no digital output

[taimur]

I have a problem - I can't seem to get digital output from my sound card when using zoom player to watch DVD's, but I can when I use power DVD. However, I can't use power DVD to watch movies on my TV, so I use zoom player which allows full screen playback using the S-video output on my video card.

My home PC uses windows 2000 and an "M-audio 24/96 audiophile" sound card, which has an SPDIF coaxial output. My video card has S-video out (MSI Nvidia Geoforce Ti300) and I connect this to my TV so that I can watch DVD's on my TV instead of on the computer screen. I connect the coaxial output from the sound card into the AV amp.

I have only been able to watch full screen DVD's with zoom player on my TV. If I try and use the S-video output on my video card and play a DVD, power DVD just crashes the computer.

Is there a solution, or do I have to choose between one of the following:
-dolby digital sound and computer screen video
-prologic surround sound and TV video

I'd really like to have dolby digital sound and video going to my TV (in full screen mode).... is this possible?

Taimur

[Gordon Moore]

Hi Taimur,

These should be somewhat mutually exclusive events. So long as you've chosen the correct filters in ZP I believe.

That said, you may want to read up on this with respect to your 24/96 card:

http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/faq/faq_entry0039.shtml

and I don't have this card so I can't help you much but this may give you some clues to the solution:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=246765&highlight=maudio+powerdvd

Not sure why powerdvd might be crashing...are you all patched up?
All the latest msi drivers in place?

[taimur]

Thanks for the reply and the useful links. I read them as extensively as I could, including getting lost in hyperspace a little going link crazy with what was stated in your lniks.

It seems that this is an issue with other people too who use powerDVD and zoom player. In fact, a friend of mine told me that power DVD (and some other software DVD players) had TV output full screen playback capabilities restricted to prevent analogue DVD copying.

I wonder if it would be worth trying TheaterTek to see if I can get around the problem. I don't have theatertek so I wonder if anyone can tell me if it merely piggybacks onto another software DVD player (like zoom player) or if I can uninstall powerDVD and zoom player before installing theatertek to try that out?

Thanks
Taimur

[PMazz]

I've got TheaterTek and a Delta 410 and they work beautifully. I use an Audio Authority VGA to component transcoder to feed my RPTV. Not sure it will work with S-video as I've never tried it.

I also have PowerDVD but not Zoomplayer, so I can't help you out there. PowerDVD works, as well.

Pete

[taimur]

Thanks - I'll give theatertek a try in a few days time with s-video and see what happens.