Emulators and supported sound

[DNA Dan]

Does anyone know if MAME or any other emulator supports anything beyond 2 channel audio? I have a set of 6.1 PC speakers and I was thinking of putting these in my cabinet, but if no emulators support 6.1 audio it's probably just a waste unless I use it for a jukebox as well.

[DNA Dan]

Anyone? Am I best just connecting 3 speakers on each side and calling it stereo?

[unclet]

I would ask this type question in the main forum ....

[roypattonphoto]

heres an idea....

run the the out put into a cheapo receiver from like radio shack and then run your 6.1 from the receiver which is re-encoding the output ... yah youll need more room but youll get the sound you want

[DNA Dan]

That's an interesting idea. I guess the part that I am missing is if mame does not output data on 6 discrete channels, then re-encoding that will just produce stereo on two of the speakers and the other channels will have no sound, right? I thought for true discrete channels you need information to be encoded to those speakers. By discrete channels I am talking FL, FR, RL, RR, sub, + side or height speakers. I guess this would be a dolby PZII setup.

I think what you're suggesting would just be the same channel across 6 different speakers, possibly a LPF for the bass. But isn't that the same as if I wire the speakers in two sets of 3 and just have left right stereo directly from the computer? Also the sound card I am using has 6 channel output right on the board. Perhaps I should just try it with mame and see what happens. Thanks for the input.

[roypattonphoto]

That's an interesting idea. I guess the part that I am missing is if mame does not output data on 6 discrete channels, then re-encoding that will just produce stereo on two of the speakers and the other channels will have no sound, right? I thought for true discrete channels you need information to be encoded to those speakers. By discrete channels I am talking FL, FR, RL, RR, sub, + side or height speakers. I guess this would be a dolby PZII setup.

I think what you're suggesting would just be the same channel across 6 different speakers, possibly a LPF for the bass. But isn't that the same as if I wire the speakers in two sets of 3 and just have left right stereo directly from the computer? Also the sound card I am using has 6 channel output right on the board. Perhaps I should just try it with mame and see what happens. Thanks for the input.

Yah your not going to have the spectacular sound of a traditional encode of 6.1 .. but ur reciever will transfer the soun across all 6 channels.. and to the sub the bass... some high end receivers will even let u fine tune eache channel settings for ur liking.....   remember hat 90% of arcades are built for only a 2 channel setup not many games outside of booths and driving have that xtra wow factor ur looking for....

Hope I helped...

[roypattonphoto]

Also another idea.....

Get. Good soundblaster card that supports 6.1 ... might be expensive.... but having the computer read and inturpit the info given would be best.. and cheaper then a standalone receive...

[DNA Dan]

That's what I have. It's an Audigy2 card. I just didn't know if I should wire the speakers in two sets of 3, for L/R stereo, OR keep them as 6 individual channels. I think if I keep them as 6 individual channels most emulators will only use 2 speakers. Front left/right.