Digital audio port?

I'm a newbie with this stuff... and I'm wondering about the "digital audio" port on my G5 dual-core. What does it do, and should I be using it? Right now I have my keyboard/mixer combo going into the normal "audio-in" port.

I don't think I've ever heard of an Optical-Out (that's what it really is) on a keyboard, they are generally analogue and/or MIDI (Digital).
As for the mixer, it would be labeled or at least be in the manual if it had it. I would be very surprised if it were a "hidden" feature.
I must confess to not being too well versed in Optical Ins/Outs because like most of the people here I use FireWire and USB devices instead, but everything I've seen that had them clearly labeled the fact.

Similar Messages

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    Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

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  • Turning off digital audio port

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  • No sound out of my MAC PRO Optical Digital audio port

    I own a Mac Pro early 2007, running MAC OS X Ver 10.6.7
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    sircolio:
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  • Digital audio out port

    I am having a problem, quite opposite to what most of what I've read about Mac audio port issues online, concerning my audio-out port. I'm running an Intel Imac, 7,1, running OS 10.5.8. The specs do specify the audio port on this mac is dual; analog and digital output. Everything I've read to date relates to the red optical light being stuck on coming out of the audio port. My issue is that I CANNOT, and I emphasize that, get the red light to come on and thus use my optical cable (it's working on other equipment) and connect it to my AV receiver. I have never in the past even thought about using an optical cable so it never was an issue. In fact I never knew the port was dual. The external speaker and headphones work fine and the audio panel in the preference pane reflects that; either says 'internal speakers' or 'headphones' automatically when engaging/disengaging audio phone jack. When I put in my toslink (optical) cable, the panel goes to 'headphones' instead of 'optical out' or 'digital out'. There is never a provision to click on digital out on either the sound panel or the midi setup panel. I've tried everything I can click on at both panels. Audio Output in midi setup says 'master stream' (always greyed out) and Source- either 'headphones' or 'internal speakers'. The default and system output drop downs never give me a 'digital' or 'optical' option. Everything works fine except that I cannot get the red light to shine and cannot get digital out at all. Any ideas? Maybe something in terminal or in openfirmware screen? Thanks.

    have you tried other speakers or headphones and what version bootcamp drivers are you using?
    Moses Kravitz wrote:
    Does this port connect directly to appropriate digital speakers?
    If so can someone recommend a decent set of digital speakers that will connect directly.
    Or does the optical digital audio port connect to an amplifier or receiver and them to speakers?
    With the suggestions i have below the set-up is like this:
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    The company site & Speakers: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakersaudio/home_pcspeakers/&cl=us,en
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    http://www.amazon.com/gp/comparison/ref=pdcp_ecmp/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&ASIN.1=B0002WPSBC&ASIN.2=B0002SQ0AE&ASIN.4=B0002 SQ2P2&ASIN.3=B0002SQ0A4&bf=0
    and some others in that same field:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/B00007AKDP/2/ref=pdcp_esexpl/104-4843690-8241552
    And you're going to need a TOSLINK cable to go from the audio port to the back of the control pods; found a nice cheap one
    http://amazon.com/s/ref=srkk3/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=toslink%20cable
    hope that helps!!
    Message was edited by: AppleNewton

  • Optical digital audio out port

    Here is the situation:
    The only problem I have with my Mac Pro is that the Audio line-out port does not work reliably in Boot Camp. The audio output cuts out easily and then I have to "jiggle" the speaker cable to get the sound back. And I have determined that it is the audio line-out port that is at fault, not the speakers, nor the cable.
    So I want to try to work around this by utilizing the optical digital audio out port.
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    Does this port connect directly to appropriate digital speakers?
    If so can someone recommend a decent set of digital speakers that will connect directly.
    Or does the optical digital audio port connect to an amplifier or receiver and them to speakers?
    Thanks

    have you tried other speakers or headphones and what version bootcamp drivers are you using?
    Moses Kravitz wrote:
    Does this port connect directly to appropriate digital speakers?
    If so can someone recommend a decent set of digital speakers that will connect directly.
    Or does the optical digital audio port connect to an amplifier or receiver and them to speakers?
    With the suggestions i have below the set-up is like this:
    Subwoofer - Connects to 2 (Stereo or technically 2.1) or 5 (5.1) speakers
    The subwoofer connects to a control pod (which has the optical inputs, coax inputs, and analog inputs - atleast all 3 are on the z5500)
    Digital/Optical Audio:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK
    Suggested Speakers; I Personally have 2 pairs of the Z-5500 set, true high quality audio and variety of settings for whatever you use them for, i have been so pleased by them and their warranty service is by far the best ever, anything ever happens to them, theyll send you a replacement set, logitech/apple great customer service, i also posted a few other priced ones if youre not looking for a huge set up:
    The company site & Speakers: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/speakersaudio/home_pcspeakers/&cl=us,en
    Compares a few models:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/comparison/ref=pdcp_ecmp/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&ASIN.1=B0002WPSBC&ASIN.2=B0002SQ0AE&ASIN.4=B0002 SQ2P2&ASIN.3=B0002SQ0A4&bf=0
    and some others in that same field:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/B00007AKDP/2/ref=pdcp_esexpl/104-4843690-8241552
    And you're going to need a TOSLINK cable to go from the audio port to the back of the control pods; found a nice cheap one
    http://amazon.com/s/ref=srkk3/104-4843690-8241552?ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=toslink%20cable
    hope that helps!!
    Message was edited by: AppleNewton

  • 10.6.8 Broken Digital Audio Out

    After update from 10.6.7, digital sound worked. However, software such as EyeTV began capturing the digital audio port and keeping it. Quitting EyeTV would not release the audio to other programs. Other programs then routed sound to the internal speaker. Only way to fix was to reboot. Then it would happen again. Very frustrating to have to reboot to allow sound to switch between programs.
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    Same problem here too....
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  • Digital Audio Question

    My G5 has these digital audio ports.
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    Is that what digital audio is for?
    Thanks

    The Digital Output on the iMac can output whatever Digital Audio your Cable can carry and your Amplifier can Decode.
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    When requesting assistance, please provide the complete model name and/or product number of the HP computer in question. HP/Compaq makes thousands of models of computers. Without this information it may be difficult or impossible to assist you in resolving your issue.
    The above requested information can be found on the side, back, or bottom of your computer. Please do not include your serial number. Please enter the model/product information into HP's Online Consumer Support page and/or post it here for our review.
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    Please click the white KUDOS star to show your appreciation
    Frank
    {------------ Please click the "White Kudos" Thumbs Up to say THANKS for helping.
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