I spent about an hour looking about before I realized there was only one way to put an end to this retard rodeo: Afterdawn. Help me out fellas. I have a Dell Inspiron 530 with an HDTV LCD as a monitor (using a straight VGA connection, as if using a standard issue monitor). Also plugged in to that Dell are a set of 5.1 surround sound speakers. So, when I watch DVDs, they go in the PC and I view them on the LCD HDTV and am surrounded by sound. All is right in the world. To this same TV, however, I also have a PS2 and a Wii connected, directly via their composite (whatever the 3-prong ones are that come default) cables. Is there any way I can get all three systems (PC, Wii, and PS2) to use the surround sound speakers without having to constantly unplug wires from one to the other? (I think the TV has R/L stereo inputs only ... would that mean no surround sound there?) Thanks in advance
Connect your TV's audio out to your PC's mic input. That should do it. If I am not mistaken, your TV's outs will be A/V(red, white, yellow) and your mic input will be standard jack. But they do sell cables with the proper connections on each end. Happy listening.
Thanks for your response. From what I understand, this solution will play stereo sound over the 5.1 speakers (but not, for example, decode Dolby Pro Logic II or true surround sound). I've learned a lot about audio since trying to answer this question, and from what I've seen, I need something to decode the Dolby Pro Logic II signal. What I need, I think, is this thing: http://ca.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=4&subcategory=136&product=9468 of course, they don't make it anymore. So the next step in the question is, is there a way [via hardware or software] I can get my PC to accept stereo input (or, hell, optical audio input for true surround) and act as a decoder, then play the sound over the surround sound speakers? It seems like there should be a PCI card or something that can do this sort of thing.
I would say that if you're already getting 5.1 with DVD, it should just be a matter of tweaking the settngs so that it gives the same from the Wii. The PS2, I don't think transmits 5.1 but I may be wrong. I look forward to your solution, please post it on here when you get it figured out. Good luck.
Thought I'd post this up for closure's sake. After much contemplation, I managed to sort out my question. It was actually two: How can I make my PC accept an analogue Dolby Pro Logic II signal? How can I decode that DPLII signal on the fly and play it out my PC speakers? The first question was answered here - just get an RCA/Stereo to 1/8" adapter and stick it in the mic jack (or line in, if you have one). The second question I managed to sort out by coming to the conclusion that there are no hardware audio decoders for PC's anymore. I was hoping to find a PCI card or something that would do it, but there aren't any. So, I had to find a software audio decoder, and I did. Aud-X can decode Dolby Pro Logic II. You download the Aud-X codec, tweak the settings as directed, and then you get a DirectShow-enabled media player (Windows Media Player Classic worked for me) You set your console to Surround, you open your media player and you tell it to use the line-in, and Aud-X should automatically open and do its thing to the stream as you play. Unfortunatly, on my machine, there was a 500ms or so delay. I have 2ghz Dual Core processor, 2gb ram, on Windows Vista I don't know what I can do to fix this delay, but I have come to the conclusion that the Dell WL 6000 speakers I have are garbage, and I'm not going to break my back trying to get this going anymore. That's how I got it to "work", though.
Good luck on your next venture. Maybe consider a stand alone audio receiver. I love my RCA RT2770. Not the best money can buy but it serves its purpose well. Has digital and optical inputs as well as USB input, which help for upgrading. Anyway, good luck whatever you do.
Thanks, that's cool of you to say. I probably will go the standalone receiver route. At the moment I am considering a set of Logitech gaming speakers, but the specs on their websites are so completely vague I would hardly call them specs at all. But, it just seems like that route would be a band-aid rather than a solution. It'll keep me satisfied while I play metroid 3 (which is all really want the console surround for anyway), and then once I move on to some new project, I'm going to find that the gaming speakers don't cut it. Doesn't sound like it'd be as much fun though, you know?
I hear ya. If I can't play my Guitar Hero in surround sound, I'd rather not play. I really think if you get the right stand alone, it'll do the trick cause they come with so many inoputs(composite, digital, optical) you'll be hard pressed to find a connection you need. The one I have even has optical and digital. I will admit that the speakers could be a little better, but then again I could open them up and upgrade the wires myself. Just too lazy. LOL.
