Volume control via digital?

[swindler]

Do any of the digital audio streaming standards (particularly those that pass over HDMI) allow a device to control the volume of the signal while still in digital format? Specifically, if I pass HDMI audio from BD to TV to RX, will the volume control on the TV affect the volume output by the receiver?

I would suspect not. But historically I've run Toslink from the source directly to the receiver. (I'm about to try HDMI.) And I've always been somewhat frustrated that the universal remotes I've used default to changing the volume on the TV, which has no effect. And I'd have to switch modes to control the volume of the receiver, then switch modes back to control the video.

I might invest in a Harmony remote if the TV volume can have no effect on the audio.

[musicman1999]

I assume rx is receiver? Proper signal path is Blu to receiver to tv. Streaming digital sound is done over the internet not from discs.

bill

[swindler]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

I assume rx is receiver? Proper signal path is Blu to receiver to tv. Streaming digital sound is done over the internet not from discs.

bill

Yes, I understand the proper signal path. But my TV provides more HDMI switching than I could with my receiver, and offers a digital audio out. I was just wondering if that digital audio out would follow the TV volume - but I'll just try it.

And I know that the term 'streaming' is more commonly used to infer a broadcast feed on a network. I shouldn't have used that term. What I was trying to refer to was the digital data stream. I.e., the stream of data bits that describe the audio signal. Technically, since the digital signal is being passed from one device to another, and the information is only passed 'as the receiver needs it', that passing signal is a data stream. (This was more common in engineering circles 20 years ago.)

For a device in the middle to affect volume, it would either have to modify the bits in the data stream 'on the fly' to modulate the signal level as necessary, or there would have to be a distinct set of bits reserved in the data fields that specifies a relative volume level for the receiving unit to apply.

But I seriously doubt either exists. This was really one of those idle thoughts that somehow made it into a post.

Thanks.

[HDJK]

When working with digital audio level control in the digital domain should be avoided! In essence, if you have a 24 bit audio file, reducing the volume digitally means reducing the bit debt. That's the reason why professional studios use a monitor controller or a console to adjust monitor level if working with a DAW (digital audio workstation).

[musicman1999]

Originally Posted by swindler

Yes, I understand the proper signal path. But my TV provides more HDMI switching than I could with my receiver, and offers a digital audio out. I was just wondering if that digital audio out would follow the TV volume - but I'll just try it.

And I know that the term 'streaming' is more commonly used to infer a broadcast feed on a network. I shouldn't have used that term. What I was trying to refer to was the digital data stream. I.e., the stream of data bits that describe the audio signal. Technically, since the digital signal is being passed from one device to another, and the information is only passed 'as the receiver needs it', that passing signal is a data stream. (This was more common in engineering circles 20 years ago.)

For a device in the middle to affect volume, it would either have to modify the bits in the data stream 'on the fly' to modulate the signal level as necessary, or there would have to be a distinct set of bits reserved in the data fields that specifies a relative volume level for the receiving unit to apply.

But I seriously doubt either exists. This was really one of those idle thoughts that somehow made it into a post.

Thanks.

also be aware that your television won't pass the new audio formats on to your receiver and even dolby digital won't be all it should be.

bill

[swindler]

Originally Posted by HDJK

When working with digital audio level control in the digital domain should be avoided! In essence, if you have a 24 bit audio file, reducing the volume digitally means reducing the bit debt. That's the reason why professional studios use a monitor controller or a console to adjust monitor level if working with a DAW (digital audio workstation).

Understood. I actually thought it might be convenient if a reference level (separate from the audio data) accompanied the signal in a separate field, in the same way multiple channels are supported in the same signal. In essence, add another channel that says "Volume at 35%", which could be applied to the overall signal level by the receiver. In this way, you could manage the volume at any point. But that's still a rather kludgey method of routing data. Like I said, a completely idle thought.

Originally Posted by musicman1999

also be aware that your television won't pass the new audio formats on to your receiver and even dolby digital won't be all it should be.

I thought the TV might support a passthrough setting. Kind of like my FiOS receiver that can provide passthrough on the audio to the original source format, rather than re-encoding to the default format. But again, idle thought.

Thanks both for the comments. I expected a negative response. This is just one more ounce on the scale that tipping me toward buying a new receiver.