine, when I do a test where a voice says "left speaker front" "left speaker rear" and they work there, but I play dvds (real) with surround on, and nothing comes out the rear speakers.


RE-EDIT: ok nevermind, I got the dvds to work but I still want to know how to make music play in surround.

[rios__]

what sound card do you have?

on my soundstorm there is an option in the drivers to 'clone' the channels so when a 2 channel source is playing, it will just copy that to the rear channels.

you can also check in the windows control panel (if you have windows xp) to make sure you have the proper speaker configuration.

[ComputerNut]

To check your speaker config in windows (i'm assuing your windows XP) goto Start > Control Panel > Sounds and audio Devices. Click on change the speaker settings. In the window that pops up click on the advanced button under the Speaker Settings box near the bottom of the window. here it will allow you to select a speaker config. In your case you want to select "5.1 surround sound speakers". then select OK to everything.

HTH,
CN

[kram 2.0]

For surround sound, I tried it myself, but it's probably not possible since the data for the music is written to work in 2 speakers - not the full speaker system you seem to have available. Cloning, as mentioned previously by RIOS, might be a possible solution.

Hope that helps,
kram

[ComputerNut]

Ive got a creative 5.1 surround sound system (im dont remember which model), but when I play a music CD, sound still comes through the surround speakers and center speaker. I think it basically divides the whole surround setup into 2 halfs, left and right.

HTH,
CN

[rios__]

Originally Posted by ComputerNut Ive got a creative 5.1 surround sound system (im dont remember which model), but when I play a music CD, sound still comes through the surround speakers and center speaker. I think it basically divides the whole surround setup into 2 halfs, left and right. HTH, CN

i think some creative cards do the cloning automatically

hey computer nut, nice to see fellow kitchener-ers around

[Hi Ho]

What software are you using to play the music? I use Windows Media Player 9 and I have a Sound Blaster Audigy ES. Music comes out of all the speakers. If I play with RealPlayer (not installed anymore) or Quicktime it only comes out of the front speakers. I don't know about WinAmp.

[xxBAFOWxx]

speakers - http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...121-104&depa=0

card - http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-160&depa=1


i use windows media player 9, speaker sttings are on 5.1.

is there a way for me to do the cloning thing? If so how would I do this?

[kram 2.0]

That's almost an identical setup to the one Hi Ho had. It should give you sound on the rear.

kram

[Hi Ho]

Make sure the Matrix button is not pushed in on the speakers. Also, make sure it is set to 5.1 speakers in the Windows settings AND the Creative drivers. That is the exact same setup that I have.

[xxBAFOWxx]

all settings are at 5.1, the matrix button is out, still nothing

when i go to speaker volume under speaker sttings, it only has

center: low--------l high

channel 2: low--------l high


no other channels, is this how yours is???

[xxBAFOWxx]

I got It !!!

Enable CMSS 3D

thnx for the help guys.