Comments on: Wii Optical Digital Audio http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio The Weblog of Erik J. Barzeski Wed, 23 May 2012 23:05:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Rocca http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-61728 Rocca Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:46:48 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-61728 Would a usb soundcard with optical output work with the Wii Would a usb soundcard with optical output work with the Wii

]]> By: Eric http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-51117 Eric Mon, 01 Dec 2008 06:09:07 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-51117 you can also buy the RCA DT2AD analog to digital converter like i did, it will jus simply change any analog output into a digital TOSLINK or coaxial input which means you will get a constant 16bit 48khz PCM signal no matter what you connect to it. you can also buy the RCA DT2AD analog to digital converter like i did, it will jus simply change any analog output into a digital TOSLINK or coaxial input which means you will get a constant 16bit 48khz PCM signal no matter what you connect to it.

]]> By: Dyamalos http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-44013 Dyamalos Sun, 28 Oct 2007 08:44:09 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-44013 Regardless if there was direct 5.1 support, you still get a cleaner signal from an optical line than you do from R/L analog RCA cables. I only had a few games on PS2 that had 5.1 cut scenes, almost all had PL-PL2. My setup on my sound system was a monster S-Video cable with the R/L connections not even bothered to connect, but optical for the audio. Sound quality is infinitely times better. And in all honestly, with how Nintendo is with peripherals, they-or someone- will make an USB add-on for it. Regardless if there was direct 5.1 support, you still get a cleaner signal from an optical line than you do from R/L analog RCA cables. I only had a few games on PS2 that had 5.1 cut scenes, almost all had PL-PL2. My setup on my sound system was a monster S-Video cable with the R/L connections not even bothered to connect, but optical for the audio. Sound quality is infinitely times better. And in all honestly, with how Nintendo is with peripherals, they-or someone- will make an USB add-on for it.

]]> By: reddogg blogg » Blog Archive » Wii http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-42910 reddogg blogg » Blog Archive » Wii Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:28:22 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-42910 [...] does not support digital audio. Therefore the connectivity is entirely [...] [...] does not support digital audio. Therefore the connectivity is entirely [...]

]]> By: GameAudioDesigner http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-41765 GameAudioDesigner Sat, 09 Jun 2007 21:59:50 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-41765 > Does anyone know why a TOSLINK cable is better than analog > audio? I'm sure you know the reasons that digital transmission (as opposed to recording, another issue altogether) of audio is often considered better than analog, but the answer I *think* you're looking for is this: Optical transmission of digital audio is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference from neighbouring AC cables, etc, whereas copper cables (particularly unshielded ones) carrying an analog (or digital) signal are. > Does anyone know why a TOSLINK cable is better than analog
> audio?

I'm sure you know the reasons that digital transmission (as opposed to recording, another issue altogether) of audio is often considered better than analog, but the answer I *think* you're looking for is this: Optical transmission of digital audio is not susceptible to electromagnetic interference from neighbouring AC cables, etc, whereas copper cables (particularly unshielded ones) carrying an analog (or digital) signal are.

]]> By: tommy-engineer http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-41259 tommy-engineer Sat, 21 Apr 2007 15:19:16 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-41259 I'm sure this post is old... and maybe no one will read this, but being an audio engineering student and having mixed multiple recordings in 5.1 surround sound and having a solid grasp on sampling theorem and the analog to digital conversion process (A/D) that takes place in a Nintendo Wii (any disc player to for that matter). Gil Gates stated it best when describing the process of Dolby encoding, however a note to Gil you wouldn't say PCM-encoded Audio, because PCM audio isn't encoded, it's simply a BWF.Wav file, that has been downsampled to 16bit (there is no encoding process involved). Does anyone know why a TOSLINK cable is better than analog audio? All it is simply doing is bypassing the Wii's Analog to Digital converters and using your receivers instead, Gil was right the game is still going to be Dolby Logic II encoded, either way. The only improvement in sound quality would come if you knew that your receiver's A/D converters where of a higher quality then the the Wii's A/D converters (look at your tech. specs dynamic range, noise floors, then do an A-B test). Most of the time the receiver's A/D will be better, especially if your receiver is worth anything. Other than the conversion process, you're not gaining anything if the Wii had an optical out. The games themselves need to be mixed and encoded with better quality surround format themselves for there to be a difference (PS3 maybe Xbox 360 have better encoded games, DTS, AC3, 5.1 PCM) I dunno, about this however I don't own any video game systems except an Atari 2600. And remember stereo will always produce a better phantom image then surround sounds, generated image using that crappy little center channel speaker you bought at Best Buy or Tweeter or any chain for that matter. Speaker quality is a whole different story. You guys want great sound from you gaming systems, Fix first all the time-domain errors in the room, put a good time coherent flat Eq'd stereo pair of speakers in front of your, have good spatial difussers behind you, quality A/D conversion in the box and you're ready to go, just like the audio engineer had while mixing your game. I'm sure this post is old... and maybe no one will read this, but being an audio engineering student and having mixed multiple recordings in 5.1 surround sound and having a solid grasp on sampling theorem and the analog to digital conversion process (A/D) that takes place in a Nintendo Wii (any disc player to for that matter). Gil Gates stated it best when describing the process of Dolby encoding, however a note to Gil you wouldn't say PCM-encoded Audio, because PCM audio isn't encoded, it's simply a BWF.Wav file, that has been downsampled to 16bit (there is no encoding process involved).
Does anyone know why a TOSLINK cable is better than analog audio?
All it is simply doing is bypassing the Wii's Analog to Digital converters and using your receivers instead, Gil was right the game is still going to be Dolby Logic II encoded, either way. The only improvement in sound quality would come if you knew that your receiver's A/D converters where of a higher quality then the the Wii's A/D converters (look at your tech. specs dynamic range, noise floors, then do an A-B test). Most of the time the receiver's A/D will be better, especially if your receiver is worth anything. Other than the conversion process, you're not gaining anything if the Wii had an optical out. The games themselves need to be mixed and encoded with better quality surround format themselves for there to be a difference (PS3 maybe Xbox 360 have better encoded games, DTS, AC3, 5.1 PCM) I dunno, about this however I don't own any video game systems except an Atari 2600. And remember stereo will always produce a better phantom image then surround sounds, generated image using that crappy little center channel speaker you bought at Best Buy or Tweeter or any chain for that matter. Speaker quality is a whole different story. You guys want great sound from you gaming systems, Fix first all the time-domain errors in the room, put a good time coherent flat Eq'd stereo pair of speakers in front of your, have good spatial difussers behind you, quality A/D conversion in the box and you're ready to go, just like the audio engineer had while mixing your game.

]]> By: Ken Hanscom http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-39022 Ken Hanscom Mon, 22 Jan 2007 00:13:53 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-39022 The Wii is the only component I have (PS3, etc.) that does not support the TOSLINK optical audio. Oh well, would make life just a little bit easier. The Wii is the only component I have (PS3, etc.) that does not support the TOSLINK optical audio. Oh well, would make life just a little bit easier.

]]> By: Hi Fi Guy http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-38049 Hi Fi Guy Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:08:39 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-38049 All right, well the rears ARE in fact discrete in PL II, though not in Pro Logic, so the backwards compatibiliy isn't perfect, however, the additional bandwidth allowed for the rear channels means that in many cases PL II will sound as good as or better than most original PL material. I agree, however, that the lack of toslink is a little weak, as anyone who has an old CD player and a new surround receiver can probably tell you. A digital connection, especially considering the sheer computing power of most new receivers, would be nothing but a blessing, even if, like PS2, the only stuff games throw down would be PL II. I would like to know which PS2 games, by the way, have so much as a cut-scene that's DD 5.1, as my decoder shows only DD 2.0 (ProLogic II) on any games I've ever tried. All right, well the rears ARE in fact discrete in PL II, though not in Pro Logic, so the backwards compatibiliy isn't perfect, however, the additional bandwidth allowed for the rear channels means that in many cases PL II will sound as good as or better than most original PL material.

I agree, however, that the lack of toslink is a little weak, as anyone who has an old CD player and a new surround receiver can probably tell you. A digital connection, especially considering the sheer computing power of most new receivers, would be nothing but a blessing, even if, like PS2, the only stuff games throw down would be PL II.

I would like to know which PS2 games, by the way, have so much as a cut-scene that's DD 5.1, as my decoder shows only DD 2.0 (ProLogic II) on any games I've ever tried.

]]> By: Tijsbeer http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-37367 Tijsbeer Fri, 05 Jan 2007 13:49:24 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-37367 Uh... From the Dolby site: "When a Dolby Pro Logic® soundtrack is produced, four channels of audio information—Left, Center, Right, and Mono surround—are matrix-encoded onto two audio tracks." So the number of channels is indeed four, but there IS a separate centre channel in Dolby Pro Logic (which is clearly noticable while playing games). The rear channels are mono. Uh...

From the Dolby site:

"When a Dolby Pro Logic® soundtrack is produced, four channels of audio information—Left, Center, Right, and Mono surround—are matrix-encoded onto two audio tracks."

So the number of channels is indeed four, but there IS a separate centre channel in Dolby Pro Logic (which is clearly noticable while playing games). The rear channels are mono.

]]> By: gorman http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio#comment-31360 gorman Sat, 16 Dec 2006 23:48:36 +0000 http://nslog.com/2006/10/20/wii_optical_digital_audio/#comment-31360 Uh... A small amount of research on the subject has led me to the irrevocable conclusion that Pro Logic does, indeed, contain four discrete channels of audio. No, it doesn't contain six - the center channel is a weighted average of left and right and the LFE is automatically generated. But this is the case with most surround mixing anyway, even with DD 5.1 - engineers are far too used to mixing in stereo, so the center channel and LFE are rarely edited directly. Anyway, the surround channels are matrixed into the analog signal, in much the same way that stereo is matrixed into an FM signal. And if you're going to tell me that FM doesn't have true stereo, you, sir, are fucked in the head. So. You will, in fact, be getting "true" surround sound. If something is making a sound behind you, it will come from behind you. It's just not digital, is all. -gorman Uh...

A small amount of research on the subject has led me to the irrevocable conclusion that Pro Logic does, indeed, contain four discrete channels of audio. No, it doesn't contain six - the center channel is a weighted average of left and right and the LFE is automatically generated. But this is the case with most surround mixing anyway, even with DD 5.1 - engineers are far too used to mixing in stereo, so the center channel and LFE are rarely edited directly.

Anyway, the surround channels are matrixed into the analog signal, in much the same way that stereo is matrixed into an FM signal. And if you're going to tell me that FM doesn't have true stereo, you, sir, are fucked in the head.

So. You will, in fact, be getting "true" surround sound. If something is making a sound behind you, it will come from behind you. It's just not digital, is all.

-gorman

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