Is there Digital Audio Output on the Macbook Pro

I am about to buy a 15" Mac Book Pro. I would like to know if the headphone out put jack also passes a digital audio signal?

Yep.

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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

IPhone Audio Output vs. MacBook Pro

I've been the owner of the Apple In-Ear Headphones for a while now, and have experienced an improvement in the sound quality between the in-ear and standard iPhone headphones.
However, I've recently been using the same in-ear headphones with my MacBook Pro, and noticed a significant difference in the quality, depth, and volume of the sound. When playing the same songs on my MBP, the headphones are capable of much louder volumes, much clearer audio, and are much bassier than when using my iPhone 3G S, yet the audio tracks are identical.
Is there any specific reason why my iPhone isn't capable of matching up to the quality of my MBP?
Many thanks

I wanted to chime in after my latest show-down between my iPhone 5 vs. iPad 3 vs. MacBook Pro 2010. My medium of choice is vinyl for hi-fi listening, but otherwise I prefer Spotify @ 320kbits.
I plugged them into my hi-fi system: rega brio-r amp, wharfedale diamond 10.1 speakers, standard [decent quality] 3.5mm to RCA cord to plug in each device. No DAC in my setup. No cable splitting-- all directly plugged in.
I used the latest Arcade Fire album, Reflektor, 320kbits from Spotify. I think the album has enough dynamic range to make it a good test subject. I started the test on track 2, that song in particular having a lot of dynamism.
The breakdown:
Iphone5 and iPad3 both sounded identical. Everything sounded good on first pass until I plugged in the MacBook Pro. The MacBook revealed an enormous difference in better audio quality! The MacBook output crystal clear highs and the lows also had a "thump" that the iPhone/ipad did not have. That difference right there showed that the MacBook is simply capable of handling a higher spectrum of sound. With a higher spectrum, and the ability to differentiate the highs, mids, and lows helped give the sound much more dimension.
Bottom line:
I wish I could turn back the clock on all those hours I spent listening to my iPhone. Without a doubt, the MacBook Pro has a much higher quality audio output. I think this is attributed to the fact that the MacBook actually has a SOUNDCARD while the iPhone/ipad both have like integrated circuit boards. It's the dedicated soundcard on the MacBook that gives it its advantage.
To break it down to hi-fi thinking, when a stereo has separate modular components that are dedicated to doing 1 thing well, there is a better opportunity for higher quality sound. That would be in comparison to an "all-in-one" unit that crams a lot of electronics into a single "stereo" system. Generally, the overall quality of the "all-in-one" will be hampered by what are basically the limitations of engineering and production; each new component/feature they cram on the same circuit board compromises the overall integrity of the whole. What I'm trying to say is that the MacBook is more like a modular setup with dedicated components, and the iPhone/ipad are the "all-in-one".

Audio output switches randomly (MacBook Pro 13" 2010)

Hi,
I have recently bought my MacBook Pro. It works really good but unfortunately, there is a problem. When I'm listening to my music with my headphones (Koss Porta Pro), after about 20 minutes of listening, the sound keeps turning off and on. I found out that when this happens, the audio output randomly changes from Headphones to Digital output. When it switches, the sound is muted for a while. Really don't know how come is that. Could you please help me?
Thanks for Your answers.

.....and then I blew into the headphone socket. Instant success with sound restored. I can only assume that some dust particle was in some way mechanically interfering with a switch?
Moral.. check the obvious, easiest and cheapest possibilities.

How to set preferred audio output device on macbook pro mavericks

I've got a pair of Harman Kardon bluetooth soundsticks that I use as my living room speakers. Some time ago, I connected my macbook pro to them via bluetooth, and now whenever I restart my macbook or move it away from the apartment and then move it back, it automatically finds the soundsticks, connects to it via bluetooth, and sets it as the default sound output device.
I would like the soundsticks to remain connected whenever they're within range, but I want my macbook's internal speakers to be the default sound output even if the soundsticks are connected. I can't seem to set output device preferences in the sound preferences panel.
thanks,
- will

I dont have a solution, but there is a thread on this topic already. https://discussions.apple.com/message/23679152#23679152

Mail starts to play send/receive sounds whenever I plug in a audio cable into the macbook pro

Hi,
I have this strange bug:
I have Mail running and I plug in an audio cable into the audio out jack. Then Mail starts to play send and receive sounds endlessly. Then I have to quit Mail and start it again. Then everything is fine. I think I can live with that, but it's also kind of annoying. Any hints?
Thanks!
Daniel

*there comes (i was mixing up english and german spelling without noticing )

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/

How do I use the MacBook Pro's audio line in?

Hi,
I've been trying to connect my Playstation 3's analog audio output to my MacBook Pro but it doesn't seem to work. Everytime after I connect it, there still won't be any sound coming out of the speakers.
How is the analog line in supposed to work?
Thanks!

Hi Ymer,
Have you selected "audio line in" as your sound source in System preferences / Sound?
The other thing you will need to do is get hold of a copy of an excellent little utility produced by the people who make "Audio Hijack", called "Line-In" - available from http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Audio/LineIn.shtml or direct from the maker at http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/
There is no need to use a sound recording app, if you use "Line In", though that is another option.
Cheers
Rod

No audio output from the orange mini j

Hi all,
I am having problem with my Audigy 4.
Hope you know what I mean, there are three 3.5mm mini jacks
of three different colors: green, black, and orange.
I have noticed that there are audio outputs from the green and black mini jacks only, while the orange mini jack seems to be not working at all.
When I plugged an earphone line to the orange mini jack,
I could hardly hear any sound from it.
Any idea?Message Edited by kwfine on 07--2007:03 AM

The orange jack is the center/subwoofer audio jack. If you're using a 5. speaker system. Make sure you have selected 5. speaker setting in the speaker setup software.
Jason

Is there a car charger for the MacBook?

Is there a car charger for the MacBook Pro?

Mollyfromtexas wrote:
Is there a car charger for the MacBook Pro?
Not exactly.
There is the Apple Airline Adpater that takes the 15v DV airline and maintains a previously fully charged Macbook battery, but doesn't charge the battery as it doesn't have enough power like the Magsafe powerbrick adpater does.
One can use the Airline adpater in a vehicle with 12v, it does the same as above, helps prolong the battery but to a slightly lesser extent as it's only 12v instead of 15v.
12v to 110v adapters (thus to use the supplied Magsafe adapter) doesn't work and only can result in frying out your vehicles electrical system in most cases as their cables are not designed to handle that much power draw on the 12v side, just to run the car and a few gizmos like a cigarrette lighter.
If one notices the cable on their vehicles battery, it's very thick, designed to carry a lot of electrons. That is not the case when it get to the 12v cigarrate adapter, it gets very thin. Pulling too many elecrons through a thin wire makes it overheat, it should trip the car's breaker first, but sometimes just a heavy load but not enough for the breaker to jump, will significantly wear out the thin wires and cause vehicle electrical problems.
Using the Airline Adpater in a 12v or using the 12v DC to 110v AC adpater is not approved by Apple and can likely void your warranty if discovered as user inflicted abuse.

Getting 2650x1600 output from my MacBook Pro?

I've got a brand-new MacBook Pro 15-incher with the nVidia GT 330m card. I've also got a brand-new 30-inch HP ZR30w monitor with *native res. of 2560x1600*. My problem is that when I hook up the MacBook Pro to the monitor's DVI input, I can only get *1280x800 max resolution!* I have tried downloading SwitchResX, but it too only lists a 1280x800 max resolution for the ZR30w.
The monitor dutifully operates at 2560x1600 when hooked up to my PC, so I know it can do the job. I also can get 1080p output from the MacBook Pro on my TV.
So, how to I get the MacBook Pro to do what I bought it for? Very frustrating to be stuck at such a low resolution. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

I have a Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP 30" and I'm thinking about getting a Macbook Pro and this was on my mind since Ive read the specs on nVidia GT 330m card on the new Macbook Pro i3/5/7 series. So this is great to hear, what a relief plus this will be my first Mac so I don't know what to expect. I hear they will be new Macbook Pro's 1Q of 2011 with Facetime etc...can anyone confirm that? I'm on the fence right now if to get one or wait. I'm assuming the new Macbook Air would do the same since it has the same Video Card.
The new Dell UltraSharp U3011 30" has a display port for connectivity and wondering if one can juss connect to a Macbook Pro directly...mini display port / display port same thing?
@ArthurPJohnson ... once you go 2560 x 1600 there's no way one can ever go back to a lesser resolution LoL!

Two external monitors + ethernet on the Macbook Pro Retina (late 2013)

The new MacBook Pro 13" retina have 2 thunderbolt connectors and one HDMI but no ethernet port (how pro is that?).
As the title of this post suggest, I want to drive two external monitors as well as an ethernet port.
1.) Is there a dock that woudl allow such setup out of the box?
-OR-
2.) Using the Macbook Pro's two thunderbolt ports and the following adapters:
- Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet,
- Mini DisplayPort to DVI (is this actually thunderbolt compat?).
Can once of the thunderbolt connector be splitted or chanied to drive etiher: two screens or one screen + ethernet?
Or would I also need to use the HDMI port in such case? If so is there any performance difference between the Macbook Pro's HDMI port and the thunderbolt ports? Can all these be run concurrently i.e. thunderbolt display and the HDMI port?
The monitors both have DVI-D connectors.

Thunderbolt expansion docks are beginning to appear. "They ain't cheap." This one would support what you want to do ... Belkin Express Dock (using both Thunderbolt ports on your MBP)
Thunderbolt devices can be daisy-chained however I don't believe that means it will support 2 displays on the same chain.
miniDisplayPort and Thunderbolt are co-compatible. You can plug a miniDisplayPort cable into the Thunderbolt port in order to connect a display.
DVI and HDMI are co-compatible. You should only need an appropriate cable to connect the display to the MBP's HDMI port.

Can't output Digital Audio in Windows 7 (Macbook Air 2011).

Hi All,
I'm using my MBA 2011 to play 3D Blurays Movies.
The problem is...
> Lion works fine (with HDMI audio) but i can't play 3D Blurays in LION, just 2D Blurays. [I can send...DTS/DOLBY etc etc to my RECEIVER with no problems using the "Moshi mini DP to HDMI adapter".]
> In Windows i can play 3D Blurays (using Power DVD, Corel Win DvD; Arcsoft total media...etc) but i can't use the mini DP digital Audio function as in Lion...(So i think i need a better support driver here....from Intel, Apple or
In the device manager i have an "Intel (R) graphics audio" """device""", but i don't have it listed as a device/extrernal-speaker in Windows interface, i currently have..."just the cirrus logic internal speakersdriver" and the "cirrus logic headphones analog output".
So, anyone know how to output DIGITAL audio using Windows 7 bootcamp?
Best Regards,
Sebastian.

Thanks for your comments. To answer your question theologos, the difference in battery life is huge. I only ran down the full batery in windows and it lasts for a little over 3 hours, depending on how you use it. Fully charged, OS X says I have a little over 7 hours to run although I've never tried to see if it actually gets that much. It seems to last a lot though. I almost never use OS X because I need to do run a lot of windows programs and a lot of statistics in Excel which is disabled by microsoft on office 2011 for mac. Heat levels in windows are acceptable. For general tasks CPU temperature stays below 70 degrees and the laptop is only mildly warm. Even playing starcraft 2 on full settings doesn't cause it to heat up to unomfortable levels.
I realise that graphics switching is disabled in Windows and I hate Apple for it, I know they are doing it on purpose. This is not a question of which OS is better, they both have their merits. However, my guess is this is done via the bootcamp drivers for windows. Since the AMD Radeon 6750 M has graphics switching and is able to perform it with no probs on other non-mac windows laptops I was wondering whether I could remove all the apple graphics drivers and install the default AMD ones. I'm specifically referring to the catalyst driver ackage off the AMD website for this graphics card. If the hardware is there and there are drivers for windows why would it not work on a Mac? If I were to format the system and simply install Windows how would the macbook pro know to keep the integrated graphics disabled? My worry is that if I install the AMD drivers and remove some of the bootcamp ones this might screw up bootcamp if it doesn't recognize them. Anyone tried to do this with any success?

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
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2015 Microsoft MVP - Windows Experience Consumer

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).

Is there Digital Audio Output on the Macbook Pro

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