What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

I have:

DVD drive
Audigy 2zs
Analogue 5.1 speakers
WinDVD

What is the missing link encoding wise?

Thanks a lot.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

Nothing, so long as you have the version of WinDVD that'll use 6 speakers.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

Does your version of winDVD support 5.1?

Have you set your computer's speaker setup to 5.1 in the control panel?

Personally I have only used powerdvd so I can't comment on winDVD. But I've had no problems with watching films in 5.1 with that.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

Set WinDVD to use SPDIF in the audio options.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

Okay, cheers. I just expected to need some form of encoding software.

Thanks very much.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

You don't use SPDIF with analog speakers.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

Use analogue outs of your Audigy to your speaker, so either 3.5mm to Phonos or 3.5mm to 3.5mm depending on the input sockets on the speakers. Set WinDVD to 6 speakers.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

You wouldn't need any software to encode 5.1 as your Audigy 2 ZS has a hardware encoder up to 7.1 :)

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

You set it as an option in the software, not the drivers.
i.e. in PowerDVD you set it to "use SPDIF" instead of it's built-in audio so it then passes it to the Audigy for mixing.
Then the sound goes to the speakers out the back of the sound card in the usual way.

Re: What do I need to watch DVDs in true 5.1?
 

I'm going to try that in a minute, I've got a spare box with a vanilla ZS and a set of analog Logitech Z5300's.

Edit: Cool! You learn something new every day.