Q:  Does the Roadie support DTS EX and 5.1 EX?

A:  First off, a little clarification. According to www.hometheaterhifi.com,
    "The correct terminology is THX Surround EX, rather than Dolby Digital EX.
    DTS also has its version of this, and it is called DTS-ES."

    They go on to explain what this is...
        "A processor that incorporates THX Surround EX (a 6.1 format instead
        of 5.1), aside from offering the standard THX features, also allows 
        playback of 5.1 channel recordings with 7 channels in addition to the
        subwoofer, compared to the 5 channels inherent to standard 5.1 
        recordings.  The two extra channels, as mentioned before, are not 
        discrete, but rather are derived from matrix decoding the discrete
        surround channels, just as Pro Logic derives a center channel from 
        the Left and Right front channels. EX derives a center surround 
        channel, and then sends that information to a pair of speakers after
        bass management and time alignment."

        The statement that looks important is, "The two extra channels... 
        are not discrete, but rather are derived from matrix decoding the
        discrete surround channels." So the question is, do you have a decoder
        that supports THX Surround EX or DTS EX (6.1)? 


    The Roadie's S/PDIF Out is designed to act as an AC3 Pass-Thru, so it
    should send non-audio data out the S/PDIF Out. This can be formatted in
    any number of ways, so in theory at least, the Roadie S/PDIF Out *should*
    be able to pass DTS EX data. However in practice...?

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Q:  When using the spdif outical output, is it sending 5.1 or 7.1 signal?

A:  The S/PDIF Out is only sending whatever signal is being fed through it.
    It doesn't format the signal itself. It's just the Sony/Philips Digital
    Interface, that is, an interface for sending data to-and-from. Does your
    software DVD player output 7.1 data? 

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Q:  How come when in plug the spdif out to my audio receiver and set the 
    spdif to 44.1 out, I cannot set the speaker on the control panel for 
    more than a 2 speaker setting.  When I set the speakers to 5.1 or 7.1, 
    then the spdif setting would go back to "spdif off"?

A:  The S/PDIF Interface is a 2-channel stereo interface. It was designed
    for the transmission of stereo (2-channel) PCM audio data. It was only
    later that Dolby Labs developed the ability to encode surround sound 
    data onto the two channels, and so Dolby Digital (and DTS) encoded data
    can be sent through the S/PDIF Out. However, a DECODER is needed to DECODE
    the DD/DTS data to the separate surround channels. 

    That is why the Roadie must set its outputs to 2 Speaker mode when the 
    S/PDIF Out is engaged. The hardware *is* sending two channel data, which
    is ENCODED with the multichannel audio data. It "thinks" it's two channel
    data. It's not multi-channel data until it is DECODED in the receiver. 

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Q:  I cannot hear the demo on 5.1 or 7.1.  I can only here left and right
    (stereo) with the spdif out.

A:  That is a different story. It could be that your decoder doesn't 
    'understand' the format of the demo file. Does surround channel 
    information play OK when playing a DVD movie soundtrack? That's the 
    important thing... 

    When using the S/PDIF Out, please leave the Speaker mode to 2 Speaker. 
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