PinVol on a 5.1 setup - mech sounds through center channel too loud

[tjaf]

Hi,

 

I have a 5.1 audio system in my cab and have setup VPX for Surround sound (not the 7.1 audio option). This means that the front L+R channels produce the rear underplayfield sounds (near the backglass) sounds). The surround channels produce the front underplayfield sounds (near the player) and the rom sounds come through the center channel (on most tables, some tables mix the rom sounds also through the L+R channels). The works reasonably well, but I wanted more flexibility to control my sound volume as usually the rom sounds wash out the ball rolling and mechanical sounds. So I tried installing PinVol.

 

However I am not sure PinVol works well for 5.1 setups? When I run Pinvol, some of the mechanical sounds also come through the center speaker, and much louder than through the L+R channels. If I use PinVol to reduce the backglass sounds, indeed the rom sounds through the center channel reduce, but I keep hearing the mechanical sounds also through the center channel way too loud. If I use Pinvol to try to modify the rear exciters volume, it does adjust the rear exciters volume, but that has no effect on the mechanical sounds I hear through the center channel?

 

Is anyone successfully using Pinvol on a 5.1 setup? Anyone knows why I hear some mechanical sounds through my center channel? Have I maybe set something up incorrectly?

 

EDIT: after playing around a bit more and listening to all the speakers very carefully, I think I actually totally misunderstood how VPX handles 5.1 audio systems. It would appear that ROM sounds actually go to L+R, unless the ROM is mono, then it seems to go to center (and I guess that is why VPinMAME has the option to extend Mono to Stereo??). And with a 5.1 setup, it would appear mechanical sound from the top of the playfield do indeed come out as mono from the center speaker only? If that is true I totally miswired my setup :)) In any case, Looking at PinVolSSF.txt, I don't think PinVol is actually compatible with 5.1 setups. It doesn't do anything with the center channel. I guess this is as good a reason to upgrade to a proper 7.1 system

 

Edited October 9, 2024 by tjaf