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Post by jclangston on Jan 28, 2014 7:39:24 GMT -5
I have seen this discussed briefly in another thread but I thought I might dedicate a thread to this topic. I am wondering if other people are experiencing the same thing that I am. When my unit switches audio formats, for example from Dolby, to ProLogic II, does anyone experience an audio delay or dropout for about 1-2 seconds? This is most noticeable when watching Directv. Commercials tend to be the worst due to some channels broadcast commercials in differing formats. I also experience this with my PS3 (blu-ray player) and AppleTV, but not as frequently because those devices tend to stick to one format once the movie or music starts playing. My unit does not have any other audio issues once its locked on to the particular format, only when swapping from one format to another. I guess its worth mentioning that I there is no difference if I use HDMI, coax, or optical for the audio path.
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keithg
Seeker Of Truth
Posts: 5 
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Post by keithg on Jan 28, 2014 8:56:05 GMT -5
I I have exactly the same experience with a Time Warner Scientific Atlanta cable box. Annoying.
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 28, 2014 9:31:14 GMT -5
If you have not already done so, pre-program your decoder options by doing the following: In the UMC-200's menu, go to SETUP > PLAYBACK and "map" the following settings: Analog 2 Ch > Stereo (2.1) or Direct (2.0/pure analog) PCM > Stereo Multi PCM > All Stereo Dolby 2/0 > PLII (Movie) or Neo:6 Dolby D > Dolby D Dolby EX > Dolby EX Dolby HD > Dolby HD DTS 2/0 > PLII (Movie) or Neo:6 DTS > DTS DTS-ES > DTS-ES DTS-HD > DTS-HD These are now your "user preferred" decoder settings. The UMC-200 will remember these and will respond to the incoming audio data stream accordingly. This "should" speed up the audio lock. See if this helps in your case.....  |
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Post by jclangston on Jan 28, 2014 9:52:10 GMT -5
Ok, I will map all of my settings to coincide with your list Doc. Have you had better success with these setting while watching Cable/Satellite Tv? I will work on it tonight when I get home from work.
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 28, 2014 10:19:24 GMT -5
Quite honestly, I've never had an issue between my UMC-200 and any of my sources, but I've also always mapped my settings.
Please do understand that there will always be a half (to a full) second delay between the video lock and the audio lock. I would consider that "normal" and nothing to be concerned about.
You already understand that the reason for this even occurring is due to the constantly varying differences in audio formats being broadcast. Unfortunately, the industry has yet to establish a "unified" standard, so the A/V processors just end up coping with the issue.
One way around the problem altogether is to set your STB to output "Stereo" (2 channel PCM) and set the UMC-200 to decode "PCM > PLII or Neo:6". That will send everything consistently from your STB and problem solved. However, now 2 channel CDs will also decode the same way. You will manually need to set normal music playback mode to "Stereo" manually whenever you listen to normal CDs.
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Post by jclangston on Jan 28, 2014 11:00:52 GMT -5
True, I had actually thought about changing the audio settings on my Directv receiver from Dolby back to stereo. I will try the mapping first and go from there. I hate to give up the advantages of HD channels being broadcast in Dolby. I hope this is something that Emo can workout with future software updates. Before getting the umc-200 I was using a AV receiver that didn't exhibit this problem. I'm not complaining about the umc-200 I think its a great product at a great price, I just hope that the software continues to evolve.
I did report this on the Google spread sheet under the issues thread.
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 28, 2014 11:23:27 GMT -5
No worries... but I doubt that the UMC-200 will ever deal with the delayed audio lock better than it already does. The issue lies within the Cirrus chipset and how it "drops" the decoder setting too quickly and then doesn't recover quickly enough. Unfortunately, firmware cannot fully compensate for that. The TI (Texas Instruments) DSP chipsets do a much better job and (maybe) they're likely what you had in your previous AVR. The new (soon to be released) XMC-1 uses the newer TI DSPs, so it looks like Emotiva will be moving away from Cirrus DSPs altogether in future products (at least that's the rumor). Although a positive step in the right direction, that doesn't help the previous (and existing) UMC-XXX products. Honestly though, the UMC-200 does a fairly fine job. So don't sweat it too much. If the break in the audio lock is something that really bothers you, don't hesitate trying what I suggested (setting your STB to "stereo") and decoding to, say, Neo:6. Although the broadcast audio may be "Dolby 5.1", it's so heavily compressed, it's sounds like crap anyway.....  |
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Post by jclangston on Jan 28, 2014 11:42:04 GMT -5
I agree fully, it is compressed! I plan on upgrading to the XMC-1 anyway, I'm sure I will be able to deal with it for another few weeks (hopefully only a few weeks).
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Post by Cory Cooper on Jan 28, 2014 11:53:07 GMT -5
My understanding of audio settings in the menu section of a cable company STB/DVR, is that any changes only apply to the analog audio out connections. If you connect your STB/DVR via HDMI or Digital Optical/Coaxial, you get untouched pass-thru of the audio signal. Motorola DVR - User Setup - Audio SetupC |
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 28, 2014 12:01:12 GMT -5
My understanding of audio settings in the menu section of a cable company STB/DVR, is that any changes only apply to the analog audio out connections. If you connect your STB/DVR via HDMI or Digital Optical/Coaxial, you get untouched pass-thru of the audio signal. Motorola DVR - User Setup - Audio SetupC Hmmm... maybe in some cases, that's true. If I set my STB to stereo, my UMC-200 reports "PCM 2.0". So, it's definitely worth a try. If yours doesn't work the same way, sending audio by way of coax or toslink (or even analog) are certainly viable options too. |
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Post by jclangston on Jan 28, 2014 13:47:07 GMT -5
I get PCM on my umc as well when I change my STB to stereo. That is with Directv, not sure about other providers.
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Post by Cory Cooper on Jan 28, 2014 14:39:03 GMT -5
Hmmm...maybe it's a Motorola DVR/Comcast thing. No matter what I have set my STB/DVR to in the audio settings, nothing changes. It's been that way with at least the last three STBs/DVRs I have had. I have used HDMI and digital optical/coaxial. It does change the output when using L/R analog outputs however.
Looks like it is dependent on the equipment and the way the provider implements it?
C
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Post by jclangston on Jan 28, 2014 15:05:52 GMT -5
Yea Cory it could be a Motorola thing. So do you experience the audio dropout when watching your STB as the audio modes change?
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Post by doc1963 on Jan 28, 2014 15:10:09 GMT -5
That very well may be the case Cory. Thanks for the info. I never had my STB integrated into my HT system when I had Comcast as a provider, so I can't speak for them. I do know, however, that most of their STBs had very poor HDMI implementation. So, they "could" have simply disabled some of the features. FWIW, I had to go through several Comcast boxes just to get one that could hold a consistent video lock directly to my TV... |
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Post by Cory Cooper on Jan 28, 2014 17:08:03 GMT -5
jclangston - I recently swapped my Comcast Motorola DVR, due to the old Motorola DCT3416 having no output via HDMI after a firmware update. The new Comcast Motorola DCH3416 works well, and it seems to lock onto new channel video/audio much faster than its predecessor. When switching channels, there is a very short delay while it locks onto the signal, but if the channels have different audio formats, the delays stays constant. It also is constant if programming on the same channel changes the audio format - i.e. DD 5.1 movie to commercial and back. So, I guess my answer would be no...no real audio dropouts...just the very slight delay when switching channels, which is similar to switching channels on my TV with cable connected directly using a CableCard.
doc1963 - No problem. Interesting discussion here. I agree with HDMI implementation. However, my experience with the boxes is pretty much the same with HDMI or component video & digital optical/coaxial audio. Approximately the same audio/video lock delay.
C
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Post by jclangston on Feb 6, 2014 12:17:55 GMT -5
Ok, I do have an update for everyone. The .49 firmware does help shorten the time it takes to lock on to a particular audio format. (tech support let me test it out for them) Its not perfect but better than .47. Also does anyone experience a slight muddled pop when their unit switches audio formats? The best way I can describe it is, its like the noise you hear when you turn on the power switch to your sub.
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Post by incloud on Aug 9, 2014 20:07:20 GMT -5
Anyone ever get this resolved? My UMC-200 is not even able to be used the drops are so bad. Just updated to .47 and it is worse now than .39
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Post by thrillcat on Aug 10, 2014 16:34:45 GMT -5
I was having this issue with my 200 and a TiVO DVR. Simply routing the video via HDMI and connecting an optical cable for audio, a quick configuration of the input setting on the 200 and I've not had a single issue since.
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Post by incloud on Aug 10, 2014 16:50:05 GMT -5
I tried that and it does work flawlessly but then I lose onscreen menu and volume. Not to mention all CEC support of which is very important to me. Thanks though and in the end we shouldn't have to not use features just to make it function as it was designed.
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 10, 2014 18:41:48 GMT -5
I tried that and it does work flawlessly but then I lose onscreen menu and volume. Not to mention all CEC support of which is very important to me. Thanks though and in the end we shouldn't have to not use features just to make it function as it was designed. I use HDMI for video and toslink for audio for my cable box connection, this is not a problem with the UMC-200. It's the cable box and its lack of up to date HDCP. With that connection I have on screen menu and volume displayed, same as with HDMI (both video and audio) from my BD player and ATV3. So I'm not sure why you don't have then displayed but it is most definitely possible, so perhaps check the menu for OSD and see if you have accidentally turned it off. Sorry I can't help with CEC, it's a problem with every piece of hardware I own so I always just turn it off on everything. Nice theory that in the real world just doesn't work when the manufacturers can't agree. Shoot even 2 pieces of Sony gear that I owned wouldn't CEC handshake. Cheers Gary |
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