Digital audio output question

Right now I have my Mini's audio output connected to my amp with a stereo mini jack. But as I understand it the audio out jack can also accept a digital (toslink) connector. There is surprisingly little documentation on exactly how this works or what cables are needed. Anyone care to enlighten me?
Thanx

Hi David,
Many people use the toslink optical audio cable.
There are different brands available.
I purchased several of these when they were on sale from Apple.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/TL955LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA3Ng&mco=MTA4NDk5MjQ
Note the tip adapter in the second and third photo.
This adapter lets you plug the cable into the audio out jack for the digital audio out portion.

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I want to find the digital audio output on my Pavilion vd6853ea notebook

I have spent far too long trying to find where this output is located.
I have a very good Hifi and at the moment am using a USB cable to connect to my DAC.
It looks like there is a realtec digital output somewhere on the notebook as it show up when I go into the playback devices and it tests ok visually.
The 3.5 jack plug is just analog and not a hybrid spdif.
Where is it????????
Please help as I am getting really fed up now!
This question was solved.
View Solution.

HI,
macapaca666 wrote:
Thank you so much for the fast reply.
I thought that may have to be the case.
Can I please ask you a few other questions?
If I want to get a digital audio output not using a HDMI (My DAC doesn't have this input), can I get a good result with something like a Musical Fidelity V link USB to S/Pdif converter or a M2Tech Hiface digital audio interface? Sorry, I cannot make a recommendation on either of those products as I am not familiar with them.
Is it possible to change the sound card with an optical or coaxial output? Your notebook's sound is an integrated solution. It is a chip soldered (integrated) onto the system board. It can't be updated.
Thanks again for the kind help!
John
Best regards,
erico
****Please click on Accept As Solution if a suggestion solves your problem. It helps others facing the same problem to find a solution easily****
2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

Using built in optical digital audio output for 5.1

So, lets say i want to mix something in 5.1 using logic or soundtrack pro, can i use the optical digital audio output of my macbook to send the signal to a home theather or something to mix it?, or i need a special hardware card for this?
Thanks a lot!!

Hi alece,
Just to clarify something;
When using an optical cable there are several standards of audio that can pass through the cable:
S/PDIF - a stereo signal - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spdif
AC3 or Dolby Digital - up to 5.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ac3
Dolby Digital Plus - up to 7.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DolbyDigitalPlus
ADAT Optical - up to 8 channels of audio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADAT_Lightpipe
MADI - up to 64 channels of audio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MADI
I´m sure other people can add more to the list if they want to, my point is that these signals can pass through the exact same kind of optical cable.
The important bit to know is what does your equipment and software support... in theory your question is quite logical, a software can play 5.1 surround to a optical output like Apple DVD Player does with the built-in sound card of a modern mac. However, Logic does not support live encoding of AC3. That is why you have to output the surround mix in Logic to a sound card with at least 6 channels (5+1 as in 5.1) connected to your speaker system. Typically this would be 5 active studio monitors plus a sub. If you were thinking to use an existing stereo I would not recommend it since most consumer speakers have no limiters to protect them from damage (but may be possible depending on your amplifiers inputs)
I hope this answered your question
Cheers Espen
http://www.midiamore.com.au/

Optical digital audio output for mac book?

Hello, I am wondering if MacBook pro Retina version has the Optical digital audio output or thunderbolt adapter? so i can use optical cable to do output for my music.

Hi alece,
Just to clarify something;
When using an optical cable there are several standards of audio that can pass through the cable:
S/PDIF - a stereo signal - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spdif
AC3 or Dolby Digital - up to 5.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ac3
Dolby Digital Plus - up to 7.1 surround - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DolbyDigitalPlus
ADAT Optical - up to 8 channels of audio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADAT_Lightpipe
MADI - up to 64 channels of audio - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MADI
I´m sure other people can add more to the list if they want to, my point is that these signals can pass through the exact same kind of optical cable.
The important bit to know is what does your equipment and software support... in theory your question is quite logical, a software can play 5.1 surround to a optical output like Apple DVD Player does with the built-in sound card of a modern mac. However, Logic does not support live encoding of AC3. That is why you have to output the surround mix in Logic to a sound card with at least 6 channels (5+1 as in 5.1) connected to your speaker system. Typically this would be 5 active studio monitors plus a sub. If you were thinking to use an existing stereo I would not recommend it since most consumer speakers have no limiters to protect them from damage (but may be possible depending on your amplifiers inputs)
I hope this answered your question
Cheers Espen
http://www.midiamore.com.au/

Digital audio output - how?

I am new to Macs and the owner of a mini. I'm about to replace my stereo amp with an AV receiver so that I can use the mini as a media centre with a home theatre system. I want an AV receiver with a digital input as the mini has a combined analogue & digital output. My question is what type of digital lead to I need, are they standard and how do I tell the mini to provide a digital signal to the combined output socket rather than an analogue one? Or is it clever enough to work out what type of cable is attached?
Thanks in advance
Paul

I have my Mini connected to my A/v receiver using a digital TOSLINK to mini TOSLINK cable. It should have a mini jack connector on one end for the mini and a squareish connector on the other end for the receiver. The audio output jack on the Mac Mini can output both analog audio and digital. The digital input on my receiver uses a ADAT lightpipe connection on the other end, that looks like a square. These are standard cables and should not be that expensive. Here's an example of the type of cable:
http://www.amazon.com/6ft-Toslink-Mini-Cable/dp/B000FMXKC8
You will also need to make some setting adjustments in you sound control panel and in the DVD player to select the correct digital audio output format. Good luck.

New PB digital audio specs question.

I just looked at the specifications posted on the developer note for the new powerbooks. The digital audio in/out is very welcome. As I read through it, I found that the PB is listed as providing digital audio output via SPDIF AND AC3 formats. The question is, does anyone know if that AC3 output means its passing multichannel AC3 to be decoded outside? or is it a stereo AC3? Can anyone check? thanks... btw, the specs look good for digital in/out.

Thanks for your post, Machive 6.1. I had in fact read that article... in only states the following about AC3:
During playback of a 1KHz, full-scale sine wave (S/PDIF output format, 44.1KHz output sample rate, 24-bit sample depth, unless otherwise specified) the digital audio output has the following nominal specifications:
Jack Type: 3.5mm Analog/Optical Combo Jack
Output Data Formats: S/PDIF (IEC60958-3), AC3
Output Sample Rates: 32KHz, 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 64KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz
Bits per Sample: 16 or 24 (S/PDIF),16 (AC3)
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20KHz, +/-0dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR): >130dB
Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N): <-130dB (0.00003%)
Channel Separation: >130dB
It is not clear whether that is multichannel or stereo AC3 output...
Anyone has tried it?

IPad digital audio output

I just realized that we can get the digital audio output from iPad 2 by connecting the camera connection kit, via the USB cable to a digital converter. The sound quality is unbelievable good. That's mean we can save the money of not buying any dock e.g. Wadia 170i.

Hey Mitch, I have a related question that it looks like you may be able to help me with.
I would like to use an Ipad (not purchased yet) to connect with an external audio solution.
So I need to run out through the Lightning Digitial AV converter to get the digital audio to my external DAC. Then I run Optical out to my amp.
My goal is to be able to watch Videos on the iPad while listening to the audio through external speakers.
It currently appears that when you connect the iPad via the Lightning Digital AV converter and attempt to watch a Video, that the video and audio signal gets sent to the external reciever and the iPad screen goes blank and becomes a "remote control" but no longer displays the video. I noticed that this is only with video because the iPad screen does not go blank for games or browsing.
Are you aware of an app....or any other solution that allows my solution to work?
To date, I have tried this solution with multiple tablets and the only one that it works on (that actually mirrors Video) while exporting digital audio is the Kindle Fire HD.
I can't believe this is an original idea and am shocked that Apple doesn't enable you to leave the video on the iPad screen while also sending the video and audio signal to an external source.
Thanks

How to get the Mac Mini Digital Audio output at 192kHz?

I have a mid 2011 Mac Mini (and love it). According to http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4806, "The headphone / line output port accommodates digital optical audio output, analog audio output with a 24-bit, 44.1-192 kHz D/A converter, digital audio output up to 24-bit stereo and 44.1-192 kHz sampling rate and supporting encoded digital audio output (AC3 and DTS)."
So there is digital audio output to 192 kHz but how do you configure it to work? Using the Audio Midi Setup Utility, I can set the sample rate to 96000 Hz -- but it won't go higher to 192kHz. Anyone know how to do this?

That is in some ways confusing. For the analog output, the
internal DAC can support 24 bit/192Khz audio data. It does
require an application that has the capability of playing back
such material.
The TOSLINK optical standard does not support this data rate.
It has nothing to do with the Mini, it is the standard itself. The
TOSLINK optical spec is 96 kHz, 24 bit stereo (uncompressed).
The mini will however support multichannel, 24 bit, 192 kHz
(uncompressed) via the HDMI interface. Also, again,
the playback software needs to support it.
Just as a final note, unless the source material has the
higher sample rate format, there is no benifit to outputing
at the higher sample rate, especially if the source some
lossy comporessed format (mp3, aac, Dollby and DTS
non-HD formats).

Optical digital audio output (minijack)?

I am confused on the whole optical digital output thing since it is sharing the same port with analog. Can someone point me to some good digital speakers with the whole optical digital audio output (minijack)thing

See this user tip:
http://discussions.apple.com/click.jspa?searchID=-1&messageID=2458613

Optical digital audio output/headphone out

Does anyone know if there is a way to connect stereo speakers directly (not through a receiver/amp)to the Optical digital audio output/headphone out on a imac? The new 20 inch imacs have a 24watt internal amp which would be plenty for the speakers that I want it to drive. Thanks

is there an attachment that i have to buy? do i just rip the tip of the cord off?
Yep, there are two "standard" optical-digital-audio connectors -- the original "square" one is still used in most larger audio/video components. The newer/smaller one, used mainly in portable gear, is exactly the same size as a mini headphone plug. Radio Shack carries adapters/converters and cables of both types (usually at outrageously high prices). For online vendors, try:
http://monoprice.com (search for "TOSLINK")
Great prices and a good rep for quality/service among to the HDTV-fanatics on avsforum.com.
Looby

Airport Express (802.11n) - clipping digital audio output

I just replaced two older Airport Express with the new n-version. But for both new units, the digital audio output regularly pauses (skips) briefly every 10 seconds or so. It's unusable.
The music is being sent via iTunes to digital capable B&W remote speakers.
There is no problem with analog.

The problem persists with different cables, and after updating the Airport Express firmware to v7.3.1.
Once again, the problem does not occur with the older Airport Express - g model.

Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out

Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out minijack on the new Mac Pro support 5.1?

Are you asking if it has that?
http://www.apple.com/mac-pro/specs/
says:
Combined optical digital audio output/analog line out minijack
Which means it does.
On all but the earlier Mac Pro models, this has been standard since the iMac G5.
Mac Pros earlier used SPDIF.
These are now mini-Toslink.

Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out

What is the "combined optical digital audio output/headphone out"? This is what the output is called that has the earphone picture beside it on my MacBook. I thought this meant that it could take the mini jack out that splits into a/v - yellow, white, red, and plug it into any tv or monitor that has those inputs. I tried it just now, but a no go.
If the only way to get video is through the mini DVI output what does the "Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out" mean? If I can get video out of it, how can I do it?
Thanks!

Hi Trevor Deck: As you have discovered this does not output as a video signal. That jack is strictly for audio. The "optical" portion of it is used to output using a "Toslink" cable to provide "optical audio" to an external amplifier. The DVI port needs to be used to get a video signal to your TV. But be warned if you use the red, white, & yellow method of hooking up the video signal you will probably be disappointed. If your TV has a HDMI or PC input it would be much better. You would then have to get the proper DVI to whatever type adapter.
Good Luck
Stedman
MBP 1.83, 1.5gB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.9) Quiet, Cool, Re-furbished, iPod mini, iPod shuffle

Digital audio output on tv/dvd combo

I am using tv dvd combo for dvd and cd playing only. I have no cable or digital device input. I am getting no digital audio output. Any suggestions. model number is 32SLV411U.

I'm sorry, but are you saying your cable input isn't working, or just that you don't use a cable or digital device input?
Could you tell me what you have connected to the TV also?
- Peter

Audio output question...

Hello,
Hoping someone can help guide me on the most efficent way to deal with the following scenario. I have a late 2008 alum macbook that I am using as my primary home computer. I have a toslink optical out to my DTS decoder stereo receiver so that I can enjoy 5.1 dts sound from itunes and other sources. However, I also have Bose companion 2 desktop speakers that I would like to easily be able to toggle between for sound output from my Mac (for example, when my stereo reciever is otherwise occupied with television or other sound, I'd like to be able to use the desktop speakers simultaneously without having to unplug the mini-toslink from my headphone jack and switching it with the bose headphone jack. I'm looking for a way to have both the toslink and the bose sperakers hooked up to my mac at the same time. Any recommendations on how best to accomplish this??
Is there a better or easier scenario than the following? Will this scenario even work?
Get a USB 2.0 external digital sound output card (like creative soundblaster) to use for the itunes to stereo DTS decoder receiver and use the built-in headphone jack exclusively for the Bose speakers?
Any and all advice will be greatly appreciated!
Matt

Get a USB 2.0 external digital sound output card (like creative soundblaster) to use for the itunes to stereo DTS decoder receiver and use the built-in headphone jack exclusively for the Bose speakers?
The iMic will also give you an extra line-out audio jack
<http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic>
SoundSource will make it easy to switch outputs
<http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/>

Digital audio output question

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