Dolby Digital not working?

[josey55]

Hi guys, I'm still really new to this so please be kind.  I just got an RCA DTC-100 receiver yesterday.  I hooked up the optical line to my yamaha receiver for dolby digital, but I'm not getting it.  It's only coming through in pro logic.  I've checked all connections and tryed other inputs with no better result.  Is anyone familiar with this tuner, am I not doing something?  I've tried to change the output to digital only and auto but no difference.  The only thing I can think of is I haven't put up a outdoor antennae yet so I'm only getting readings in the mid 70's.  Could that be all it is?  
By the way, I'm not getting the program guide to register anything either.  I figured this is due to the low signal readings.  Does that sound right?  Any response would be appreciated.

[mcq]

I hope this helps!? My receiver "wigs" out every now and then. It changes the inputs on my selections from digital to analog. It looks for the incoming signal over the RCA jacks rather than the coax/fiber connections. It's probably unrelated, but it took me hours to find such a simple thing. Ns its buried in the book

I will look at the DTC-100 when I get a chance.

BTW many satellite stations are not offerred in 5.1.

Good Luck

[Joseph S]

 

The only thing I can think of is I haven't put up a outdoor antennae yet so I'm only getting readings in the mid 70's. Could that be all it is?

For OTA only the Olympics have been broadcast with Dolby Digital. Almost everything else is stereo.

Most of ABC's stuff is accompanied by DD, but that won't be coming here unless a tornado picks up the Chicago Antenna and re-locates it here.  

[Tom Snyder]

I have a DTC-100 and have my optical cable hooked to a Denon receiver. I am amazed at how little Dolby Digital/5.1 stuff there is... Most of it is Pro Logic. I can count on  a couple hands the times that the stereo display has switched to Dolby Digital... select movies on HBO mostly.

[tenth_t2]

Some of the special ABC movies have been DD--All 3 of the Indiana Jones movies in March, and the James Bond movies until they were cancelled.  WKOW 27 the ABC affiliate in Madison (26 digital) has carried those for those of us lucky enough to be on the west side of town.

Even though this is San Francisco, here's a link with upcoming HD DD shows: http://www.dtv720p.com/?HDPictures.com
WKOW does list something similar, although the link doesn't change so I can copy and paste it-- it's out there though.  Go to http://www.wkowtv.com/ch26   and click Schedule Page.

Now, if we could just convince WISN to keep us updated on their progress a little more proactively here.

One other note, I've noticed that the first thing to drop out while watching HD DD is the DD-- my Sony ES 555 keeps switching to Pro Logic when this happens-- very annoying.  I'm sure once WISN get's up at reasonable power we'll be fine in Milwaukee.  Olympics came through great in DD on WTMJ-- wish I woulda had a HiPix card to record it all....

Greg O.

[Matt Heebner]

I get 48 khz PCM for sound on all satellite stations except HBO-HD which is usually DD 5.1 or DD 2.0.
OTA HD is Dolby Pro Logic (If it's a digital signal, you would think it would be DD 2.0, which is the digital version of Dolby Pro Logic).

I've noticed that the only programming info on OTA is from NBC.
BTW..I've got a DTC-100 also.

Matt

[tenth_t2]

Matt,

I'm confused by your comment.  Are you saying that OTA Dolby is Pro Logic or DD 2.0 only?  I guess I'm not as up on this stuff as I should be (better do some research  )

The Olympics and the special movies I was referring to came through as DD 5.1.  I think the other shows may be one of the other two you mention.

If you get a chance-- straighten me out before I figure it out for myself.

Greg O.

[Gregg Lengling]

This Dolby/Digital thing can be confusing.  Most receivers show the usage on displays using different relationships.  DD5.1 will show up as DolbyDigital 3/2 (which means 3 front channels and 2 back channels (plus a separate subwoofer if installed).  There is also DolbyDigital that will show up 2/0 (which means 3 front channels and 1 back channel, both left and right rear are the same program).

In all there is 1/0 center only, 2/0* L&R with surround flagged off, 3/0 L&R and center, 2/1 L&R and surround, 3/1 L&R, center and surround, 2/2 L&R, Surround Left, and Surround Right, 3/2 L&R, Center, Surround Left and Surround Right, 2/0** L&R, Center, and Surround (Pro Logic).

A little confusing isn't it.

PS...most 5.1 receivers also have a light to turns on when receiving DD5.1, mine has a neat Blue LED line in the center of the display.

------------------
Gregg R. Lengling
RCA P61310 61" 16x9
gregg@camelcomm.com

[This message has been edited by lummox (edited 05-11-2002).]

[Steve Mann]

 

Originally posted by lummox:
PS...most 5.1 receivers also have a light to turns on when receiving DD5.1, mine has a neat Blue LED line in the center of the display.

Me too. And mine was so bright it was very distracting. I took a 'sharpe' marker and marked over the lens of the light. It didn't cover it up completely, but just dulled it enough so that it wasn't distracting. It worked so well, I used this technique on a couple of other bright lights on my Sampson Amp.

[tenth_t2]

Yes, I'm familiar with the blue light!  (not the K-Mart blue light that is).  I have seen most of what you guys mention with respect to modes on my Sony ES 555-- and the Olympics were 3/2 or DD5.1.  I was specifically wondering what Matt meant by OTA HD is Dolby Pro Logic.  Granted, DolbyDigital 3/2 or DD5.1 is rare for OTA, but I could have sworn the Olympics was 3/2-- the blue light was on.  It just takes another bit of bandwidth I'd bet, so working it in with a 720p or 1080i picture is probably asking a lot out of a 6Mhz frequency band.

Greg O.

[Matt Heebner]

With my Sony DB930, it flags the OTA audio as Dolby Pro Logic. I am curious why a digital signal is sent with a analog audio signal. Dolby Pro Logic is the analog version of Dolby Digital 2.0.
The Olypmics were indeed DD5.1, but I can't think of another OTA program (other than some PBS specials)that uses a digital audio signal. My receiver always says Dolby Pro Logic. PBS though always has a Dolby Digital 2.0 audio stream, but NBC and CBS have DPL.

Matt

[oflaherty]

Mike Babbitt from Dolby posted this answer on the AVS Forum last year:

>>All audio delivered in a digital television transmission, whether via terrestrial, cable or satellite, is encoded into a Dolby Digital data stream and decoded through your set-top box or external decoder or home theatre integrated amplifier. Just remember that Dolby Digital and "5.1" are not the same thing. Dolby Digital is scalable and can carry a single mono program as well as a 5.1 presentation, and anywhere in between.

In the case of a full blown home theatre 5.1 presentation, the vast majority of providers are performing a "pass through" of a network feed, since local affiliates have limited ability to create their own 5.1 audio content. While the Dolby Digital professional encoders and reference decoders are not that expensive for a local affiliate to buy, other equipment like HD recorders, file servers, master control switchers, etc. are very pricey and out of the question for most local broadcasters at this point. That's a big reason for the lack of HD programming. Rest assured however that if you are receiving a 5.1 Dolby Digital broadcast either through a cable, satellite or terrestrial transmission, the broadcaster is using a Dolby Digital professional encoder (Model #DP569) and reference decoder (Model #DP562).

In nearly all cases when receiving an upconverted broadcast, the audio will be a stereo (2/0) Dolby Digital data stream. Dolby Digital also carries what's called "metadata" that allows the broadcaster to flag or identify this stereo broadcast as a Pro Logic encoded stereo presentation. When this flag is received by your decoder at home, it automatically performs a Pro Logic decode on the audio after the Dolby Digital data stream has been decoded to baseband digital audio. In this way you will receive and enjoy a surround broadcast, even though it may not be full 5.1 theatrical presentation.

There are a host of other parameters that encompass the library of flags and controls that are collectively called "metadata". You can find more comprehensive explanations of metadata on our web site at www.dolby.com.  

Best regards,
Mike Babbitt
Dolby Laboratories

---
Sean at TMJ

[Matt Heebner]

Thanks Sean...makes total sense after reading that. It's the "metadata" that my receiver is flagging as DPL.

Matt

[bdangelo]

Very useful info.  I have also noticed that during commericals of OTA, I lose the digital signal, only to get it back when the program returns.  If your receiver is not set to default to a digital output, it may not switch after the commercial break.  Also, if you have analog outputs hooked up, the STB may switch when the digital signal weakens or is lost.