In a nutshell, HDMI audio is sound created when uncompressed audio data passes through an HDMI mechanism and to a speaker. The good news is that HDMI cables now carry both audio and video information through the same cables. In other words, both the audio and video information is transferred as uncompressed digital data from the same source. The take home concept is that with HDMI audio, you don't need to use separate cables. No longer do you need one cable for your video interface or monitor, and another for your audio interface, or your speakers. You use the same one!
So, if you are only dealing with HDMI compliant equipment and cables, to hook up your video is to hook up your audio. Pretty much all modern equipment for audio-visual interfacing is now HDMI compliant, so HDMI audio should rarely present a problem. If it does, you should probably examine the equipment and cables you are using to see if any of it is legacy equipment or cables. For instance, were you trying to hook an HDMI audio system up to an old VGA computer monitor, you might not get any sound. You would perhaps have to separately use converters for both your monitor and your old speakers. In such case, just going out and buying a new LCD HDMI monitor would probably be your easiest solution.
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Like I said, most modern equipment that is not separately manufactured for use with old legacy, or pre-HDMI equipment is HDMI compliant. Pretty much the video and audio data all run through the same cables and channels. In most cases, if you do have a problem with HDMI hookup, you won't just have only an audio or visual problem, you'll have a problem with both. For instance, when I recently hooked my computer up to my HDMI entertainment center, I could see the video output but I couldn't hear any audio. Because the video and audio ran through the same channels and HDMI cables, I knew I didn't have an HDMI audio data transfer problem, so rather than check my hook ups, I started with the output device, which I knew was working, to wit, my HDMI LCD television itself. The problem, I quickly discovered, was that I had the HDMI audio on MUTE!
The good news is that with HDMI, audio is generally not a problem if the HDMI video is working, and vice versa. Remember, the audio and visual data travel together. As long as all of the equipment you are using is in working order, and HDMI compliant, you are good to go! Whenever your audio is a problem, just check to make sure your television isn't on mute! Always make sure your cables are HDMI compliant, as well as your equipment. Pretty much all equipment is compliant these days. Few televisions, DVD players, Blu-Ray or not, and gaming and audio systems now deviate from HDMI compliant standards.
