DivX Connected: Getting ffdshow audio settings right

Remember I said, I couldn't get AC3 playback with ffdshow to work? Well, meanwhile I figured it out! So for those off you still having problems with AC3 here's what to do:

1. Delete the AC3 Filter from the config file and make Connected use ffdshow instead

Find the following section and get rid of it!

<decoder type = "audio">
  <codecId>0x2000</codecId>
  <driver>dshow</driver>
  <guid>
    0xA753A1EC, 0x973E, 0x4718, 0xAF, 0x8E, 0xA3, 0xF5, 0x54, 0xD4, 0x5C, 0x44
  </guid>
</decoder>

Then find the ffdshow audio configuration section:

<decoder type = "audio">
  <codecId>0x50</codecId>
  <codecId>0x55</codecId>
  <codecId>0x706D</codecId>
  <codecId>0x20434141</codecId>
  <codecId>0x33706D2E</codecId>
  <codecId>0x5500736D</codecId>
  <codecId>0x4134504D</codecId>
  <codecId>0x50434141</codecId>
  <codecId>0x6134706D</codecId>
  <codecId>0xFF</codecId>
  <driver>dshow</driver>
  <guid>
    0x0F40E1E5, 0x4F79, 0x4988, 0xB1, 0xA9, 0xCC, 0x98, 0x79, 0x4E, 0x6B, 0x55
  </guid>
</decoder>

and add

<codecId>0x2000</codecId>

ffdshow section should now look  this.

<decoder type = "audio">
  <codecId>0x2000</codecId>
  <codecId>0x50</codecId>
  <codecId>0x55</codecId>
  <codecId>0x706D</codecId>
  <codecId>0x20434141</codecId>
  <codecId>0x33706D2E</codecId>
  <codecId>0x5500736D</codecId>
  <codecId>0x4134504D</codecId>
  <codecId>0x50434141</codecId>
  <codecId>0x6134706D</codecId>
  <codecId>0xFF</codecId>
  <driver>dshow</driver>
  <guid>
    0x0F40E1E5, 0x4F79, 0x4988, 0xB1, 0xA9, 0xCC, 0x98, 0x79, 0x4E, 0x6B, 0x55
  </guid>
</decoder>

Save the config file!

2. Configure the ffdshow audio decoder for AC3

Start->Programs->ffdshow->Audio-Decoder-Configuration (translated from German, look for something that matches)

a) Make sure AC3 decoding is enabled

b) Set the Mixer to Stereo Output

c) Set Output to 16 Bits

d) Set processing to 16Bit

Click on Apply and then on OK. Ignore the Error message you might be getting when closing the configuration. Now close DivX Connected Server, go to Windows Services and restart the DivX Content Management Service, restart DivX Connected Server and do a rescan. (If you want to be on the safe side, or don't know where to find the DivX Content Management Service, a reboot will do nicely here!) Got it working? Hooray! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of  you couch potatoes!