Tivo Series 3 No Audio on Digital Channels

[Cherylabq]

First things first...

Live in Albuquerque, NM
Tivo Series 3
Comcast (2 cable cards)

I was one of the "first adopters" of the Series 3 HD Tivos. I went through hours of frustration with Comcast before finally pairing the cable cards up correctly. It's been a "dream" up until now.

It appears that "something" has changed. I'm guessing it's a Tivo software issue as I didn't have a problem until lately.

I do not get sound on ANY of my digital channels as of this week. I went into the Tivo settings menu and switched my Dolby setting to the Dolby Digital to PCM:

Messages and Setup > Settings > Audio > Dolby Digital

Then put the checkmark next to "Dolby Digital to PCM" as opposed to where it used to be (Dolby Digital).

I now get sound on the digital channels but cannot use our 5.1 surround.

Anyone have this issue and figure out some way to keep good sound?

Thanks!

[legendarybc]

Check out these things:

1) I assume you have a receiver? If so, is the optical cable correctly inserted? Sometimes they fall out. Also, is the optical input on the receiver assigned to the correct input? In other words, if you are on "video 1" is the receiver's optical mapped to "video 1"?
2) do you have analog audio outputs running from the Tivo to your receiver? The receiver might be set to analog outputs instead of looking for the digital one?

Let us know,
BC

[Cherylabq]

We only have a digital cable (and some of the normal channels got sound). We also have inputs right. Thanks for helping.

[Cherylabq]

To clarify...we use ONE cable and it is a digital one and since we get sound on our analog channels with it, we don't think it's a problem PLUS...We've had no problems since we purchased it (We bought a series 3 the day it was available--we've had sound on all channels until the past few weeks). To sum up...it is a RECENT issue, due, most likely, to a software update Tivo made (??) I can't think of any other reason why things would change.

[slimoli]

I have a feeling it's not the S3 but the cableco changing audio from AC3 to MPEG. Tune to one of those "no audio channels" and press info on the S3 remote. Check the audio symbol and see if it shows any 'alternate audio'. If it does, click on it and see if the audio comes back.

The S3 will always select the Ac3 track if it is present but sometimes the cable co changes the audio on some channels to MPEG but keeps the AC3 track with no audio.

Sergio

[Cainebj]

I have a feeling it's not the S3 but the cableco changing audio from AC3 to MPEG. Tune to one of those "no audio channels" and press info on the S3 remote. Check the audio symbol and see if it shows any 'alternate audio'. If it does, click on it and see if the audio comes back.
Sergio

Thanks Sergio - this actually solved my problem with FX losing audio also! Geez, I didn't even know alternate audio was an option :eek:

[rgr]

I had recorded the 2 eps of Knights of Prosperity last week and when I went to watch, found they had music, background noise, but no dialogue track. Frustrated, I just deleted them. Now I'm going to try undeleting and seeing if the alternate audio contains the dialogue.

Thanks for the handy tip slimoli!

[yunlin12]

Fox Sports had this problem for a short while earlier this year, some of the A's games on it were mute, until I saw suggestions about trying the alternate audio. It seems that they were not sending some flags in the signal correctly identify the autio format.

[Cainebj]

Does anyone know if it is possible to LOCK your choice in - with the new FX problem it appears that everytime a new show comes on (every 30 or 60 minutes)
- the audio stream goes back to the original mpeg choice (meaning NO AUDIO).

Which kindof defeats TiVo if it's going to record programs - the only way to watch what you want would be live or to change the audio as a new show starts recording.

[rgr]

Which kindof defeats TiVo if it's going to record programs - the only way to watch what you want would be live or to change the audio as a new show starts recording.
Doesn't the TiVo record all the audio streams even if you only happen to be listening to one? Like how it records the close captioning even if you don't use it?

[Cainebj]

Doesn't the TiVo record all the audio streams even if you only happen to be listening to one? Like how it records the close captioning even if you don't use it?

It doesn't appear to - I recorded Damages last night on FX with no sound and the info button doesn't give me any options to change the audio stream.

[macsamurai]

I'm having the same audio problem with FX in NYC (Time Warner). Recorded Damages last night - no sound when I just went to watch it. I clicked over to FX on live TV and still no sound (Deuce Bigalow was on, so having no sound was a good thing in that instance!) Since I have Rescue Me scheduled on the same channel tonight, I decided to see if anyone else had reported a problem and sure enough, several of you have :(

I feel better knowing it's not TiVo or the Cable Cards crapping out, but I'd love to know how to solve this problem permanently so I can continue to record Damages and Rescue without worrying about whether the audio will be there or not when I go to play it back.

[Derow]

Same problem with TWC on channel 37 (FX). TWC sent a signal to both cable cards with no change. On hold now with Tivo and waiting to see what happens at 10:00 when Rescue Me goes on. Planning to be away on vacation next week and would like to leave confident that my FX shows will record with sound. Will update if any luck with Tivo, but they were having trouble just comprehending my problem, much less trying to fix it.

UPDATE: Yes, Deuce Bigelow was much better without the sound. I used the fix described above and was able to watch FX, but the Tivo rep was unable to help me out other than to recommend I remove and replace my cable cards and then disconnect me. I'm out all day tomorrow, but if someone can get a supervisor at TWC, they might have an explanation.

[Cainebj]

Hey fellow TWC NYC users - follow Sergio's instructions from up above.

Press the info button and scroll down to the audio and change the audio stream until you get one that gives you sound.

As I said - unfortunately, it's only a LIVE TV fix - meaning if you don't do it to watch the show live or do it at the beginning of the show live and record that you won't get audio.

FX on TWC NYC has definitely changed their audio output.

If anyone knows of a permanent solution let us know!
I have contacted TWC (who of course immediately blamed TiVo) and also emailed FX customer service.

[macsamurai]

Wondering if anyone else has gotten any traction on this with Time Warner or FX? I've reported the problem to both, but have gotten no resolution. The audio track switch on live TV is all fine and dandy, but being NOT home and in front of the TV at exactly the same time Damages and/or Rescue Me starts is precisely why I have TiVo ;)

[cr33p]

Im in Ann Arbor MI with Comcast running a TivoHD with a Motorola M card. I can not get sound on ESPN HD or TNT HD, I can select the alternate audio and still do not recieve sound. I also went in to the settings and changed from Dolby Digital to the Dolby Digital to Pcm and still can not recieve any audio on these channels. Any ideas? Is this my cable CO fault or the cable cards?

Another weird thing is sometimes on my Discovery Theatre HD channel the audio is lagging behind the video feed. Thanks

[microkitty]

Im in Ann Arbor MI with Comcast running a TivoHD with a Motorola M card. I can not get sound on ESPN HD or TNT HD, I can select the alternate audio and still do not recieve sound. I also went in to the settings and changed from Dolby Digital to the Dolby Digital to Pcm and still can not recieve any audio on these channels. Any ideas? Is this my cable CO fault or the cable cards?

Another weird thing is sometimes on my Discovery Theatre HD channel the audio is lagging behind the video feed. Thanks

I have similar symptoms which seem to be temporarily fixable with a system restart. Things now "sort of" work, but there's still a problem (Series 3, Motorola CableCARDs).

Check the CableCARD settings; yesterday the settings got messed up somehow, and after a call with TiVo and then my cable company (RCN) they were unable to reset the CableCARD. It appears they have to send a technician out. I am worried that there's something wrong with the TiVo's relationship with the CableCARDs.

The sign something is wrong is if the CableCARD Pairing menu says you need to call the cable provider to activate.

[superbill]

I also do not get sound on National Geographic (Knology) and a few other channels nearby. The only way to get the sound is to physically change the audio settings on the info screen. However, once you switch channels or a new show comes on it reverts back to no sound.

Therefore, I am unable to record anything on these channels. There must be fix out there, but no one has given it to any of us. Please do not say reboot or change the sound setting because we have already tried this and it does not fix the problem.

p.s. I do not have any pixelization. I have an S3 with the most current updates.

Someone please help us.

[rehr0001]

This has been an issue from day 1. There is no workaround other than to forgo DD on the Tivo.

What kind of receiver do you use? I use an HK AVR 8000. I believe people were reporting issues with the B&K seperates as well.

There is some problem w/ the tivo and the DD decoder on our receivers. In my case, if I cycle through the different DSP modes (IE, DTS, Logic 7, etc) and back to DD, that will also bring back sound until I change a channel or go into a Tivo menu.

[superbill]

What we need is a way to permanently switch the audio setting so the sound will work. Even switching the master sound setting to PCM will not fix the problem.

I use my good old Sony HDTV for sound, which has never had a problem with DD sound before TiVo.

We need Tivo to get us a fix. Isn't that part of the reason we pay them. If we can use there product for all channel like it was envisioned to do so, isn't TiVo doing no better than the cable companies are with cable cards.

I just want a fix and I am sure if TiVo committed to finding one they could, but apparently they are not committed to it.

[cr33p]

What we need is a way to permanently switch the audio setting so the sound will work. Even switching the master sound setting to PCM will not fix the problem.

I use my good old Sony HDTV for sound, which has never had a problem with DD sound before TiVo.

We need Tivo to get us a fix. Isn't that part of the reason we pay them. If we can use there product for all channel like it was envisioned to do so, isn't TiVo doing no better than the cable companies are with cable cards.

I just want a fix and I am sure if TiVo committed to finding one they could, but apparently they are not committed to it.
From my understanding is that this is not a Tivo problem but a cable co. problem, they are not sending the proper audio channels down the pipe, or they have the tivo thinking it has a certain channel and in fact it doesnt. We should first contact our cable co and see if they can help. Its suspicious it only does it on selective channels.

[superbill]

Cable company says not us. They say that if the channel's sound works with our DVR it should work with TiVo's.

I have to agree with them. If their DVR works why shouldn't TiVo's. Also, why can't Tivo program in a permenant audio setting for this?

Once again, TiVo has failed to address or fix the problem. We should stop letting them distract us with "its the cable company".

[cr33p]

Cable company says not us. They say that if the channel's sound works with our DVR it should work with TiVo's.

I have to agree with them. If their DVR works why shouldn't TiVo's. Also, why can't Tivo program in a permenant audio setting for this?

Once again, TiVo has failed to address or fix the problem. We should stop letting them distract us with "its the cable company".

Well not to start a war and I dont know who's side to pick but, how can the tivo selectively decide to not have audio on a specific channel and all the others are just fine. i dont even see how that is possible, it has to be something with the cable company setting the flags incorrectly for the type of audio coming across that channel.

[superbill]

I do not think you are starting a war, it is just a matter of our perspectives.

I just find it interesting that you can change the audio setting with the TiVo to fix the problem, but only until you change the channel or a new show comes on. I am not a computer programmer, but I belive there is a way to edit the TiVo software to correct the problem by itself or at least allow a more permanent setting fix.

I just think that TiVo is in the best position to make the changes because it is their device that is not working; whereas the cable company's DVR works just fine.

[cr33p]

I do not think you are starting a war, it is just a matter of our perspectives.

I just find it interesting that you can change the audio setting with the TiVo to fix the problem, but only until you change the channel or a new show comes on. I am not a computer programmer, but I belive there is a way to edit the TiVo software to correct the problem by itself or at least allow a more permanent setting fix.

I just think that TiVo is in the best position to make the changes because it is their device that is not working; whereas the cable company's DVR works just fine.

Ahh, well from what users on other threads have said is that the Tivo can record either AC3 or Mpeg2 audio, the tivo will always prefer to record AC3, but the problem we are having is that the channel is being sent in mpeg2 format audio with the ac3 bit flag set, so the tivo wants to record a non existant audio feed. The cable company needs to correct the information they are sending over the channel, but convincing them it is their problem will be a fite to the bitter end. But hey atleast you are getting some audio, I can not get any audio at all for ESPN HD and TNT HD.

[rastephens]

I also do not get sound on National Geographic (Knology) and a few other channels nearby. The only way to get the sound is to physically change the audio settings on the info screen. However, once you switch channels or a new show comes on it reverts back to no sound.

Therefore, I am unable to record anything on these channels. There must be fix out there, but no one has given it to any of us. Please do not say reboot or change the sound setting because we have already tried this and it does not fix the problem.

p.s. I do not have any pixelization. I have an S3 with the most current updates.

Someone please help us.

I've got the same problem with Knology. I have reported it to them, but they just want to replace cable cards. You can't explain to them that that is not the problem. I have also reported it to TiVo, but no luck!!

I'm ALMOST as upset about this as I am about them double-billing me for HD!!

[tim1724]

I have the same problem with National Geographic channel on Charter cable.. I haven't gotten around to complaining to Charter, but given how clueless they seem to be, I don't know how much luck I'd have getting them to fix it.


What I don't understand is why the TiVo doesn't record all the available audio channels. That would fix the problem.

[aharris999]

Im in Ann Arbor MI with Comcast running a TivoHD with a Motorola M card. I can not get sound on ESPN HD or TNT HD, I can select the alternate audio and still do not recieve sound. I also went in to the settings and changed from Dolby Digital to the Dolby Digital to Pcm and still can not recieve any audio on these channels. Any ideas? Is this my cable CO fault or the cable cards?

Another weird thing is sometimes on my Discovery Theatre HD channel the audio is lagging behind the video feed. Thanks

I second the Comcast issue above -- I'm in Richmond, VA and don't get any audio on ESPN HD.

[rastephens]

I've got the same problem with Knology. I have reported it to them, but they just want to replace cable cards. You can't explain to them that that is not the problem. I have also reported it to TiVo, but no luck!!

I'm ALMOST as upset about this as I am about them double-billing me for HD!!

I finally got in touch with some sort of manager here in Montgomery, and I forwarded to him my messages from TiVo about the audio problem, and they actually fixed them!! They fixed Nat Geo first, and then asked me to make sure it worked all weekend. It did, so I called him back, and he said they would get to work on the other two channels, and Voila, I now have audio on Nat Geo, Fox Soccer, and Speed! They all are working at last!!

Richard