[mythtv-users] Nvidia 8400GS SPDIF/HDMI pass through.. how?

[James Crow]

Roy Lofthouse wrote:
> 2009/10/5 jedi <jedi at mishnet.org>:
>   
>> On Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 04:31:08PM +0100, Roy Lofthouse wrote:
>>     
>>> I've been pulling my hair out at this for two days now, but I can't
>>> seem to get my nvidia 8400GS to play sound via the HDMI.
>>>
>>> I've connected the cable that comes with it from the onboard SPDIF
>>> header to the SPDIF (in) of the nv card, but I can't seem to get the
>>> thing working..
>>>
>>> Maybe someone who has experience of this can help me out a bit?? :)
>>>
>>> Once the cable is connected I presume I should just set my sound to
>>> play through the SPDIF connection?
>>>
>>> aplay -l shows the following:
>>>
>>> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
>>> card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC880 Analog [ALC880 Analog]
>>>   Subdevices: 1/1
>>>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>>> card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC880 Digital [ALC880 Digital]
>>>   Subdevices: 1/1
>>>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>>>
>>> and I then run:
>>>
>>> mplayer -ao alsa:device=hw=0.2 <file> to try and test this, but
>>> nothing happens.. (no errors initially when running this)
>>>       
>> ...run alsamixer and make sure the HDMI output is not muted.
>>
>> [deletia]
>>
>>   Some times, it's just a simple thing.
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>>
>>     
>
> Everything is unmuted (no HDMI option though, just IEC***)
>   
Because you are passing the spdif audio to the nvidia card the iec958 
_is_ your hdmi audio. I have the exact same setup and I just set myth to 
output to ALSA:default and checked the options for AC3 and DTS 
passthrough. I have nothing connected to the analog sound outputs and 
only a DVI->HDMI cable connected. Audio plays through the TV speakers. I 
have no ~/.asoundrc or /etc/asoundrc and iec958 is unmuted. I have to 
use the TV remote to control sound. The output above from 'aplay -l' 
looks very much like mine. Try running 'aplay -L' not the _capital_ L. 
You should see the iec958 listed there.

You also should double check the polarity of the SPDIF cable from the MB 
to the nvidia card. On my MB the SPDIF header is just 4 pins and it 
would be easy to have the plug backward.

Cheers,
James