Windows – Upscaling audio from 2.1 to 5.1 in Windows 7

audiosurround-soundwindowswindows 7

I'm currently using the onboard sound on my Asus P6T6 WS Revolution motherboard (SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio) and was wondering if there was any way to make either windows or the audio drivers upscale 2-channel audio to 5-channel audio (basic duplication would suffice)?

I was using a creative sound card but got fed up with the memory leaks and poor sound quality.

To clarify:
I have a 5.1 sound system and the onboard card supports 5.1 output. I have 5.1 games and applications from which I want full 5.1 sound; However, I also have some applications (music) which is only stereo, which I would like to upscale to 5.1 without losing the 5.1 sound from other applications.

Best Answer

You need to use an option called Speaker Fill - follow these steps in Windows 7:

  1. Open control panel --> Sound
  2. Click on the your device, and then click properties
  3. Click on the 'Enhancements' tab
  4. Tick the 'Speaker Fill' box, and then preview the sound

This basically creates a mirror image of your front speakers into your rear speakers

Also I believe you can get to these settings by playing something in WMP and then going to the now playing view, and right clicking on the album art, and choosing enhancements

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