Multichannel 5.1 movie to stereo binaural

[GregHouse]

Hi.
I don't know if I'm posting in the right place.

A help:
I'm trying to "convert in real time" a movie with 5.1 multichannel audio to binaural.
I'm using VLC as the player, the "virtual audio cable" to send the VLC output to the host VST input, and in that host VST, I'm using the "Supperware Binaural Plug-in" to do the "conversion," and finally, the host VST sends the stereo binaural audio to the DAC.
All right, working.
However, I only hear the two front L and R channels in my headphones.
The "Supperware Binaural Plug-in" only detects these front channels.
Could it be that the "virtual audio cable" doesn't support multichannel?
Or that the host VST doesn't support multichannel?
What could it be?

 

[myHRTF]

Both, VST host and virtual audio cable (VAC) support multichannel but may need configuration as follows:

Most likely:
You need to configure VAC to multichannel in the Windows sound settings, probably it is set to stereo at the moment. However, don't confuse it with the VAC control panel, see below. More information can be found here:
https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/manual/glossary.htm#WindowsSoundSettings

Less likely:
In the VAC control panel, the maximum number of channels "Max NC" is set to 2. This is less likely the problem since this parameter is set to 8 channels as default and I guess you didn't change that. More information can be found here:
https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/manual/ctlpan.htm#DriverParameters

 

[ppataki]

Or alternatively you can just use Jriver to play your movies and use any VST plugins (multichannel is supported)

 

[GregHouse]

Both, VST host and virtual audio cable (VAC) support multichannel but may need configuration as follows:

Most likely:
You need to configure VAC to multichannel in the Windows sound settings, probably it is set to stereo at the moment. However, don't confuse it with the VAC control panel, see below. More information can be found here:
https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/manual/glossary.htm#WindowsSoundSettings

Less likely:
In the VAC control panel, the maximum number of channels "Max NC" is set to 2. This is less likely the problem since this parameter is set to 8 channels as default and I guess you didn't change that. More information can be found here:
https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/manual/ctlpan.htm#DriverParameters

I used this "virtual audio cable": https://vb-audio.com/Cable/

In Windows settings:
In Playback I chose 5.1
In Recording there is only the stereo option.

This "virtual audio cable": https://vac.muzychenko.net/en/download.htm
has two free versions:
Lite version = only two channels
Trial version = 32 channels, but a "Voice reminder after 30 min"

I haven't tested this one yet.

Or alternatively you can just use Jriver to play your movies and use any VST plugins (multichannel is supported)

Yes, but the version of JRiver Media Center I have doesn't support VST3.
Maybe a newer version will support VST3.

Do you know of any video player that supports VST3?

 

[ppataki]

Yes, but the version of JRiver Media Center I have doesn't support VST3.
Maybe a newer version will support VST3.

Try the latest version v34 - it does support VST3 but it can be buggy
The free version is fully functional for like 30 days if I remember correctly
Alternatively you can use a VST wrapper plugin like DDMF Metaplugin - that can run in VST2 mode and host VST3 plugins. That way it is 100% guaranteed that it will work fine

Do you know of any video player that supports VST3?

No, I am not aware of any, apart from Jriver

 

[Zekbone]

Different binaural downmixes will be based on different heads and rooms, but have you tried the windows sonic for headphones option? It presents the system as 7.1 to software and downmixes the inputs. Even if you don't like that preset it should help troubleshoot.

 

[DVDdoug]

Coral PowerDVD had Dolby Headphone but PowerDVD has been discontinued and Dolby Headphone seems to have been replaced by Atmos for Headphones.

I wasn't that impressed with Dolby Headphone... I'm not much of a headphone guy anyway but I tried it because people were saying that they were getting surround sound. It did "something" but it didn't fool me into hearing sounds coming from behind.

A lot of AVRs have Atmos for headphones but that will only work if you plug HDMI from your computer into an AVR.