How to Unlock Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Surround in W10 - Gigabyte Realtek Drivers

[hypercybermegatron]

For the past few years Windows 10 HD Audio drivers have always been utterly awful, at least for people who own Gigabyte motherboards. This guide might help someone with other hardware though.

The main issues are that the surround sound capabilities of the Digital Coax/S/PDIF out are restricted, limiting the audio output to 2 channels.

Here's how I resolved this issue for my motherboard Gigabyte x370 Rev.1.

WARNING: Try this at your own risk. You will be warned after installing the patched drivers are unsigned upon reboot. However, I've not encountered any issues since doing this.

Unlock Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Surround in W10 - Gigabyte Realtek Drivers

• Step 1: Download the oldest official Realtek HD Audio Driver from Gigabyte's driver page: https://www.gigabyte.com/us/Motherboard/GA-AX370-Gaming-5-rev-10/support#support-dl-driver
  
  You will notice that this driver package is much bigger than future driver updates. Do not bother with pre-patched driver installations from other websites, better to do it yourself.
  
  
• Step 2: Download the patched RltkAPO DLLs from this thread: https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/unlocked-realtek-hd-audio-drivers-windows-7-8-with-dolby-digital-live-and-dts-interactive.193148/page-110
  
  Look for "Patched RltkAPO 11.0.6000.621 for 8447 - DTSi & DDL Format Unlock".
  
  
• Step 3: Unzip the Gigabyte Realtek drivers to desktop.
  
  
• Step 4: Extract RltkAPO.dll and RltkAPO64.dll from "Patched RltkAPO 11.0.6000.621 for 8447.rar". Overwrite these files in HD_Audio>WIN64 directory of Gigabyte Realtek drivers. This must be done before running HD_Audio>Setup.exe
  
  
• Step 5: Run HD_Audio>Setup.exe
  
  
• Step 6: Your PC will reboot and warn you that an unsigned driver has been installed. Click ok and accept.

The setup is now complete. Now go to Control Panel>Sound Device> Realtek Digital Output. You should see DTS Audio and Dolby Digital formats available (for me DTS was there previously but DD was missing).

The final step is to select Advanced tab, then Default Format drop down menu. At the very bottom you should see new DTS Interactive 5.1 and Dobly Digital 5.1 options.

It's quite shameful that such a basic feature which should work out of the box is not readily accessible without mucking around with hacked drivers. Don't know why Windows 10 audio is such a hot mess.

Anyway, if you have this same issue and have stumbled upon this in your search for a solution I hope it helps and saves you the time I spent wasting on it.

Once it works however it's awesome and flawless. Microsoft needs to get their ship together and fix this mess properly!

PS. Don't update the drivers unless you can be absolutely sure that this issue has been resolved and they support DTS and DD 5.1 surround.


Source:
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/unlocked-realtek-hd-audio-drivers-windows-7-8-with-dolby-digital-live-and-dts-interactive.193148/page-110

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

They don't allow Mediafire links.

But it sounds like something you should let the board manufacturers know.

[hypercybermegatron]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

They don't allow Mediafire links.

But it sounds like something you should let the board manufacturers know.

:qr:

No problemo.

Gigabyte doesn't care, neither does Microsoft. It's a well known issue, hence the reason others have taken the initiative to fix it themselves.

The solution works for me, better than waiting for GB or MS to fix it, which looks like never at this point.

[KANOPUTITLOG]

yes

[Iceira]

I think Dolby was remove as part of old sound system and seen as codec or other software and why it was not support later or a surround sound issue , and why will a sterio speaker pc even want to pay for that, then he dont own or maybe will own surround sound, and why things is split or change to later sound card, as i recall same issue with video decode, and its has not been pretty in what player support what , i can be mistaken here. most are here for play games on a pc the watch movie and surround sound in games its a jungle in what and how things works. and maybe not.

most of the time it comes with the software your sound card support. ( but with the onboard sound card , its not always so easy to explan. )
there was actual a time then sound card was a plug in card, and software was part of that solutions.

Lets see what other has to say about it.
( to my knowledge you need to be a experts in what you need , and that just dont fit a normal user that dont know. )

most will learn this try play a 3D blueray or just blueray, and then you see all the missing Quality or sound issue if sounds card dont have it or player. ( then you learn fast what you need )