Number of speakers \ Output Mode:

Here you simply select how many speakers you are going to be using with WinDVD.

There are several combinations possible when choosing output mode. The most common three are below

1:) Using Analog output: WinDVD will decode all Dolby Digital \ DTS content and output it straight through your soundcard to your speakers. This is recommended as many video to audio syncing problems can occur when using S/PDIF output.

2:) S/PDIF output using soundcard to decode audio: Selecting S/PDIF from WinDVD. Deselecting SPDIF Passthrough from soundcard software if available. eg. On Soundblaster Audigy cards this option decode AC-3 (Dolby Digital) is available from AudioHQ - > Device Controls - > Decoder and is enabled by default.

3:) S/PDIF output using external decoder to decode audio: Selecting S/PDIF from WinDVD. Select SPDIF Passthrough from soundcard software if available. eg. On Soundblaster Audigy cards this option to passthrough audio straight to an external decoder is available from AudioHQ - > Device Controls - > Decoder. Note that a S/PDIF connection must be available on your soundcard for this option to be successful.

Expand to Surround Using:

If you have more than 2 speakers and you are listening to any 2-channel content, selecting "Intervideo ICE" or "Dolby Prologic II" will allow you to hear audio in all 5 speakers.

Environment:

Select Theater for best sound quality. Select Normal if your sound output is extremely low even with Windows and WinDVD volume set to max.

Send LFE (Bass) to Speakers \ Headphones instead of subwoofer:

Only enable this setting if you do not have a subwoofer. Some speakers may become damaged if they cannot handle such deep sounds.

Use Windows Master Volume not Waveout Volume:

As this setting says, when enabled WinDVD will use the Windows Master Volume setting instead of the Waveout Volume. Some users may find this setting useful.

External Prologic Controller:

The external Dolby Pro Logic Processor setting should normally be enabled, uncheck this setting only if you prefer stereo-only decoding on two channel Dolby Surround sources.

LFE On:

Enable this setting to make sure LFE (Low Frequency Effects) are decoded.

Output Renderer:

The directsound option has three options, Auto, DirectSound or Waveout. Automatic mode usually is fine but some users may have problems with certain renderers. Try changing this option from auto, to one of the other options if you are having audio problems.

Maximum WinDVD Speaker Output:

This setting can fix problems with WinDVD not detecting how many speakers the system has. Select your current speaker setup here to make sure such problems don't occur.

Decoding options:

You can select here individual settings to specify the maximum decoding bit and range of your soundcard.

Dynamic Range Control:

A setting of zero here will make WinDVD output the original sound unchanged (recommended). Any higher setting and WinDVD will take some of the detail away to make sure the volume does not go too high.

Amplification:

You should only enable this option if your volume output is extremely low. Enabling will reduce sound quality.