Digital Audio Optical Input S/PDIF cable recommendation

I have a 2010 iMac. I am beginning to research a project for my mom that involves converting old recordings a group my dad was in years ago to digital from vinyl. I have a couple of input options available but I'm seeing reference to optical input on the iMacs. It appears that this would give me the best audio quality. So, my question is this: To go from a pre-amp output, what cables, converters, et cetera would I need to in order to make use of the optical input for audio? I have looked through the forums and see some mention of the subject, but nothing that seems directly to address the specifics of this.
Thank you.

The optical digital audio input is a good way to get basic digital audio data into the Mac - assuming you have the audio in that format. Most vinyl digitizing folks do not.
The most common hardware configuration is to use your old vinyl turntable, connected to the proper phono input of a stereo (most modern stereos do not have this and you have to buy an outboard phono preamp). Then the recording (tape) output of the stereo goes to an audio interface that connects to the Mac with Firewire or USB, and not using the Mac optical input at all. There are dozens of famous makers of interfaces from a hundred dollars to thousands. For the casual user, I'd say $250 is a nice spot. You can get a stereo interface that takes analog input from your stereo, digitizes it, and send it to the Mac. It will also accept microphones, should you want. You'll need software to record and edit the audio (Audacity is free and works) and you can use iTunes to make CDs (although cumbersome).
There are interfaces that do have optical outputs that you could connect to the Mac. But since optical interfaces are rare on computers, and have many limitations, this isn't so common.
There are many tutorials on the net about digitizing LPs on computers.

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Digital Audio Optical Input S/PDIF on Mac Mini 10.9.2

For years prior, with my MMP 15", etc. and since the fall the Mac Mini (fall '13), the setup worked flawlessly ... until recently -- since around the time updating to 10.9.2 I have had intermittant issues with the digital I/O with my Apogee Rosetta 200 until it stopped all together last week.
I have replaced or swapped out the cables first off, to no improvement -- I called Apogee and we were able to prove the input to Apogee with an Eventide Esclipse's S/PDIF output.
I called Apple and the tech and I rebooted in safemode and saw the Audio Devices pane of Audio Midi Setup and Sound neither showed the digital input/output as being active. I sent the unit in and the logic board was replaced in view of the circumstances.
I just setup the repaired unit and now the S/PDIF out (from the Mini to the Rosetta) works -- the Sound pane shows that shows the functioning digital input however, and conspicuosly, the Audio/Midi does not (and used to).
Further, the S/PDIF in (from the Apogee to the Mac) is neither functioning nor the two panes, Audio devices and Sound, register the digial input.
Is there an issue with 10.9.2 or is it possible the one of the 1/8" analog/light pipe inputs of the Mac Mini is also not working and not determined/checked duri -- other ideas?
I have a backgorund as a Mac tech and a member of Apple Solutions Expert since back in the 90's ...

The optical digital audio input is a good way to get basic digital audio data into the Mac - assuming you have the audio in that format. Most vinyl digitizing folks do not.
The most common hardware configuration is to use your old vinyl turntable, connected to the proper phono input of a stereo (most modern stereos do not have this and you have to buy an outboard phono preamp). Then the recording (tape) output of the stereo goes to an audio interface that connects to the Mac with Firewire or USB, and not using the Mac optical input at all. There are dozens of famous makers of interfaces from a hundred dollars to thousands. For the casual user, I'd say $250 is a nice spot. You can get a stereo interface that takes analog input from your stereo, digitizes it, and send it to the Mac. It will also accept microphones, should you want. You'll need software to record and edit the audio (Audacity is free and works) and you can use iTunes to make CDs (although cumbersome).
There are interfaces that do have optical outputs that you could connect to the Mac. But since optical interfaces are rare on computers, and have many limitations, this isn't so common.
There are many tutorials on the net about digitizing LPs on computers.

[Solved] Difficulty getting digital audio to play in all applications

This is probably a noobish question...
My motherboard supports digital audio out via S/PDIF cable (optical), as well as standard analog audio. I have a stereo receiver that I've plugged my optical cable into.
When I go to systemsettings > Multimedia > Phonon > Audio Playback, I put the "HDA Intel S/PDIF Digital" device on top and clicked Test. I could hear the test tone (playback source is PCM).
However, if I go to play an MP3 or whatever, I have to go into the settings for each application and tell it to use that particular device. Some applications (such as Firefox) do not have obvious settings for audio playback. Is there a way to solve the problem once and for all (tell the audio system "send everything through the digital device all the time")?
(I read the relevant section of the wiki, but it is focused on getting sound out of your digital device, not making it the default.)
Any other advice or gotchas about using digital audio would also be appreciated.
Thanks!
Last edited by nathanb (2012-01-25 20:58:42)

Bah, I did a system update and rebooted and now digital out doesn't work at all!
[nathanb@nathanb-box ~] aplay -L
null
Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
front:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, AD198x Analog
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, AD198x Digital
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
Devices don't seem to have changed...
[root@nathanb-box nathanb]# amixer | grep IEC -A 8
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined penum
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 39 Capture 0 - 31
Front Left: Playback 39 [100%] [0.00dB] [on] Capture 31 [100%] [12.00dB] [on]
Front Right: Playback 39 [100%] [0.00dB] [on] Capture 31 [100%] [12.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Default PCM',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback Source',0
Capabilities: enum
Items: 'PCM' 'ADC1' 'ADC2' 'ADC3'
Item0: 'PCM'
Channels still seem to be there...
My .asoundrc looks the same as above. But just for fun, I also tried removing it and restarting alsa, with no change.
I'm testing output by going to systemsettings > Multimedia > Phonon and clicking the Test button with "HDA Intel (AD198x Digital)" selected. Nothing comes out through SPDIF, though it does play through analog (I have two separate pairs of headphones plugged in, one to the analog jack and one to a headphone amp plugged through the digital port) so I can tell which port the audio is coming from).
I've checked the hardware volume, and it appears to be in order. The amp is not reporting any audio signal on the optical port. I tried switching out the cable just to be paranoid, and still nothing. I believe this is a software problem.
Any ideas?

Huge Core Audio issue with Optical digital input (S/PDIF) on MacPro

Hello to all,
I just realized that it's just impossible to switch the digital optical input (S/PDIF) on a MacPro to 48kHz, it immediately reswitches to 44.1 !!!
To reproduce (not sure of the english names, french OS here):
- launch "Audio MIDI configuration"
- select "Digital audio input" in Properties
- try to switch Format to 48kHz / 24bit
In a few seconds, the format reswitches to 44.1 !!!
Even if feeding the optical input with a correct S/PDIF signal at 48kHz/24bit, no way to change the sample frequency to something other than 44.1, resulting in wrong tonality or distorted sound.
Please Apple, fix this ASAP, this is just not usable in a pro or even semi-pro environment !
Test on Leopard 10.5.8 and Snow Leo 10.6.2. I'm pretty sure it worked with Tiger.
Bye.

Thanks Keith, but i don't think Logic users could have a clue on this issue (no pun intended).
I'm a Pro Tools and Nuendo user, so i'm a bit reluctant to ask in a Logic forum... Too many fanboys there IMHO...
Thanks anymway.
Bye.

Audio In/Optical Digital Audio In

I have a pair of JBL Duet computer speakers connected to the Headphone Out port of my Mac mini. They work fine.
QUESTION: Is it possible to play a 5-disc carousel CD player (Sony/JVC/Sherwood) through the Mac mini & those speakers WITHOUT first going through an amplifier?
On the CD players, I see three (3) possibilities using an adapter cable into the mini's Audio In/Optical Digital Audio In port:
1. Headphone Jack w/Volume Control > Could an analog cable be used to go from the CD player's front 1/4" headphone jack to a 3.5mm stereo mini-phono jack into the mini? Would a CD player's front panel headphone jack provide sufficient volume, or just enough for headphones?
2. Analog > Use the CD player's rear L/R analog out (RCA-type) into the mini's 3.5mm stereo mini-phono jack. Would there be sufficient volume without an amplifier?
3. Digital > Use the CD player's rear Digital Audio (Optical) Out to the mini's Optical Digital Audio In. Would there be sufficient volume without an amplifier?
Any advice/recommendation with specific info on appropriate adapter cable would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Mac mini Intel Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Thanks, good thought.
I believe this variation will work also: I see your idea requires Quicktime Pro for that new recording (monitoring) function. I only have Quicktime Player (no recording), but I do have Toast 8's CD Spin Doctor, which will provide the same monitor/output function (select "Play Input through Speakers" and slide speaker icon to the right).
Other readers-- If any other cable connections work, please add to the discussion. Thanks.

Connection digital audio interface

have a problem
can't connect digital audio output of my interface in macbookpro to digital coaxial/optical input in monitor audio speakers
what interface may i use?
where is program switcher from analog to digital signal?
p.s. connection audio to audio works perfectly
help me anybody

hello redshiftbr
i was using an coaxial cable whith *conductor* (don't now in english) to mono 3.5 mini-jack:
nothing wasn't work. specialists in electromarkets didn't propose any different metod. what did you mean "optical cable in the connection" - the audio output in my macbookpro it appears at the same audio input mini-jack 3.5 nothing more. i newer see optical input this type. can u send model name of u cable o any characteristics

Digital Audio Cuts In and Out

I have an earily 2009 Mac Pro hooked up to my Onkyo TX-NR3007 via digital audio (optical TOSlink). When I play a movie or music it cuts in and out. Maybe 30 sec of sound than nothing for a few seconds then sond again. I have tried 2 different cables. It is not the media because it does not happen in the same spot twice. I have also tried a differnet opt in on the receiver with the same results. I'm running up to date OS 10.7.5,
Please help I've tried everything I can think of...

Even after switching DD to "On" switching cables and ensuring that I was playing back audio content with DD encoded audio, I still receive no DD audio and continue to get audio drop outs.

I would like to connect my Apple TV to my receiver using an HDMI cable and pass thru dolby digital. I do not have optical inputs on my receiver.

I want to connect my Apple TV to my receiver using an HDMI cable. This should allow me to pass thru high definition video and simultaneously decode Dolby Digital material with an HDMI connection from my receiver to my TV without the use of an optical cable (my receiver does not have an optical input). I am unable to decode 5.1 material and don't understand why this is not working. In the audio setting I have Dolby Digital output turned on.

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Are you sure the content you are playing has Dolby Digital.

Will an optical digital audio cable improve the sound when I am viewing content thru Apple TV

I have a 2nd generation Apple TV. When I view content via my Apple TV the sound gets "fuzzy" as I increase the volume on my TV. If i connect Apple TV to my Samsung HDTV with an optical digital audio cable, with the sound quality improve??

people say that if the atv2 dont have a connection to the tv optical is muted
I have a atv1 and been using the optical out with my sony stereo system for ages mute the tv so only 1 audio source and on atv1 it play out the optical even with the tv off
of cause one have to choose the optical input as input source on the receiver

OPTICAL DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT SPECIFICATIONS

I'm trying to find out what sample rates the digital optical input will accept as OK. I have a mic preamp that has a Spidif output that can select what sampling rate it sends out. Choices are the normal 44.1, 48, & 96K and 88.2 also. The first 3 rated are industry standards. Ideally I would like to set the sample rate output from the preamp to the rate "prefered" by the early 2009 Mac Pro 8 core if there is one, but I'm unable to find any mention of sample rates used by the Mac Pro input circuit.
The reason I'm asking, is that when I try to set system preferences of sound input, There is absolutely no level indication of an incoming signal when Digital input is selected as you can see in the screen grab below:
Any help would be appreciated.
Ken

Thanks for the tip. I had forgotten completely about that utility. Unforntunately, it didn't shed any light on the problem.
Even though I'm a longtime music & audio addict I made the mistake of overlooking the connections making good contact. Both the Mic Preamp and the DIgital audio converter had never been used before just like the new SPDIF cable w RCA connectors. I pushed the cable in until I felt resistance but didn't realize it wasn't fully seated.
After re reviewing my previous steps taken I noticed that the Digital audio converter was not showing a valid source signal. I inspected the connection once again and found I'd made a mistake that many newbies make, not unpluging & repluging connections when chasing down a missing signal.
Happy trails,
Ken

Optical digital audio input

I have an early 2009 iMac Duo Core 2 with the combo digital audio in/out. I ordered the correct cable which fits perfectly into the back of the iMac. I've plugged the other end into three different audio devices that have digital audio out.
While I get activity on the input level for the Optical digital-in port in system prefs, it does not come out through the iMac speakers. Other sounds (system alerts, iTunes, etc) play through the speakers but getting the computer to play the digital audio input does not work.

There's an excellent little piece of software called LineIn from Rouge Amoeba that does exactly what you're looking for, get it from here: http://rogueamoeba.com/freebies/. I was using it for redirecting sound coming in via an optical cable to iMac's digital line-in to my headphones attached to iMac's audio-out. Also works great for outputting anything coming to digital-in out to an external audio receiver using digital-out. My set-up was: PC, Xbox 360, PS3 all connected to Sony's Bravia screen and passing sound through HDMI (plus a Wii attached to Bravia via analog inputs), Bravia's digital audio out connected to iMac's digital-in and then finally iMac analog/stereo-out --> headphones or iMac digital-out to Logitech's Z-5500 receiver's TOSLINK connector. TV's aren't allowed to stream unencrypted AC3/DTS coming in from HDMI to their digital audio out though so only stereo was available in the above setup (connecting a PC/Xbox360/PS3 using an optical cable with TOSLINK and mini-TOSLINK connectors directly to the digital line-in on iMac does enable one to pass through Dolby Digital/DTS to iMac's line-out and to an external receiver). I'm using past tense here becase Apple decided not to include any audio-in functionality whatsoever on the new line of iMacs (late 2012). Still looking for a solution to that problem (a MacBook Alu 13" is doing the sound redirection in the mean time).

Optical digital audio input port on MacBook Pro

I believe that the optical digital audio inputs on the latest MacBook Pros are defective. I am not sure if the problem is with the hardware or the software.
I use two analog-to-digital converters in my recording studio: the Grace Design Lunatec V3, and the Mytek Stereo96 ADC. Both produce a SPDIF stereo signal with a Toslink output port. I use a Toslink cable with the required 3.5mm adapter.
Both of these converters work perfectly with my 24" iMac. In mid-December of 2009, I got a 15" MacBook Pro. There was difficulty getting the MacBook Pro to recognize a signal from either converter, and when the signal was recognized, the recordings were crackly, pitch-shifted, off-speed, and sometimes parts of the recording would get repeated. All of the settings were adjusted, including the bit-rate and sampling frequency, as well as the Audio Resolution (in both Garage Band and Twisted Wave).
I took the MacBook Pro to the Apple Store, and was very pleased with the service there. My MacBook Pro was replaced with a new one. However, when I brought the new MacBook Pro into my studio, there were the same problems.
At the encouragement of a technician at Apple Care, last weekend I brought one of my converters (the Lunatec V3) to the local Apple Store and made recordings on a number of their machines. The results:
Perfect recordings on the 27" iMac and the Mac Pro. This is in addition to my own 24" iMac.
The same problems - dropped connection, crackly noise, shifts in pitch, and repeated phrases - in two 17" MacBook Pros and one 15" MacBook Pro. This is in addition to the two 15" MacBook Pros that I have tried at home.
I have a case number with Apple Care, but haven't heard back from anyone in a week. I am thinking of just returning the MacBook Pro, but it is a very nice machine in every other way.
Is this an acknowledged problem at Apple, and can a fix be expected?
Thanks,
Mike

What a great job! I've been enjoying making very amateur "audiobooks" for a young grand-daughter recently (simply using a USB mike plugged into one of the MBPs) and emailing her mother the results. Its a great way of remembering old childhood favourites and inflicting them on (whoops, I mean 'enhancing the education of" ) the next generation. Very amateur, but she really enjoys them, I gather. Doing it for real must actually be quite a buzz.
A couple more passing thoughts on the original topic. I guess you will have worked through such things, but does it make any difference whether the MBP is running from power or from battery? The "power in" section of the MBP is located pretty close to the optical port circuitry and might contribute to interference, I guess.
Another possibility might even relate to the proximity of the Mac power adaptor or the computer itself to the other equipment. Have you tried hooking it up to different power outlets, increasing distance between the power block or the computer and the other gear, introducing some shielding, etc etc.
Finally, there can be an issue in which residual current occurs on the body of the MBP itself when it is hooked up using the "duckhead" unearthed powerplug rather than the three prong earthed power lead. I would imagine this, too, could interfere with sensitive gear. (just thoughts from an old audio buff).
Cheers
Rod

How can the optical digital audio input be enabled on the 2011 Mac mini?

I am trying to record signals output from my audio receiver's digital SPDIF output. I have a TOSLINK optical cable between the receiver's output and my MAC mini's audio input (via the TOSLINK to 3.5mm optical adapter). Does this digital optical input need to be enabled through the OS?

Also, make sure it is showing up in System Preferences->Sound->
Input as optical.
Also, make sure it is plugged ALL the way in. I know on
my 2011 Mini, even with just analog plugs, it is a very
snug fit and often it feels like I have pushed in all the way
when in fact it isn't and needs an addition pretty firm push.

Can I use the optical digital audio cable to connect INSTEAD of the hdmi? My tv only has 2 hdmi ports, and they're both taken

Can I use the optical digital audio cable to connect INSTEAD of the hdmi? My tv only has 2 hdmi ports, and they're both taken

I'm afraid that's very misleading and inaccurate.
Firstly an adapter won't work, it would need to be a converter and then if it's a compliant converter it won't let you watch HDCP protected content such as that from netflix or from the iTunes Store.
Secondly, whilst I'm not going to debate whether component or HDMI is better, component is certainly not better if it's been converted from an HDMI signal. You can't make anything better by simply converting it to another type of signal.

Just hooked up my APPLE TV to my Pioneer Elite Pro 1120 HD Just hooked up my APPLE TV to my Pioneer Elite Pro 1120 HD TV (2004/05). I get picture fine (although only 720p), but I can't get sound. Any ideas? I have a Optical Digital Audio cable, but not su

Just hooked up my APPLE TV to my Pioneer Elite Pro 1120 HD Just hooked up my APPLE TV to my Pioneer Elite Pro 1120 HD TV (2004/05). I get picture fine (although only 720p), but I can't get sound. Any ideas? I have a Optical Digital Audio cable, but not sure where to hook up?

how is it connected?
if you use a hdmi to dvi converter then you only get picture and not audio because dvi don't carry audio same with vga

Digital Audio Optical Input S/PDIF cable recommendation

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