mesab66 said:
You can't (in a true surround sense) upmix a song recorded in stereo i.e. two tracks into 5.1 ( 6 tracks). If you think of it, a 5.1 (or higher) speaker set up is designed so that the listener - when positioned optimally - experiences sound around about them normally in the context of watching tv/film. True surround music tracks are uncommon; they allow the listener to more easily separate instruments from L-R and F-B (including F-B would put you somewhere in the middle of the stage!).
I think you are talking about keeping the music in stereo but duplicating the L channel to both front and back L, and the same with R. the ".1" would be your sub/woofer. Is this correct? If this is correct, some audio software (don't know about Creative) allows you to alter the sound at the audio card's output jacks and in this way you could specify 2 L's and 2 R's, then send these into your receiver. If it's what you are looking for and if software allows then this would be one possible way.
In using the audio outs from the sound card you need to balance the signal going from your PC to the receiver then to each speaker. Normally such receivers have separate volume controls for each speaker (might be inside a menu i.e. not physical dials). If you don't optimise this the resulting sound could be very poor.
Using the digital out from your sound card should be the easiest solution (1 lead) but may post problems when you wan't to send a stereo source to all speakers - you might have options on your receiver on how to handle a particular source type, or, you may be able to create a custom 'upmix' within software in your pc. Again, remember that you are not producing a true (3D) surround from a stereo track.
Bear in mind also that the resulting sound at the speakers is only as good as the quality of the source material. For CD music you are looking to rip the audio into wav files (or lossless compression e.g. flac). Of course, high quality mp3's (256 or greater) may be fine for many.
"P.S There is a setting in my sound card that says "Play stereo mix to digital output." Would that solve this problem I'm having? " --> one example of the above. Give it a go.
I don't want to just duplicate the front to the back speakers. Dolby Digital Live only works through the digital optical output. According to Wikipedia, "Dolby Digital Live converts any audio signals on a PC or game console into a 5.1-channel 16-bit/48 kHz Dolby Digital format at 640 kbit/s and transports it via a single S/PDIF cable." Therefore, for any stereo content I am listening to I'll want that to be in surround sound correct and want to it to go through the optical audio right? And everything else (DVDs, 5.1 SACD audio, etc.) I'd want to go through the analog outputs because I won't want the receiver messing with the sound because its already 5.1...is that possible??!?!?!
I know Dolby Digital Live isnt true surround sound as the source is stereo...but its still better than nothing and my sound card can certainly support it so why not use it for stereo sources?
Thank you.