Is 5.1 surround sound possible in Assetto Corsa?

Alex Townsend · Feb 18, 2016

Just a quick question. Do any of you have any issues getting AC to output 5.1 surround on your set up?

I'm running Windows 10 with a GTX-780 with HDMI into a Sony STR-DG710 then the Sony outputs HDMI to the TV.

I have an option for onboard optical but read that it was inferior to HDMI.

If I could get real 5.1 from this title I wouldn't care about that.

Have any of you got it working as I only have the option for stereo speakers under Windows sound settings. NVIDIA hd audio is the default sound option.
I've got 5.1 when watching Netflix or Mkvs playing...

Moxley6969 · Feb 23, 2016

Full explanation from NK,

FMOD project is exported in 5.1, but I know some people have trouble hearing 5.1 or 7.1 through headphones or speakers. For example, the engine is in stereo, in the project, and some people can't hear the onboard engine in anything other than 2.0 Stereo
Once Ac implemented FMOD in October 2014, they've practically left it alone, so I don't know if they've actively improved bugs to begin with"

Alex Townsend · Feb 24, 2016

Sorry for my continued ignorance but what is FMOD? Would it help me try and force 5.1 from my onboard spdif of the HDMI?

Moxley6969 · Feb 24, 2016

Fmod is a Form of audio processing/creation.

Full explanation if your curious.
http://www.fmod.org/products

Also out of sheer curiosity, what Audio formats do you have on the Amp when connected to the PC, For example find the info about PCM mode in your manual, Make sure you know how to force it in PCM mode.

http://pdf.crse.com/manuals/2898637321.pdf

Alex Townsend · Feb 25, 2016

Awesome thanks for the link. It was all so easy back on console. Plug it in and hey presto!
Think it must be my inner geek that's actually enjoying finding out about all this stuff...

Anyway. I went home at about 00:45 this morning to have a tinker and my amp supports everything apart from 192khz sampling rate. No biggy as AC only outputs at 44.1 so far I think. Correct me if I'm wrong.
My amp also handles Dolby Pro Logic, PLII, PLIIx and DTS. Although when I try tests on DD5.1 it is positional 5.1 sound over optical!!!
When I test DTS, which the board and driver give me the option to, I don't hear anything.
I also cannot set the speaker type in win 10 for some reason. So I end up with what I think is actually simulated surround in Dolby from stereo output. And of course the same with woofer on PLII I think.

So board and driver says DTS should be availble. Amp states it can do it too yet tests in win 10 over optical say no...

I'm starting to veer ever closer to a soundcard as I investigate all this stuff.
Hdmi just doesn't give me any options at all with how to set up the sounds. I.e. DD5.1 and DTS are already selected which makes me think that it is possible just I haven't tried a source that actually supports either format which is a bit odd...

Moxley6969 · Feb 25, 2016

IMO your missing something, HDMI 5,1 audio isn't this difficult. Have you not tried running it in PCM mode and letting the PC decide what to send ?

Alex Townsend · Feb 25, 2016

I may be missing something yes, hence my queries on here as I'm exhausting the myriad of forums discussing this very issue on Google...

I've now switched from Optical to HDMI and I'm getting a much quieter version of Dolby PLII now...
Is this format even capable of directional 5.1?
I'm really not sure anymore as I have no way of testing my speakers individually in Windows 10. Which is one of my main issues here. I can test them under optical in but even then it doesn't appear to offer the same in games.
Just tried Dead Space 3 and selecting the speaker system in the game settings as 5.1 surround just lowers the volume.
I then put the amp into AFD, (Auto Format Decoding), to test the theory of 'letting the PC decide' and it's stereo with a sub, or 2.1, making me think that Dolby PLII is not actually directional surround at all for games, movies maybe? As the game I'm testing is set to 5.1 in it's own menu, yet my receiver is quite clearly showing 2.1
So I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that games require a sound card for real directional 5.1 sound. I've read this on many websites lately.

Plus, back to the OP, is it even possible in AC?

Digit83 · Dec 31, 2018

Hi There,

any updates on this issues? My sub does not do anything in AC.
Will the new AC support 5.1?

For me this is really sad, because the rest of the Game is so great!

Best Regrads

Alex Townsend · Jan 1, 2019

Yeah... my update is that I bought a sound card and now I have 5.1 in everything. Except rF2 I think as it doesn't work in the actual software afaik, someone correct me if I'm wrong...

Emery · Jan 3, 2019

Digit83 said:
any updates on this issues? My sub does not do anything in AC.

None of the top racing sims (don't know about iRacing) make use of the .1 channel. Everything you hear in the .1 channel is the result of where you have your crossover set.

Wreckfest, while on the arcade side, definitely makes use of the .1 channel in collisions.

As far as surround speakers go, only rF2 is still in stereo-only.

Durge Driven · Jan 4, 2019

Automobilista I think is only sim i have has selection for 7.1 Surround Headphonesi

imo rF2 is better stereo because of positional effects
You can tell exactly where a car is beside you, most every other sim that quality is more vague

Also the reverb from travelling close to posts etc.is the best

Also is wind, it actually sounds and feels like it is rushing past outside, other sims is like a static incar sound