DTS and/or Dolby - The VideoLAN Forums (2024)

Can someone give me a clear explanation on how to play DTS and/or Dolby files on VLC (currently using VLC 3.0.
I've been looking all over the place, but I can't find a simple answer.
This is my "equipment" :
- PC Win7 64 (AMD 8-core)
- Realtek HD audio driver 6.0.1.6433 x64
- Yamaha RX-V496RDS (DTS + Dolby)
- Optical connection.

I would like to play files like this : https://paulvdbo.stackstorage.com/s/GBkcdzrlXhotgiDH or https://paulvdbo.stackstorage.com/s/jK6Yvj6vwwBxpYaT
When I play these kinda files, I only get stereo, the DTS light on my amp does not come on...

Any info will be greatly appreciated. Please don't hesitate to ask me for more info if necessary.
Thanks in advance !

Launch vlc and hit CTRL + P to open Preferences. Click Audio at the top and in the Output menu / "HDMI / SPDIF audio passthrough" change it to "Enabled (AC3/DTS only)" via the dropdown menu.

Click Save, exit and restart vlc.

Hey Hitchhiker !
First of all : THANKS for your reply and sorry for this late reply, I must have missed your answer last August...
Anyhow ... I checked your solution, but I can't find what you pointed out. When I go to Preferences->Audio and look at the Output window (too bad I can't add screenshots ...) I see :
Output Module where I can choose from the dropdown menu
- Automatic
- Windows Multimedia Device Output
- DirectX audio output <-- the one I use
- WaveOut audio output
- Audio Memory output
- File audio output
- Dummy audio output
- Disable

I checked Use S/PDIF when available

Then for Device I can choose from
- Default
- Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device) <-- the one I use
- Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device) ... yes : two times the same)
- Speakers

So there is NO "HDMI / SPDIF audio passthrough" nor "Enabled (AC3/DTS only)" to find...?
Am I looking at the wrong menu ? I am using the 3.0.8 Vetinari...
Again : thanks for your help and friendly greentings !

So there is NO "HDMI / SPDIF audio passthrough" nor "Enabled (AC3/DTS only)" to find...?
Am I looking at the wrong menu ? I am using the 3.0.8 Vetinari...
Again : thanks for your help and friendly greentings !

Here's a screenshot to help you find the respective setting.

(click to enlarge)

By the way, you should update to the current version which is 3.0.12 since there's a security vulnerability in previous versions which could put your system at risk. https://www.videolan.org/

I downloaded your Zappa file and Dolby seems to kick in automatically on my system which is Windows 8.1 using vlc 3.0.12

(click to enlarge)

Do you have the Yamaha RX-V496RDS manual? If not, you can download it from here

Hey Hitchhiker
Again thanks for your (super) fast reply ! (I think I got your answer even before I released the "send" button !
also thanks for the link for the manual. But I do have it. Because I'm electronic engineer I even have the diagrams for that receiver ! (https://www.jottacloud.com/s/244172d7a2 ... d37032c8ad) but never had to use 'em (knock on wood ...)
Anyhow... When I go to the properties of my Digital Audio and do the test of the Encoded formats, I see the lights for DTS and Dolby Audio light up automatically . So my sound card is able to process DTS and Dolby appropriately and the receiver accepts... (https://i.postimg.cc/m2Z0nmdj/Paul-2021 ... ENSHOT.jpg) This never happens when I play those kinda files through VLC, whatever settings I tried. Is there a miscommunication between VLC and my sound card ? I'm still puzzled ... The thing that I noticed is that my receiver only seems to be able to work with 32, 44.1 and 48Khz sample rates. And yes, if I use the receiver's "effects" it simulates 5.1 . It sounds nice and "spacy", but of course it's not the "real" thing.
BTW, the picture you shared is not from the VLC player, is it ? I've seen it before, but can't remember what program it is.
I don't think that Win7 + VLC 3.08 make a difference in playing (5.1) audio, right ?
It seems we're getting closer to the solution, but we're not there yet ...
And again : I'm so grateful for your willingness to help !

PS. if you liked the Zappa song, lemme know : I have much more of this guy !

The image I posted was taken from Dolby Home Theater which came preinstalled on my Acer machine and superimposed on vlc. You can see the Zappa title on the title bar at the top of the picture. Zappa music is not to my taste though

The sample rate taken from the Codec info appears to be 96000 hz. If your receiver can't work with sample rates higher than 48 hz maybe that's where the problem lies (?).

(click to enlarge)

The thought occurs to me that your Zappa file doesn't have a .dts extension which is probably why it doesn't trigger the light on your receiver.

The sample.dts file (which I forgot to try - sorry) plays in that format on vlc according to the Codec info.

(click to enlarge)

You might try switching the output to DirectX audio output since that's the official 5.1 surround sound format. You'll lose the option to select AC3/DTS if you do though.

As for Revo, I've never used it. If I run into trouble and can't remove an installation I use Microsoft's tool which has never failed me (yet). But each to his own.

But it's always wise to create a manual system restore point prior to installing any new application so that you can immediately wind back the clock if things go pear-shaped. Anyway I'm glad to hear you fixed the missing music problem.

I speak Dutch, but this is an English language forum so have to stick to the rules.

I just stumbled onto this thread. I just finished posting a solution to basically the same thing with some differences. I had some of the same issues using an optical connection. I also have some VLC settings that might help to get better sound.

See this thread.