OpenAL + DPL2 = no 5.1 on my system

[Legend80]

So using the latest master build with the OpenAL implementation, I'm unable to get sound out of all my speakers. I'm using the OpenAL backend, DPL2 decoding, HLE/LLE on games like Mario Kart Wii/Mario Galaxy.
I followed the instructions here: http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/source/detail?r=0a4272c96ba63e447ee2d34a0cb8a9a9375a3b36 . I installed all the OpenAL stuff just fine (I get sound so obviously it's installed correctly). I tested my Creative sound system and all 5 speakers are working and configured properly (not using "matrix" or anything that fakes surround). My pc games have 5.1 working just fine.
So I'm kind out of ideas. Are you guys getting 5.1 just fine? Anything that I'm missing here??

[mbc07]

Make sure that surround is enabled in the emulated game options, many games that support DPL2 doesn't come with that option enabled by default...

[Legend80]

(01-18-2013, 06:51 AM)Jhonn Wrote: Make sure that surround is enabled in the emulated game options, many games that support DPL2 doesn't come with that option enabled by default...

Good call, but I did check that.

[skid]

For me, I had to rename soft_oal.dll to OpenAL32.dll in the Dolphin folder. The name has to be OpenAL32.dll for both 64bit and 32bit versions.

If that doesn't work, enable the "Audio Emulator" log configuration and change the log settings to "Warning" and paste the log here.

[Legend80]

(01-18-2013, 09:34 AM)skid Wrote: For me, I had to rename soft_oal.dll to OpenAL32.dll in the Dolphin folder. The name has to be OpenAL32.dll for both 64bit and 32bit versions.

If that doesn't work, enable the "Audio Emulator" log configuration and change the log settings to "Warning" and paste the log here.

Tried the 64bit dll and that did it!! Guess since I'm using x64 Dolphin that makes sense. Nice.

BTW, SMG froze up with the audio buzzing after entering the first level and playing for about 3 minutes. I've been using Dolphin for many years and SMG has never froze like that. Is stability still being worked on with the new backend/DLP2 decoder? Looks like there was some other reports in here: http://code.google.com/p/dolphin-emu/source/detail?r=0a4272c96ba63e447ee2d34a0cb8a9a9375a3b36
I have the frame limit = auto + low latency setting. Is that related?

[skid]

Frame limit and latency should not cause games to hang. Were you using DSP HLE? If you were using DSP LLE, try disabling LLE on thread - that option does not increase the speed of zelda ucode games like SMG.

[Legend80]

(01-18-2013, 07:02 PM)skid Wrote: Frame limit and latency should not cause games to hang. Were you using DSP HLE? If you were using DSP LLE, try disabling LLE on thread - that option does not increase the speed of zelda ucode games like SMG.

I was using LLE and on thread, but I haven't been able to repro. Just a weird coincedence hang I guess. Ok, everything looks fine. I feel like I'll be tweaking the latency bar for a bit though - I'm at 6 right now, trying to avoid both static and lag.
Regardless, I like this new backend and my 5.1! Thanks Skid!

[NaturalViolence]

If the file needs to be renamed to work on some systems why don't we include two copies of the file with dolphin with the two different names?

[skid]

Yeh, the situation is a bit tricky. OpenAL-soft (soft_oal.dll) is an "add-on" for OpenAL32.dll. The intention of soft_oal.dll is for clients like Dolphin to make use of OpenAL extensions like 5.1 audio by first trying OpenAL32.dll and if that doesn't work, find the extension in soft_oal.dll.

After the audio extensions are processed, OpenAL soft uses the old OpenAL32.dll to output audio to your sound card. The readme of OpenAL soft says that this sometimes does not work depending on how old OpenAL32.dll is and the status of the sound card drivers. The readme says that you can do the rename trick to work-around this.

Depending on the sound card, OpenAL soft may not be able to output audio, making the rename trick unreliable.

The current version of OpenAL soft should be included in Dolphin. I haven't gotten around to adding that yet.

[mbc07]

Older Dolphin builds (r5xxx, r6xxx) came with OpenAL32.dll. Now that OpenAL is back, unless there is some EULA that prevent us from doing this, I think we can start redistributing this DLL with the builds again...