Does the optical audio stream directly to a receiver?

Can you stream music directly through the optical audio out on ATV2 without the tv being on? (similar to airport?)

In theory yes, though it's not officially advertised as a feature, except that a recent firmware update scuppered the functionality.
A recent firmware has supposedly fixed this but I've not tested myself to confirm as AppleTv is in another room to my hi-fi.

Similar Messages

Does the optical audio out work?

I have the ATV HDMI connected to a HDMI switcher. The switcher output connected to an Asus 27" monitor. The other 2 units on the HDMI switcher is a PS3 and a Tivo. I also have a TosLink switcher for the audio on all the units. The output of my TosLink switcher is going to a Fiio D07 converter to get 1/8" stereo jack to a boom box. The PS3 and the Tivo units work fine. Meaning, HDMI for video works great and their optical audio outputs create line level signals which I can amplify through my boom box. Now the joy. When selected, the ATV shows up fine on my monitor. But I get no audio from the TosLink switcher.
Optical signal (light) verified: Check
Tried alternative channels on the TosLink switcher: Check (PS3 and Tivo work fine in all channels)
I have tried turning Dolby Off, Going to 16 Bit audio and all of their configurations.
I do not get errors relating to HDCP.
What I thought was going to be simple is turning into something unexpectedly frustrating. I would like som assistance before I remove the ATV from my "home theatre".

I wheeled an old HD TV into the living room. Took the HDMI from my ATV and plugged into the HDTV. The Optical output from the ATV still going to the switch and nothing happened. I then unplugged the optical audio cable from the ATV an used the optical output from the TV. Still nothing. Then, probably for the first time in my troubleshooting, I went directly from the ATV to the Fiio D07 and it worked. I was suspicious of the HDMI still in the HDTV. I turned off the HDTV. I still had audio. I unplugged the HDTV. I still had audio. I plugged the HDMI back into the HDMI switch. There was a noticeable pause in the output but in less than half a second, audio was back. So this got me thinking either the ATV got something from the HDTV while it was in the system that hasn't reset yet OR something might be interfering with my signal in the switch.
I found an old 1.5ft Toslink Monster cable and used that to go from the TosLink switch to the Fiio D07 and I got it to work. I also noticed that if I jostled the cable at the Fiio D07 I could get the audio to flicker in and out.
Its not ideal, however at least I know I can get it to work. Maybe I should have spent a little more on the TosLink switch or cables.
Thanks for your help!

Does the Optical audio out converts signals to 2CH PCM?

Hi
I have connected the Optical output of my Macbook pro to my AVreceiver and when playing movies with DD 5.1 or DTS, the receivers tells me that it's receiving only 2CH PCM.
is that normal? is there any config possibilty that I'm missing?
thanks
regards

OK it works now.
in fact I was wrong, the solution was within VLC. you just have to tell it that you are using the digital optical output and the Mac does the passthrough of DTS or Dolby Digital.
just go to pref pane within VLC, then audio then check the box "use s/pdif if available"
in fact I first tried what was here
http://www.cod3r.com/2008/02/the-correct-way-to-enable-ac3-passthrough-with-quic ktime/
but as it still did not worked, I kept on searching and then found the solution. Then I undid the Terminal comandes in the link above and found out that it still worked.
i don't know how to do it with Quick time but I don't use it to tell you the truth. VLC is my default.
I hope this helps others
thanks in any case.

Does digital optical audio output "sleep"?

Digital audio works fine as long as an application is actively generating audio, but when it is paused for a short while, I start static from my amplifier similar to what I hear if an optical cable is disconnected. I notice that there is no light coming out of the end of the optical cable. This was a problem in setup, as the absence of light caused me to think that the optical cable was damaged or not properly connected.
Does the optical audio output "sleep" after a period of nonuse and lose carrier? Is there a way to keep it active all of the time?

I've also been having this problem with my Mac mini (2009 version). Static/crackle sound over digital connection when the audio has been idle for a short while.
It reminded me of an old problem that some PowerBook G4 users had several years ago, where the audio hardware would go to sleep to save power and there would be a delay while it woke up. I remembered that there were a coupe of utilities created to remedy this problem by playing silent noises at short regular intervals.
I tracked down these utilities - KeepSoundAwake and SoundOn. Someone mentioned that SoundOn used a whopping 1% of CPU and showed a Dock icon, while KSA usage was usually 0% and had no Dock icon. So I decided to try KeepSoundAwake.
Here is a link:
http://mrfeinberg.com/KeepSoundAwake/
So far so good. I've been crackle-free for the last several minutes since starting up the program. This is a pretty ancient application (last update was a fix for 10.3 compatibility), so there are a few things to be aware of. I now have this one non-intel-native app running constantly, which is sort of a bummer - but with 4GB, I'm not too concerned. The PrefPane that comes with it will not run at all since it is not intel-native, but the default settings are fine so that's not really a concern either. You do need to make the app a startup item so it will be running all the time.
If I encounter any problems with using KSA with my setup, which includes running some multi-channel audio through Plex, I'll report back here.
I do wish Apple would officially address this issue so we wouldn't need to use a 7-year-old hack!

TS5150 Does the optical digital audio port send out a Dolby Digital signal

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

Yes if the media has such an audio track available it can do so.
There is a setting for audio and video allowing DD output to be set for Auto (on/off if connected HDMI device can decode DD), On or Off.
AC

How do I connect the Apple TV to the home theater if the optical audio port is in use

I had an airport express connected from the home theater system to the speaker out port on the express through which air play worked just fine. Then the express wouldn't work with my new router so I looked for something to replace it. The new Airport Express was the same price as the Apple TV and so I went with it for the added HDMI from NetFlix benefits. Now I find that the cables I used on the express won't work on the Apple TV. It wants an optical cable but there is only one port on the speakers and it is needed to get the sound from the TV to the speakers. So, is here a work around? An adapter or something? What I really wanted it for more than anything else was to use air play to get my music from the computer to the theater speakers.

I have a further question about this. It turns out I do have 2 optical audio ports but I was told I wouldn't need it if it was connected via hdmi. I have 4 ports and they are all in use so the question is whether the best solution is to just get an optical audio cable and connect it directly or get an hdmi splitter so I can add in the Apple TV?

What does the Merge Data Stream processor do when there are multiple input streams to it from the same reader?

Hi,
I have a process with a reader of master data that outputs 5 records that feeds simultaneously into 3 different lookup and return processors.
Each lookup and return processor brings some data back from a detail table. There can be multiple details so I follow each lookup processor with a split records from array processor. Hence I end up with 3 'streams' of data. Stream 1 has 8 records, stream 2 has 5 records and stream 3 has 6 records.
I join all these streams to a Merge Data Streams processor.
I end up with 9 records so although the help for the Merge Data Streams processor says 'Merge Data Streams does not perform any transformation, matching, or merging of records' there is clearly some merging going on.
What is the behaviour of the merge data streams processor in this scenario?
I have added attributes and flags into each of the streams. How many records should I see and what values should the added attributes/flags have (some records show attributes/flags from all 3 streams whereas others show just those attributes/flags from one stream).
I have developed a test case simply to understand what the processor is doing but it's not obvious and furthermore it's probably unwise to develop EDQ processes where the processor behaviour is not documented and guaranteed to remain consistent. What I am trying to achieve is to bring all of a person's (the master data) various details (assignments, employers, etc.) together so we can check the data (some rules require data from multiple details).
Thanks, Nik

Cheers Mike - and for the explanation of the terms.
I think I understand now how it's supposed to work.
What I'm finding however is that when I set a flag to Y at the beginning of a path (that includes a lookup and return and then split records from array processor) that flag is showing no (i.e. an empty) value in SOME of the records shown in the subsequent MDS processor (it's fine the very last split processor before we get to the MDS but then again there are fewer records in that split processor than the MDS).
In my case there are obviously more records in the MDS processor than there were in the original reader (because the lookup and returns are configured to have unlimited maximum matches). As mentioned, the different paths return different numbers of records before being combined in the MDS. Say a reader has 5 records and path 1 returns 8 records in total including a path-specific flag (flag1, set to Y) but path 2 (that again adds its own path-specific flag (flag2, set to Y) returns just 5 records (since nothing was added from the lookups) are you saying that flag2 would show as 'Y' for all 8 records shown in the MDS?
Hopefully you would be able to see what I mean if you try to create a process like the one I've described (or I can upload a package).
Re. the purpose of the separate paths approach it is simply to allow the visualisation ('showing the working' as Neil puts it) of the different checks being carried out by the process.
This is considered one of the benefits of the tool over writing SQL queries (with outer joins, query criteria, etc.).
Also, as mentioned I was following an example that Neil put together for us to ensure that we are doing things in a 'proper' and supported way.
If we put all the lookups, etc. for all the checks into one datastream then it no longer becomes so understandable and the value of joining processors in a process over simply writing SQL becomes questionable; arguably the EDQ process in fact becomes less easy to understand than simply writing SQL.
Also, to go down this route I will need to revise the (what was previously substantially working until I revised it) processes that I have already developed.
Thanks, Nik

Dose the HDMI Cable have Audio Support or do I need to use the Optical Audio Port on the ATV?

I recently noticed that the Apple TV has an "Optical Audio" port on the back, next to the HDMI port. Before I buy one, will I need to buy a Optical Audio cable, or will the HDMI cable suply sound to the TV?

HDMI carries both audio and video. The optical port is for connecting to a receiver/external speakers.

Is it necessary to use the optical audio port on the apple tv

Do I have to have an optical audio cord to get sound on the apple tv

No, the HDMI will also play audio to your TV.
Jules

How do I use the optical audio on apple tv?

I'm confused on optical plastic tab....am I supposed to beak it to insert cable?

Welcome to the Apple community.
If your optical audio cable comes with plastic caps on the end of each connector, you need to remove them in order to insert the connector into either device. Any plastic caps should simply pull off, there is no need to break anything.

Does the M Audio Transit really works?

I have been thinking about buying something a 650W 5.1-Ch. Home Theater System, then i found out that the sound card in Mac Mini doesn't even support 5.1 so i was told that M Auido Transit which is a external USB sound card will put out 5.1, but how is the sound quality or does it even work?
Thanks.

Well, Marat,
The difference between "PC speakers" and a "5.1 surround sound system" are sometimes only semantic ones.
But, as Mr. Laughlin points out, sometimes a 5.1 home theatre system is marketed without a Dolby decoder.
So, the powerful Yamaha system that you mention certainly is a 5.1 system that can be connected to your Mini, and appears to include the decoder. About the only significant difference that you'll notice between the two units is that the Yamaha's decoder looks more like a VCR than does the Z-5500 decoder. I suppose you could debate the quality of decoders, but the Logitech is rated well in this area.
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2,CONTENTID=9486
The Logitech Z-5500 can easily qualify as a home theatre system, and includes a critical wireless remote. But, you're right, other "systems" that cost more do have an appearance that may be better in a living room (like Klipsch units).
So, appearace and price may be the key factors in your decision, as the units probably have similar performance. You'll still need a M-Audio Transit or Theatre (which isn't a decoder), though.
Someone else here just got some Z-5500s for their Mini:
matthew sullivan, "logitech z-5500", 06:03pm Sep 8, 2005 CDT
Maybe Mr. Sullivan can give you some more firsthand tips.
Peace to you,
C. Livingstone

Does the MuVo N200 enable direct FM recording via USB to a

I wish to do synchronized note-taking and FM recording with MS "OneNote" on a tablet PC.
l have previously used a portable FM radio and a 3.5mm lead into the Tablet's mike input to do this.
This is obviously a bit cumbersome, so the N200's USB connection looks like an attracti've alternati've.
Can anyone tell me whether the N200 will support direct PC recording of FM radio in this way?

No. When the n200 is hooked up to the usb port, it can only be used as an external storage device. You could run a cable from the n200's headphone jack to the computer's audio input when the n200 is not hooked up to the usb port of the pc.

Does the M-audio iControl work with the newest version of Garageband (2013)

I'm looking for a dedicated controller for garageband. It seems that the m-audio icontrol was the only one ever made and was released in 2005. I've read it worked with all versions of GB up to '11. Would this 8 year old controller work with the newest version of garageband (newest version as of october 2013)? Or are there any new dedicated controllers that are an option.

Haven't checked all the options, but yes, M-Audio iControl works with Garageband 10.0.1 and with Logic Pro X (10.0.4).
I am astounded that a) they stopped making it b) no-one has stepped in to offer a similar (or better) hardware solution - especially as GB is now free.
If you can get one, grab it!

Apple tv, airport express, macbook air, and iphone 4, will support audio streaming directly from every equipment to the powered speakers?

I'm trying to connect my Apple tv to airport express to stream the audio, will be posible? the same thing with my iphone? I have tried with my MacBook and works perfect!!

Welcome to the Apple Community.
Your MacBook works with your express because it supports AirTunes. Your Apple TV and your iPhone do not support AirTunes and will therefore not work with your express.

Converting the optic audio to analog audio

Has anyone tried the new apple tv with an optical to analog converter? Multi-room audio systems require analog signals. Would be nice to know if this works before buying. I've seen other comments on this board regarding using converters but none that address multi-room audio systems.

Doing so requires software (and maybe hardware) that would not be included with a new Mac, but surely such software exists that would work on the Mac. Check MacUpdate or CNET Downloads.

Does the optical audio stream directly to a receiver?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for