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Is there a way to use my 7.1 surround setup to play in STEREO?
Apr 13, 2015 at 8:57 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 11
bonoz

bonoz

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Hi guys,
 
I have a 7.1 USB external sound card plugged into 7.1 surround sound speakers. 
 
The surround works well. 
 
However, I would love it if I am playing music or other STEREO audio (via spotify, youtube, WM player, etc.) it comes out from ALL 7 speakers rather than just the front two speakers. 
 
Is there any software plug-in or tactic that allows me to do this? 
 
Thanks
 
Apr 13, 2015 at 10:59 PM Post #3 of 11
cel4145 said:
Your external sound card doesn't have any virtual surround options? Many do.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the message. 
 
It doesn't seem to. 

Is there a 3rd-party plugin I can download to enable me to do this? If you are familiar with creative soundcards, they have a feature called CMSS which essentially puts out a STEREO signal in a SURROUND manner. 
 
Apr 13, 2015 at 11:23 PM Post #4 of 11
It comes with a software suite, right? Did you check all settings? On HT receivers there's a Dolby feature that makes stereo come out through all speakers; most people disable that so they can listen to 2ch music normally. It's more likely a similar processor function is enabled rather than there is a plug-in that would disable it.
 
 
 
Apr 13, 2015 at 11:48 PM Post #5 of 11
protegemaniac said:
 
It comes with a software suite, right? Did you check all settings? On HT receivers there's a Dolby feature that makes stereo come out through all speakers; most people disable that so they can listen to 2ch music normally. It's more likely a similar processor function is enabled rather than there is a plug-in that would disable it.


 
The only option that comes close is the one indicated by the arrow in above picture. But it seems that it only allows me to move the speakers around to "virtually shift speaker position". 
 
I called their tech support as well. 
 
I'm looking for a feature similar to Creative's CMSS: http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=4883
 
Apr 14, 2015 at 12:14 AM Post #6 of 11
bonoz said:
 
The only option that comes close is the one indicated by the arrow in above picture. But it seems that it only allows me to move the speakers around to "virtually shift speaker position". 
 
I called their tech support as well. 
 
I'm looking for a feature similar to Creative's CMSS: http://support.creative.com/kb/ShowArticle.aspx?sid=4883
Click to expand...

 
That's weird, this is the first time I've come across one that uses it by default and there is no visible option to disable it.
 
Apr 14, 2015 at 12:39 AM Post #7 of 11
protegemaniac said:
   
That's weird, this is the first time I've come across one that uses it by default and there is no visible option to disable it.
Click to expand...

I was thinking about getting this: http://www.cnet.com/products/creative-usb-sound-blaster-audigy-2-nx/
 
The Creative cards definitely have the CMSS feature. What do you think?
 
Apr 14, 2015 at 1:20 AM Post #8 of 11
bonoz said:
 
 
The only option that comes close is the one indicated by the arrow in above picture. But it seems that it only allows me to move the speakers around to "virtually shift speaker position". 
Click to expand...

 
Do you know the make and model of this USB sound card?
What is the make and model of the 7.1 speakers?
 
My best guess
For getting "Expanding Stereo" audio with this USB sound card.
First set System input to 2 CH (2-channel)
As it has the Output Mode set to 7.1, it might automatically reconfigure itself to expanded stereo,
so the 2-channel audio comes out all 8 speakers
 
If just switching the System Input to 2 CH does not solve the issue.
Then click on the DSP Mode button and see what options it gives you.
Your looking for something called Expanded Stereo, or something that fits the same description.
 
Apr 14, 2015 at 1:46 AM Post #9 of 11
bonoz said:
  I was thinking about getting this: http://www.cnet.com/products/creative-usb-sound-blaster-audigy-2-nx/
 
The Creative cards definitely have the CMSS feature. What do you think?
Click to expand...

 
If it has the CMSS feature that can be enabled to have stereo music come out of surround channels, then likely it should play stereo music normally when this feature is disabled.
 
Apr 14, 2015 at 1:52 AM Post #10 of 11
purpleangel said:
   
Do you know the make and model of this USB sound card?
What is the make and model of the 7.1 speakers?
 
My best guess
For getting "Expanding Stereo" audio with this USB sound card.
First set System input to 2 CH (2-channel)
As it has the Output Mode set to 7.1, it might automatically reconfigure itself to expanded stereo,
so the 2-channel audio comes out all 8 speakers
 
If just switching the System Input to 2 CH does not solve the issue.
Then click on the DSP Mode button and see what options it gives you.
Your looking for something called Expanded Stereo, or something that fits the same description.
Click to expand...

It does work when I do the 2 CH thing. However, I would then have to change it back to  8 CH once I want to use a surround?
 
The creative products usually have an 'expanded stereo'?
 
Apr 14, 2015 at 2:28 AM Post #11 of 11
bonoz said:
  It does work when I do the 2 CH thing. However, I would then have to change it back to  8 CH once I want to use a surround?
 
The creative products usually have an 'expanded stereo'?
Click to expand...

 
Yep, put back to 8 CH (8-channel) input, for surround (for movies and games).
Expanded stereo has been around for over 15 years or more (Dolby?), so it's should be an included feature in any Creative Labs sound card, but Creative it might be called different from "Expanded Stereo".
 
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