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 Post subject: FINALLY fixed the DVDO VP50 Pro analog audio bug! (I think)
PostPosted: 05 Feb 2022, 22:24 
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First of all, it must be noted that DVDO support have been excellent. They helped me a while back with a replacement 3 Pin PSU for my shagged out old Sinpro one. Granted it cost about 6 trillion Euro after shipping and glorious USA heartbreak tax, but it was worth it. Direct from DVDO.

Next I approached them recently to see if they could help me with the notorious analog audio bug on the VP50 Pro. e.g. Input RCA audio, nothing comes out over HDMI. They sent me on the last firmware revision and some documentation. I had to buy a USB to dsub cable, which arrived today, and apply the firmware. It took over 30 mins to upload to the VP50 Pro!

Anyway, with the new firmware uploaded, I plugged in my cheeky little Sony VCR and lo and behold, analog audio now works first time every time!

The only thing left to do now is take my DVDO Edge out from under the telly, replace that with the VP50 Pro and test out some Laserdiscs, swapping between analog and digital tracks preferably. I'll do as much as I can to break it. Hopefully though this is it now, finally the VP50 Pro will work as God intended. I do love the DVDO Edge for it's simplicity, but the VP50 Pro will let me do so much more. Especially with masking subtitles etc certain titles. The Edge will head over to my capture rig and the VP50 Pro will live under the telly with the R7G and SLV-SE820.

Anyway. Shout out to DVDO for being brilliant. They even got their dusty VP50 Pro set up in a lab environment to help me out at one stage. Plus they were great with the replacement power supply. So yay them. Hope this bit of information helps someone someday in some way. If in doubt, update the firmware, even if you are on the last revision, overwrite it like for like.

Good luck. :thumbup:

NOTE: The DVDO firmware update instructions are a bit out of date. So if you do follow the procedure, check the Tera Term help file for more information as it's up to date and some settings have changed, but it tells you what they were in the old version so you're not left guessing the settings.
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 Post subject: Re: FINALLY fixed the DVDO VP50 Pro analog audio bug! (I thi
PostPosted: 29 May 2022, 17:56 
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Just by way of an update on this, both my Edge and VP50 Pro don't seem to like analog or digital audio over HDMI output any more. I've now put the following fix in place which currently works flawlessly but is a real pain in the hole.

Connect the HDMI output from the DVO device directly to an HDMI input on my television. Connect a toslink from the optical output on the DVO device to the TV optical input on my soundbar. Set the soundbar input to TV. Job done.

Everything works correctly now. Stereo, Optical and Coaxial AC-3. A proper pigs ear of a set up but I'd rather that than chuck my DVDO devices out. Side note, I updated both the Edge and VP50 Pro to the latest firmware on each and it didn't fix the issue. Also went back to DVDO support on it and they just gave up on it which is a shame.

TLDR, bypass the HDMI output for audio.
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 Post subject: Re: FINALLY fixed the DVDO VP50 Pro analog audio bug! (I thi
PostPosted: 02 Jun 2022, 22:14 
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So I've been fiddling about with this a bit more as I was sure there was something I was missing. I'm also logging this here so that a) someone might get a helping hand with this issue and b) I can show it some day to my shrink as this DVDO malarkey is soul destroying!

I remember toying with EDID customisation with an HD Fury switch a while back when fiddling with DV on an HDR10+ display. Then I thought again about the DVDO audio over HDMI bug and that maybe the fault was in the EDID that the DVDO is spitting out. Reason being that when playing a Laserdisc and switching between all types of audio AC-3, DTS, DD, PCM etc if you pull up the Information window on the DVDO device, it clearly denotes the signal being outputted. So in my mind, the DVDO is doing what it should be, until the failure point which appeared to be at the output HDMI cable.

To take it a step further, I tested a range of HDMI cables to see if there was a difference between versions. It didn't make a jot of difference, still no audio. Which eventually lead me back to the output EDID structure.

I then found an interesting article around EDID and audio over HDMI:

https://awen.io/2016/05/26/HDMI-Audio-EDID.html

This got me thinking that if I could alter the EDID output from the DVDO that it might force the audio to work. I don't have my old Vertex 2 switch any more, that would have been perfect for customising HDMI EDID and has worked before. I do still have an HD Fury Dr. HDMI laying around so I hooked it in to the AV chain between the DVDO and HDMI matrix. This gave me the ability to select from a range of preset EDID's or to customise my own. The link above does make reference to the Dr. HDMI, which gave me the idea to dig out mine from the drawer.

Here's a link to the Dr. HDMI (not affiliated or shilling anything etc) in case anyone wants one. They also do 4K and 8K versions too but you don't need those for this. Oh and one other good thing is that the standard Dr. HDMI can also handle Dolby True HD and DTS audio as well as everything older. So that's Laserdisc covered off!

https://www.hdfury.com/product/dr-hdmi/

Sure enough, with the EDID output altered both picture and audio appear to be working fine now, every single time. If I can, I would be keen to do a comparison between the DVDO EDID and Dr. HDMI EDID codes to see what it alters exactly. Hopefully this is a permanent fix but I'll keep trying it out for a few weeks to see if it stops working. Hopefully this helps someone else out some day. :thumbup:
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 Post subject: Re: FINALLY fixed the DVDO VP50 Pro analog audio bug! (I thi
PostPosted: 03 Jun 2022, 10:44 
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Just another update on this as I couldn't just leave things as they were yesterday, I had to know more. Hopefully this is a closing chapter now though it still leaves a possible question to ask (likely due to my lack of knowledge on the subject, I'm just trying my best here).

So I decided to run some tests with the Dr HDMI and dump the EDID values, those being the SINK (original, untouched) and DR. HDMI PRESET #1 (1080p with Full 3D) EDID values.

You can clearly see the difference below (NOTE: The dumps were taken while playing a Kimagure Orange Road Laserdisc):

SINK (8) EDID

00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 41 0C EA 01 01 01 01 01
0F 1B 01 03 80 90 51 78 0A 63 0D A6 55 53 96 25
0D 47 4A 21 08 00 B3 00 95 00 A9 40 90 40 81 00
81 80 81 40 01 01 02 3A 80 18 71 38 2D 40 58 2C
45 00 A0 2A 53 00 00 1E 02 3A 80 D0 72 38 2D 40
10 2C 45 80 A0 2A 53 00 00 1E 00 00 00 FC 00 50
68 69 6C 69 70 73 20 46 54 56 0A 20 00 00 00 FD
00 30 3E 0F 46 3C 00 0A 20 20 20 20 20 20 01 90
02 03 5C F3 57 61 60 5F 5E 5D 10 1F 20 22 21 05
14 04 13 12 03 11 02 16 07 15 06 01 35 09 7F 07
0F 7F 07 15 07 50 3E 1F C0 57 06 00 67 7E 00 5F
54 01 83 4F 00 00 6D 03 0C 00 22 40 B8 3C 20 00
60 01 02 03 67 D8 5D C4 01 78 80 00 E2 00 49 E4
0F 03 00 00 E3 05 C0 00 E3 06 0D 01 01 1D 80 3E
73 38 2D 40 7E 2C 45 80 A0 2A 53 00 00 1E 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 9E


DR HDMI EDID PRESET 1 (1080P 3D ON)

00 FF FF FF FF FF FF 00 21 6D 00 00 01 00 00 00
04 15 01 03 80 00 00 78 0A EE 91 A3 54 4C 99 26
0F 50 54 21 08 00 81 FC 81 00 81 80 90 40 95 00
B3 00 A9 40 D1 C0 01 1D 00 72 51 D0 1E 20 6E 28
55 00 C4 8E 21 00 00 1E 8C 0A D0 8A 20 E0 2D 10
10 3E 96 00 13 8E 21 00 00 18 00 00 00 FC 00 48
44 4D 49 44 4F 43 54 4F 52 20 23 31 00 00 00 FD
00 18 90 1A 5F 11 00 0A 20 20 20 20 20 20 01 BD
02 03 2E 71 4B 90 04 05 03 20 13 14 11 1F 29 2F
2C 09 6E 07 14 04 80 3C 04 C0 34 04 20 83 0F 00
00 6C 03 0C 00 20 00 B8 2D 20 A0 02 01 41 01 1D
80 18 71 1C 16 20 58 2C 25 00 C4 8E 21 00 00 9E
02 3A 80 18 71 38 2D 40 58 2C 45 00 C4 8E 21 00
00 1F 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 7E


With the above dumps read from the HDMI cable in SINK and PRESET 1 modes, I was then able to decrypt and parse the hex data and came up with the following (sorry I can't show you the individual checkboxes here with this formatting):

SINK (8) EDID

Audio Data Block
Format Code: LPCM
Max Channels: 2
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Bit Depth:
16 bit
20 bit
24 bit
Format Code: LPCM
Max Channels: 8
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Bit Depth:
16 bit
20 bit
24 bit
Format Code: AC-3
Max Channels: 6
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Maximum Bit Rate: 640
Format Code: DTS
Max Channels: 7
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Maximum Bit Rate: 1536
Format Code: E-AC-3
Max Channels: 8
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Audio Format Code: 0
Format Code: MLP
Max Channels: 8
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Audio Format Code: 0
Format Code: DTS-HD
Max Channels: 8
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Audio Format Code: 1



DR HDMI EDID PRESET 1 (1080P 3D ON)

Audio Data Block
Format Code: LPCM
Max Channels: 2
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Bit Depth:
16 bit
20 bit
24 bit
Format Code: AC-3
Max Channels: 5
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Maximum Bit Rate: 1024
Format Code: DTS
Max Channels: 5
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Maximum Bit Rate: 1536
Format Code: AAC LC
Max Channels: 5
Sample Rates:
32 kHz
44.1 kHz
48 kHz
88.2 kHz
96 kHz
176.4 kHz
192 kHz
Maximum Bit Rate: 256


I also looked at the header information to ensure it was accurate. Sure enough the SINK EDID correlates not to my DVDO device, but to my television manufacturer. This is confirmed as well when you bring up the Information menu on your DVDO device. In my case I can see the manufacturer name when it's set to SINK (8) and DRHDMI when set to EDID PRESET (1).

Then, looking at the chain from display down to the CLD-R7G everything passes (or is supposed to pass) the signal up from the Laserdisc player through to the ultimate destination being the display. What I don't understand is if there is an AV receiver/Soundbar etc in between then doesn't that device also then read the EDID to figure out what to do with the audio in addition to the display? Well I tried this earlier when I connected everything directly to my television and still got audio issues over HDMI but not when using SPDIF/Toslink to send the audio back from the television to the soundbar optical input (bypassing ARC).

So having already tested with a direct display connection and still getting issues, and now looking at the EDID dumps, I'm inclined to think that the problem is not with DVDO devices having problems transmitting analogue audio over HDMI (which I read elsewhere online), but the problem is with my television and how it interprets the EDID values. I can add weight to this theory because I posted previously that I connected the VP50 Pro to a computer in order to capture my VHS cassettes and had no issues. Thus I think the EDID communications there were no problem.

In essence, I'm fairly confident now that the television is the problem. With an alternate EDID being fed in to the chain I now get audio of every kind over HDMI with absolutely zero problems (for now! famous last words with this 'project'). So I'd say if you ever experience similar problems with your DVDO devices, update them to the latest firmware anyway and then if that fails, grab a Dr. HDMI from HDFury (there are other EDID emulators out there but I haven't tested any other than the Vertex 2, also from HD Fury, I'm not shilling here I promise) and you should be good to go.

Best of luck. I'm off to cover myself in eggs and flour and sit in an oven for 40 minutes while singing a song about artichokes. :crazy:

:thumbup:

EDIT: Just to note, this has now worked flawlessly on both the VP50 Pro and Edge devices. Same issue, same solution.
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 Post subject: Re: FINALLY fixed the DVDO VP50 Pro analog audio bug! (I thi
PostPosted: 13 Jun 2022, 14:22 
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Just wanted to round off this thread to let folks know that I got back in contact with the nice chap I was talking to at DVDO to let him know I got audio working properly.

He seemed appreciative of the information provided and has said he's added this information to the DVDO technical notes. No idea if this will be a catalyst for a new firmware update (I doubt it, it's long dead equipment now) but could be useful for their aftermarket support service.

Just to report back on this, as I've still been trying everything I can to break this and prove to myself that the EDID 'fix' isn't the problem. So far so good though, I've encountered absolutely zero issues so long as the Dr HDMI EDID emulator is in the chain.

Best of luck to anyone out there who may read this in future looking for assistance. I hope these ramblings prove useful to someone somewhere someday. :thumbup:
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 Post subject: Re: FINALLY fixed the DVDO VP50 Pro analog audio bug! (I thi
PostPosted: 06 Jun 2023, 18:20 
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Thanks for this post. I've been having similar (identical really) problems with an old VP30 (latest/last firmware v1.14) I bought on a whim recently.

No sound either into my Sony KDL-52HX903 or Samsung UE32H5000AK.

With the HD-Fury Dr HDMI - at last, sound! All of its pre-programmed banks (1-5) allowed the sound through. As expected, when using bank 8 to present a 'copy' of the TV's settings - nothing. Interestingly, one of my 'custom' banks, which was a copy of the Sony TV with a few settings tweaked (most notably DTS compatibility removed) did work.

Still, I was peeved as I have another use for my Dr HDMI, and didn't want to have it plugged permanently into my VP30. And as they're pricey I didn't want to buy another one. So I found a cheap EDID emulator on eBay, a Lindy 32104 (without programmer), hoping its preset settings might do the same trick - but no luck.

In desperation I plugged an old 4-way HDMI switch - a Monoprice device I think - between VP30 and TV, and, amazingly, it worked - sound again! So that's going to take up permanent residence behind the TV now...

This is all using the VP30 analogue inputs, or digital PCM (44kHz and 48kHz). I've had no luck with Dolby Digital though - the VP30 recognises it (ie it displays Dolby Digital on the OSD), but just silence from the TV, whatever I try.

So, all a bit vexing - wasn't the VP30 a really expensive device in its day, did it ever actually work properly? I could use Dr HDMI to diagnose the problem by changing one setting at a time, I suppose, but I don't have the patience (patients?)!

(Wouldn't be surprised if it's something to do with TVs announcing DTS compatibility, which would have been rare when the VP30 was on the market, perhaps?)
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