[mythtv-users] stereo+AC3/DTS sound to both analog+digital outputs

[Steve V]

----- Original Message ----
> From: Robin Gilks <g8ecj at gilks.org>
> To: Discussion about mythtv <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
> Sent: Thursday, 30 July, 2009 1:21:42 PM
> Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] stereo+AC3/DTS sound to both analog+digital outputs
> 
> 
> > Hi,
> >
> > first the goal I'd like to achieve: to lower the power bill by not
> > running my 5.1 receiver when not necessary (an overkill for poor stereo
> > sounds of most recordings). Also the receiver eats 40W when idle and
> > they often forget to turn it off after watching something.
> 
> Tackling the problem rather than the symptom, why not make sure the amp is
> turned off...
> 
> I have the following entry for the remote control power button in my
> lircrc file.
> ===========================================
> begin
>     prog  = irexec
>     button = Power
>     config = /usr/local/bin/power_toggle.sh
> end
> ===========================================
> 
> and the script which blanks the TV and allows it to go into power save and
> power the amp on/off.
> Note that this requires all the amp codes you are going to use in the
> lircrc file and that the user running irexec is not the mythtv user hence
> the 'su' magic!!
> ===========================================
> #!/bin/sh
> 
> AMP=rm-aap013
> FILE=/home/mythtv/.power
> DEV=/dev/lircd
> export DISPLAY=:0
> SU="su mythtv -c "
> DATE=`date +%s`
> 
> # using an MCE remote we need to set which IR blaster port we are using
> /usr/bin/irsend SET_TRANSMITTERS 1
> 
> # Use the presense of a flag file to see if we are powering up or down
> if [ -e $FILE  ]
> then
> LAST=`cat $FILE`
> # ignore unless at least 3 seconds has passed  this stops a keybounce
> # from turning us off straight after a turn on
> if [ $(($LAST + 3)) -lt $DATE ]
> then
> # power down - just blindly do it
> $SU "/usr/bin/xset dpms force off"
> /usr/bin/irsend -d $DEV SEND_ONCE $AMP A_power
> /bin/rm -f $FILE
> fi
> 
> else
> # power up and select the correct input on the amp
> $SU "/usr/bin/xset dpms force on"
> /usr/bin/irsend -d $DEV SEND_ONCE $AMP A_dvd
> echo $DATE > $FILE
> 
> fi
> ===========================================
> 
> Your amp likely has slightly different commands but I hope you get the
> general idea!!
> 
> -- 
> Robin Gilks
> 

I don't know if that is the solution. It seems that the OP wanted to work in 2 different modes. I have to say something I would like to see working as well.

Mode 1 is the everyday mode, sound through the TV no use of the amplifier. If his family is anything like mine the TV is on for 7 or 8 eight hours a day so running the amp for this time is kind of wasteful - I don;t need to hear the .

Mode 2 is the sometimes mode, sound through the amplifier not the TV. This would be for the times that using the amp would really be appreciated, eg when watching a movie that has an AC3 track.

It gets even more complex depending on the actual equipment being used the relevant inputs available and the outputs availble from the soundcard.

For example, my TV is connected via HDMI and I send the sound over HDMI, but the TV cannot handle AC3 so when sending digital sound over HDMI I must disable AC3 passthrough or pass it to the spdif rather than to default.

the motherboard has a spdif output which handles AC3 and anything else.

So just sending the same signal to different outputs will not always satisfy the requirements, it seems to me that the changing the settings in MythFrontend is the answer. something like what this person is trying to achieve. http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/232310?search_string=toggle%20ac3;#232310
or this http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/users/389955?search_string=toggle%20ac3;#389955

unfortunately neither is a solution, but I think a mod to the database via a script would be the way to go.