5.1 Surround sound system not working

Hello. i've recently purchased a 5.1 surround sound system for my computer
and i'm connected in optical to it. i've took a look everywhere to see where
i can configure more that 2 channel (currently only my left and right front
speaker is working). i'm a movie and game fan. I'm verry dissapointed that i
can't get the surround effect. did someone of you guys (or girls) know how i
can solve this?

ps: i don't want every speaker working, i want the 5.1. (because i heard
about making surround speaker acting like the front speaker. i want the
surround.

teranox wrote:
> Hello. i've recently purchased a 5.1 surround sound system for my computer
> and i'm connected in optical to it.


Huh? You're supposed to connect the speaker set to the appropriate
jacks on a compatible sound card. You cannot get 5.1 sound dirtectly
from an optical drive.


> i've took a look everywhere to see where
> i can configure more that 2 channel (currently only my left and right front
> speaker is working).


Have you tried reading the manual that came with the computer and/or
it's sound card? What about the manufacturer's web site?


> i'm a movie and game fan. I'm verry dissapointed that i
> can't get the surround effect. did someone of you guys (or girls) know how i
> can solve this?
>


First of all, is your sound card capable of supporting 5.1 Surround
Sound? Do you have the correct device drivers installed and configured
to play 5.1 Surround Sound?


> ps: i don't want every speaker working, i want the 5.1. (because i heard
> about making surround speaker acting like the front speaker. i want the
> surround.


This bit makes *NO* sense. If you don't want every speaker working,
then why are you trying to achieve Surround sound? The two positions
are mutually exclusive. You need to have all of the speakers located
appropriately about the room and operating to achieve the sort of sound
that you claim to want.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Hi Bruce,

I do not need surround I am just curious.My sound card is SB live 24 bits.
When I went to hardware and sound I found that I can have an option for
surround 5.1. in other words I can select it and test it. It also looks that
I have extra jacks on this rather old machine (GX-280) in the back to plug
in a couple of additional speakers. I have Vista Ultimate.

My question is: Does it all mean that the card is surround capable? And can
it be determined, without going to the documentation on SB and checking it
out?

If this is true and perhaps the OP went as far as checking the Control Panel
and saw the surround option in there, would it be fair to assume that his
Card is surround capable?

"Bruce Chambers" <3t> wrote in message
news:...
> teranox wrote:
>> Hello. i've recently purchased a 5.1 surround sound system for my
>> computer and i'm connected in optical to it.
>
>
> Huh? You're supposed to connect the speaker set to the appropriate jacks
> on a compatible sound card. You cannot get 5.1 sound dirtectly from an
> optical drive.
>
>
>> i've took a look everywhere to see where i can configure more that 2
>> channel (currently only my left and right front speaker is working).
>
>
> Have you tried reading the manual that came with the computer and/or it's
> sound card? What about the manufacturer's web site?
>
>
>> i'm a movie and game fan. I'm verry dissapointed that i can't get the
>> surround effect. did someone of you guys (or girls) know how i can solve
>> this?
>
>
> First of all, is your sound card capable of supporting 5.1 Surround Sound?
> Do you have the correct device drivers installed and configured to play
> 5.1 Surround Sound?
>
>
>> ps: i don't want every speaker working, i want the 5.1. (because i heard
>> about making surround speaker acting like the front speaker. i want the
>> surround.
>
>
> This bit makes *NO* sense. If you don't want every speaker working, then
> why are you trying to achieve Surround sound? The two positions are
> mutually exclusive. You need to have all of the speakers located
> appropriately about the room and operating to achieve the sort of sound
> that you claim to want.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand
> Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot

My computer is a huge gaming machine and yep it support 5.1.
i was with xp pro before and working find. know with vista it doesn't work.
and by the way optical drove is made for multiple channel. you can have a
7.1 surround sound with optical if you want. my xbox 360 is connected the
same way in the same sound system and surround work perfect.

the problem is Vista not the hardware.

"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> teranox wrote:
> > Hello. i've recently purchased a 5.1 surround sound system for my computer
> > and i'm connected in optical to it.
>
>
> Huh? You're supposed to connect the speaker set to the appropriate
> jacks on a compatible sound card. You cannot get 5.1 sound dirtectly
> from an optical drive.
>
>
> > i've took a look everywhere to see where
> > i can configure more that 2 channel (currently only my left and right front
> > speaker is working).
>
>
> Have you tried reading the manual that came with the computer and/or
> it's sound card? What about the manufacturer's web site?
>
>
> > i'm a movie and game fan. I'm verry dissapointed that i
> > can't get the surround effect. did someone of you guys (or girls) know how i
> > can solve this?
> >
>
>
> First of all, is your sound card capable of supporting 5.1 Surround
> Sound? Do you have the correct device drivers installed and configured
> to play 5.1 Surround Sound?
>
>
> > ps: i don't want every speaker working, i want the 5.1. (because i heard
> > about making surround speaker acting like the front speaker. i want the
> > surround.
>
>
> This bit makes *NO* sense. If you don't want every speaker working,
> then why are you trying to achieve Surround sound? The two positions
> are mutually exclusive. You need to have all of the speakers located
> appropriately about the room and operating to achieve the sort of sound
> that you claim to want.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot
>

First, you need to post the name of your sound card.

There are normally drivers you can install with it.
I have onboard 5.1, and I have an X-fi, and both
work fine.

You may already done this, but click control panel>
hardware and sound>sound, then click on the soundcard name,
and click configure. You can select 5.1 from there
and test.

Then, you have to find your individual; sound card driver, and
tell it to do the same thing. If you don't have that,
then go to the website that supports your sound card, and
DL the new drivers. If you still need help, then
repost.

Curt




"teranox" <> wrote in message
news:C3C44C5D-8AD3-417A-9361-...
> Hello. i've recently purchased a 5.1 surround sound system for my computer
> and i'm connected in optical to it. i've took a look everywhere to see
> where
> i can configure more that 2 channel (currently only my left and right
> front
> speaker is working). i'm a movie and game fan. I'm verry dissapointed that
> i
> can't get the surround effect. did someone of you guys (or girls) know how
> i
> can solve this?
>
> ps: i don't want every speaker working, i want the 5.1. (because i heard
> about making surround speaker acting like the front speaker. i want the
> surround.

AlexB wrote:
> Hi Bruce,
>
> I do not need surround I am just curious.My sound card is SB live 24
> bits. When I went to hardware and sound I found that I can have an
> option for surround 5.1. in other words I can select it and test it. It
> also looks that I have extra jacks on this rather old machine (GX-280)
> in the back to plug in a couple of additional speakers. I have Vista
> Ultimate.
>
> My question is: Does it all mean that the card is surround capable? And
> can it be determined, without going to the documentation on SB and
> checking it out?
>


It's impossible to determine, based on your somewhat vague description,
exactly which sound card you have. However, Creative Lab's SoundBlaster
Live! 24-bit card does support 5.1 surround sound, according to
Creative's web site.


> If this is true and perhaps the OP went as far as checking the Control
> Panel and saw the surround option in there, would it be fair to assume
> that his Card is surround capable?
>


If he has the correct drivers installed, yes, that should be all it takes.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

teranox wrote:
> My computer is a huge gaming machine and yep it support 5.1.
> i was with xp pro before and working find. know with vista it doesn't work.
> and by the way optical drove is made for multiple channel. you can have a
> 7.1 surround sound with optical if you want. my xbox 360 is connected the
> same way in the same sound system and surround work perfect.
>
> the problem is Vista not the hardware.
>

No, the problem is not Vista, as my 5.1 surround sound works
flawlessly. You either do not have the correct drivers installed, the
speakers are not connected correctly, or you don't have the sound
properly configured.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Well, that was what I saw in the Device Management. I copied the wording
precisely. I do have an easy chance to dig out the exact specification, that
was not the issue. I simply did not want to. My question was different.

I installed Vista. It shows me that there is surround sound as an option. I
do not even need it. The other guy did. He apparently saw that option in the
same window otherwise he would have asked his question in a different way.
Nonetheless, if I am not mistaken, you advised him to check if his sound
card supported 5.1. Why?

It is not an idle question. Is it possible that there is no way my (or his
for this matter) sound card has no ability to do surround but the option
will show on the Hardware and Sound set up window?

"Bruce Chambers" <3t> wrote in message
news:...
> AlexB wrote:
>> Hi Bruce,
>>
>> I do not need surround I am just curious.My sound card is SB live 24
>> bits. When I went to hardware and sound I found that I can have an option
>> for surround 5.1. in other words I can select it and test it. It also
>> looks that I have extra jacks on this rather old machine (GX-280) in the
>> back to plug in a couple of additional speakers. I have Vista Ultimate.
>>
>> My question is: Does it all mean that the card is surround capable? And
>> can it be determined, without going to the documentation on SB and
>> checking it out?
>>
>
>
> It's impossible to determine, based on your somewhat vague description,
> exactly which sound card you have. However, Creative Lab's SoundBlaster
> Live! 24-bit card does support 5.1 surround sound, according to Creative's
> web site.
>
>
>> If this is true and perhaps the OP went as far as checking the Control
>> Panel and saw the surround option in there, would it be fair to assume
>> that his Card is surround capable?
>>
>
>
> If he has the correct drivers installed, yes, that should be all it takes.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand
> Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot

alexB wrote:
> Well, that was what I saw in the Device Management. I copied the wording
> precisely. I do have an easy chance to dig out the exact specification,
> that was not the issue. I simply did not want to. My question was
> different.
>
> I installed Vista. It shows me that there is surround sound as an
> option. I do not even need it. The other guy did. He apparently saw that
> option in the same window otherwise he would have asked his question in
> a different way. Nonetheless, if I am not mistaken, you advised him to
> check if his sound card supported 5.1. Why?
>

There was nothing in the original post to lead me to conclude that the
OP had looked anywhere. To me, it sounded as he'd simply gone out and
purchased a set of 5.1 speakers, and was now trying to make them provide
the surround sound effect without hooking them all up.


> It is not an idle question. Is it possible that there is no way my (or
> his for this matter) sound card has no ability to do surround but the
> option will show on the Hardware and Sound set up window?
>

Not that I know, no.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Thank you, Bruce.

I was no trying to trap you or anything. I was not trying to be facetious.
If I want you will know it.

I got my answer in the last sentence.

The reason I raised the whole thing I thought to myself that the OP although
did not explicitly express that his hardware and sound set up window showed
surround 5.1, he sort of acted that way displaying already a lot of
background knowledge.

Thanks again.
"Bruce Chambers" <3t> wrote in message
news:...
> alexB wrote:
>> Well, that was what I saw in the Device Management. I copied the wording
>> precisely. I do have an easy chance to dig out the exact specification,
>> that was not the issue. I simply did not want to. My question was
>> different.
>>
>> I installed Vista. It shows me that there is surround sound as an option.
>> I do not even need it. The other guy did. He apparently saw that option
>> in the same window otherwise he would have asked his question in a
>> different way. Nonetheless, if I am not mistaken, you advised him to
>> check if his sound card supported 5.1. Why?
>>
>
> There was nothing in the original post to lead me to conclude that the OP
> had looked anywhere. To me, it sounded as he'd simply gone out and
> purchased a set of 5.1 speakers, and was now trying to make them provide
> the surround sound effect without hooking them all up.
>
>
>> It is not an idle question. Is it possible that there is no way my (or
>> his for this matter) sound card has no ability to do surround but the
>> option will show on the Hardware and Sound set up window?
>>
>
> Not that I know, no.
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand
> Russell
>
> The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
> killed a great many philosophers.
> ~ Denis Diderot