I do not have YouTube TV. I have 5.1 on that linked Foo Fighters video in regular YouTube on both of my AppleTV 4k models (2017 & 2021). Both are running 15.4.1 (not beta).
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YouTube surround sound
- Thread starter melapple
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Interesting! I'll have to update tvOS and try again...
Now... does it sound like actual 5.1 content? Or is it that the 5.1 flag is triggered?
Now... does it sound like actual 5.1 content? Or is it that the 5.1 flag is triggered?
I haven't spent any significant time evaluating it because of how low the volume is compared with the stereo track.
To the best of me, today, I am not able to see the Surround button any more, nor do I get 5.1 audio from that clip, whatever I try.
The track itself still contains the 4 multichannel audio renderings, so it must be something else.
Also, I can not make the Xcode pairing stick, it keeps saynig appleTV is locked.
tvOS is the latest 15.4.1 and 1st gen aTV 4K.
You're right! I just checked the Foo Fighters video again and the 5.1 option has disappeared.
The same thing happened to me. Last week several videos uploaded by regular users (not just movie trailers on the GP store) would play in 5.1 surround. Now they are all playing normal stereo and the surround button option is no longer showing. Hopefully they are just testing this before a wide rollout. I can’t wait
Actually the button is still available when I play purchased movies in my library but, just like last week, it’s useless.
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But are these audio tracks actually true multichannel uploads? I'd be surprised if regular users have been going through work of ripping and uploading multichannel audio, since there has been no real incentive for doing so... I'm more inclined to believe it's a YouTube bug, or they've been experimenting with metadata. Again, I haven't seen anything indicating YouTube will be enabling multichannel capabilities for regular user channels.
It looks very much like it.
Code:
Audio
ID : 1
Format : E-AC-3
Format/Info : Enhanced AC-3
Commercial name : Dolby Digital Plus
Codec ID : ec-3
Duration : 31 min 14 s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 kb/s
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel layout : L R C LFE Ls Rs
Sampling rate : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode : Lossy
Stream size : 85.8 MiB (100%)
Title : ISO Media file produced by Google Inc.
Language : Spanish
Service kind : Complete Main
Default : Yes
Alternate group : 1I think that clip was a download from a streaming service, having E-AC-3 audio.
YouTube downconverted it to AC-3 and multichannel AAC for its own purposes.
I will assemble a movie from this E-AC-3 soundtrack and AVC picture and test it out on my appleTV
You were right!
It is not something with proper multichannel audio. I do not know where did those renderings come from, but the surround channels contain just hiss and centre channel is silent.
Volume level is also much lower than the normal AAC mix on YouTube.
Just found this. Not sure when it was first published. Unfortunately no details on which Apple TV models are supported
Watch YouTube on TV with 5.1 surround sound - YouTube Help
You can watch YouTube videos on your TV with 5.1 surround sound. Enjoy YouTube’s library of shows and movies as well as other YouTube content with your supported surround sound system.
support.google.com
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Yep, it's back for me. Tried that same Foo Fighters Hall of Fame video I linked earlier. Unfortunately, still has a very significant penalty in overall volume when switching to multichannel.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Well this thread stirred up some intrigue. I have latest AppleTV 4K linked to a dedicated Onkyo surround sound receiver. I located that Foo Fighter video and played it. The Onkyo has an "information" menu, and information, audio, says source is 2 channel PCM (stereo) being converted by the receiver to (faux) surround sound. Why is it faux? Because there's not 5 channels of audio + 1 channel for a sub in the video- just 2 channels of audio.
As is often the case with 2-channel sound, settings in the receiver (or soundbar or even TV) may fake surround sound so that sound comes out of the various speakers in the room. One can do the same with anything in stereo or even mono sources. If one puts on an old mono recording and then selects a playback mode like Hall or All Speakers or ProLogic, one channel of sound will seem to become 5 or 7 or however many speakers one has. Perhaps that's what's going on here?
Also note that sometimes a video is recorded and uploaded to YouTube that captures a graphic overlay in the video touting playback specs of the original source. If the overlay shows dolby digital 5.1, that doesn't mean the upload to YouTube has 5.1... any more than someone recording something that has a weather warning on screen that day for wherever they are doesn't mean there's the same weather warning in play for any viewers anywhere, whenever they happen to watch that video. For example, I live in Florida. I could easily grab a bit of broadcast video that happens to play on a day when we might have Tropical Storm or Hurricane watch/warning overlays. If I upload that to YouTube and someone watches in Alaska/Kansas/Germany/Antartica/etc. weeks or months later, they obviously have no risk of that Storm hitting them but they will see the same overlay graphic whenever they watch the video.
In the early day of HD broadcasts over the air, the networks were putting an overlay on broadcast programming "In HD where available" and some people with regular, SD TV sets were assuming they already had a HD set "because shows keep showing that they are broadcast in HD." Same when they DID buy a HD television but had it wired with RG59 or the old yellow RCA cable from the cable box, so they were only seeing analog SD signals. They were still seeing "in HD where available" and assuming their new HDTV was showing them HD. I had many experiences where I would update their wiring so they would actually see HD signals but until then, they believed what they were seeing was HD because overlays implied it.
Perhaps the best example though is with a video. Try this one right now...
If you did watch it, whatever you are watching it on is very likely NOT an IMAX screen, nor are you hearing Dolby Digital 5.1 even though the video implies both. Similarly, if you watch videos that show they are 8K or 16K on YouTube on a 4K or 1080p TV, your TV is not now an 8K or 16K TV.
I'm not necessarily saying that's what's happening here- some of these posts read like maybe YouTube is doing some experiments with this video and a true 5.1 stream- but at least for the solid test I just ran, that file as of right now is broadcasting 2-channel stereo and my receiver is faking it into surround because I have the receiver set up to do that for stereo-only video broadcasts.
Also located the Hans Zimmer Dune video and same: PCM 2-channel (stereo) being turned into (faux) surround by settings in my receiver... but definitely 2-channel stereo in the YouTube file.
In both cases, I made sure 1080p was selected and neither offered a Dolby Digital button to click in AppleTV option buttons. Note that I'm only trying the free tier Youtube app, not the paid YouTube service, so that may play a role here too.
YouTube could certainly deliver real 5.1 surround if they wanted to do so and maybe they are doing some experiments with some videos to work out the option. Or maybe it was a fluke intended for the paid service tier that somehow leaked over to the free tier.
I'd be happy to test another and check the audio source if someone thinks they have a real 5.1 surround video on free YouTube. Just reply and share a link to the specific video.
As is often the case with 2-channel sound, settings in the receiver (or soundbar or even TV) may fake surround sound so that sound comes out of the various speakers in the room. One can do the same with anything in stereo or even mono sources. If one puts on an old mono recording and then selects a playback mode like Hall or All Speakers or ProLogic, one channel of sound will seem to become 5 or 7 or however many speakers one has. Perhaps that's what's going on here?
Also note that sometimes a video is recorded and uploaded to YouTube that captures a graphic overlay in the video touting playback specs of the original source. If the overlay shows dolby digital 5.1, that doesn't mean the upload to YouTube has 5.1... any more than someone recording something that has a weather warning on screen that day for wherever they are doesn't mean there's the same weather warning in play for any viewers anywhere, whenever they happen to watch that video. For example, I live in Florida. I could easily grab a bit of broadcast video that happens to play on a day when we might have Tropical Storm or Hurricane watch/warning overlays. If I upload that to YouTube and someone watches in Alaska/Kansas/Germany/Antartica/etc. weeks or months later, they obviously have no risk of that Storm hitting them but they will see the same overlay graphic whenever they watch the video.
In the early day of HD broadcasts over the air, the networks were putting an overlay on broadcast programming "In HD where available" and some people with regular, SD TV sets were assuming they already had a HD set "because shows keep showing that they are broadcast in HD." Same when they DID buy a HD television but had it wired with RG59 or the old yellow RCA cable from the cable box, so they were only seeing analog SD signals. They were still seeing "in HD where available" and assuming their new HDTV was showing them HD. I had many experiences where I would update their wiring so they would actually see HD signals but until then, they believed what they were seeing was HD because overlays implied it.
Perhaps the best example though is with a video. Try this one right now...
If you did watch it, whatever you are watching it on is very likely NOT an IMAX screen, nor are you hearing Dolby Digital 5.1 even though the video implies both. Similarly, if you watch videos that show they are 8K or 16K on YouTube on a 4K or 1080p TV, your TV is not now an 8K or 16K TV.
I'm not necessarily saying that's what's happening here- some of these posts read like maybe YouTube is doing some experiments with this video and a true 5.1 stream- but at least for the solid test I just ran, that file as of right now is broadcasting 2-channel stereo and my receiver is faking it into surround because I have the receiver set up to do that for stereo-only video broadcasts.
Also located the Hans Zimmer Dune video and same: PCM 2-channel (stereo) being turned into (faux) surround by settings in my receiver... but definitely 2-channel stereo in the YouTube file.
In both cases, I made sure 1080p was selected and neither offered a Dolby Digital button to click in AppleTV option buttons. Note that I'm only trying the free tier Youtube app, not the paid YouTube service, so that may play a role here too.
YouTube could certainly deliver real 5.1 surround if they wanted to do so and maybe they are doing some experiments with some videos to work out the option. Or maybe it was a fluke intended for the paid service tier that somehow leaked over to the free tier.
I'd be happy to test another and check the audio source if someone thinks they have a real 5.1 surround video on free YouTube. Just reply and share a link to the specific video.
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I found one, I downloaded the E-AC-3 audio track (code 328) separately, will also check on aTV if I can play it back in multichannel.
Code:
$ youtube-dl -F https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RElbcJnY5-4
[youtube] RElbcJnY5-4: Downloading webpage
[info] Available formats for RElbcJnY5-4:
format code extension resolution note
249 webm audio only tiny 43k , webm_dash container, opus @ 43k (48000Hz), 677.50KiB
250 webm audio only tiny 56k , webm_dash container, opus @ 56k (48000Hz), 891.60KiB
251 webm audio only tiny 111k , webm_dash container, opus @111k (48000Hz), 1.71MiB
140 m4a audio only tiny 129k , m4a_dash container, mp4a.40.2@129k (44100Hz), 1.99MiB
256 m4a audio only tiny 195k , m4a_dash container, mp4a.40.5@195k (24000Hz), 3.00MiB
380 m4a audio only tiny 384k , m4a_dash container, ac-3 @384k (48000Hz), 5.90MiB
328 m4a audio only tiny 384k , m4a_dash container, ec-3 @384k (48000Hz), 5.90MiB
258 m4a audio only tiny 387k , m4a_dash container, mp4a.40.2@387k (48000Hz), 5.96MiB
278 webm 256x144 144p 59k , webm_dash container, vp9@ 59k, 25fps, video only, 932.60KiB
160 mp4 256x144 144p 68k , mp4_dash container, avc1.4d400c@ 68k, 25fps, video only, 1.06MiB
242 webm 426x240 240p 100k , webm_dash container, vp9@ 100k, 25fps, video only, 1.55MiB
133 mp4 426x240 240p 148k , mp4_dash container, avc1.4d4015@ 148k, 25fps, video only, 2.28MiB
243 webm 640x360 360p 172k , webm_dash container, vp9@ 172k, 25fps, video only, 2.65MiB
134 mp4 640x360 360p 323k , mp4_dash container, avc1.4d401e@ 323k, 25fps, video only, 4.96MiB
244 webm 854x480 480p 297k , webm_dash container, vp9@ 297k, 25fps, video only, 4.57MiB
135 mp4 854x480 480p 616k , mp4_dash container, avc1.4d401e@ 616k, 25fps, video only, 9.46MiB
247 webm 1280x720 720p 554k , webm_dash container, vp9@ 554k, 25fps, video only, 8.52MiB
136 mp4 1280x720 720p 1186k , mp4_dash container, avc1.4d401f@1186k, 25fps, video only, 18.22MiB
248 webm 1920x1080 1080p 918k , webm_dash container, vp9@ 918k, 25fps, video only, 14.10MiB
137 mp4 1920x1080 1080p 2553k , mp4_dash container, avc1.640028@2553k, 25fps, video only, 39.19MiB
18 mp4 640x360 360p 485k , avc1.42001E, 25fps, mp4a.40.2 (44100Hz), 7.46MiB
22 mp4 1280x720 720p 1677k , avc1.64001F, 25fps, mp4a.40.2 (44100Hz) (best)HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Again, using the FREE YouTube app on AppleTV 4K latest version: that one hits my HDMI-connected receiver as PCM 2-channel (stereo). It presents no audio icon option to select a 5.1 version.
It may be different for paid YouTube subscribers.
It may be different for paid YouTube subscribers.
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Yeah, the option is back but it doesn’t appear to be playing 5.1 audio regardless. I guess it’s still in a trial/beta stage but gee, it’s taking forever! In any case it was working back when I started this thread so I’m still hoping it’s coming soon
What video are you trying?
Every one I’ve tried the centre channel sounds still come out of the rears.
It's because you're using Safari I bet if your a chromium or goole based browser it will work! Google seems to hate Apple and don't try to hide it! Even at Apple they even dislike Goole!
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I believe there are 2 different thoughts going there:
If someone also has a competing device that includes free YouTube app, it would be worth knowing if a "not hated" device maker's device could tap into a 5.1 stream in those files? If so, then it would be a situation where those files DO have a 5.1 track option but the AppleTV version of the YouTube app does not have the capability to play it... presumably due to competitive hate/favoritism.
Somebody break out a Roku box or similar and retry those videos connected to a receiver that can display what it is actually receiving from the box (not what it is pushing out from the receiver, which can be faux surround and show that up to all connected speakers are engaged). Can anyone find a competing box receiving a true 5.1 stream from those files?
I recalled that I do have the free YouTube app on my Smart TV hooked to the same receiver. I located that same file in it and then did the same receiver check to see what it was receiving: also 2-channel stereo. Within the smart TV YouTube app, I clicked the cog wheel to see if I could select a 5.1 audio option and the menu had no such offering. In the video option in that cog menu, I made sure it was running the 1080p (best) version. So at least THAT example is a completely separate incarnation of YouTube with no "hate apple" links. The only weakness in trying to conclude something from that is that the TV is now 2 years old, so perhaps updating apps in it has been abandoned for upwards of 6-12 months (and thus, maybe I don't have the latest possible version of the app for that TV).
Another test that an Apple person could run is connect an Apple laptop to a receiver via HDMI and use the Chrome browser to test those videos. Perhaps YouTube via (only) Chrome (browser) offers 5.1 selectable options? If so, select it then check the receiver inputs to see if it is receiving a 5.1 stream or only a stereo stream. Again, don't trust the visual display on the front of most receivers as those usually (maybe always?) show what is being pushed OUT of the receiver. Thus, if you have your receiver set up to convert mono or 2-channel to faux surround/Hall/All Speakers/Etc, mono or stereo is going to be pushed to all speakers and imply 5.1 or more sound. That's fake surround. What is needed is to use what is usually an "info" button or "info" menu selection to show what kind of audio is being received by the receiver. That's where one can see if it is mono, stereo, 5.1, 7.1, ATMOS, etc.
- browser view is key to getting to see options to select a 5.1 audio stream
- an assumption/hope that those videos WITH a 5.1 stream will play it on AppleTV
If someone also has a competing device that includes free YouTube app, it would be worth knowing if a "not hated" device maker's device could tap into a 5.1 stream in those files? If so, then it would be a situation where those files DO have a 5.1 track option but the AppleTV version of the YouTube app does not have the capability to play it... presumably due to competitive hate/favoritism.
Somebody break out a Roku box or similar and retry those videos connected to a receiver that can display what it is actually receiving from the box (not what it is pushing out from the receiver, which can be faux surround and show that up to all connected speakers are engaged). Can anyone find a competing box receiving a true 5.1 stream from those files?
I recalled that I do have the free YouTube app on my Smart TV hooked to the same receiver. I located that same file in it and then did the same receiver check to see what it was receiving: also 2-channel stereo. Within the smart TV YouTube app, I clicked the cog wheel to see if I could select a 5.1 audio option and the menu had no such offering. In the video option in that cog menu, I made sure it was running the 1080p (best) version. So at least THAT example is a completely separate incarnation of YouTube with no "hate apple" links. The only weakness in trying to conclude something from that is that the TV is now 2 years old, so perhaps updating apps in it has been abandoned for upwards of 6-12 months (and thus, maybe I don't have the latest possible version of the app for that TV).
Another test that an Apple person could run is connect an Apple laptop to a receiver via HDMI and use the Chrome browser to test those videos. Perhaps YouTube via (only) Chrome (browser) offers 5.1 selectable options? If so, select it then check the receiver inputs to see if it is receiving a 5.1 stream or only a stereo stream. Again, don't trust the visual display on the front of most receivers as those usually (maybe always?) show what is being pushed OUT of the receiver. Thus, if you have your receiver set up to convert mono or 2-channel to faux surround/Hall/All Speakers/Etc, mono or stereo is going to be pushed to all speakers and imply 5.1 or more sound. That's fake surround. What is needed is to use what is usually an "info" button or "info" menu selection to show what kind of audio is being received by the receiver. That's where one can see if it is mono, stereo, 5.1, 7.1, ATMOS, etc.
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